How long have the faculty been teaching?

Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Program faculty members have more than 120 years of teaching experience combined.

Does the Seton Hill Physician Assistant Program accept Advanced Placement course credits?

No Advanced Placement course credits or college in high school credits are accepted for any of the PA Program prerequisite courses.

What is the University's policy for refunding tuition or fees?

Information on refund policies can be found in the Student Accounts section of our site. 

What degree will I receive at graduation?

Students entering the program as a graduate student will receive a Master's of Physician Assistant Studies degree upon successful completion of the program. Students entering the program through the B.S./M.S. track will earn a Bachelor's of Science in Medical Studies degree at the end of the Spring II semester of the graduate portion of the program.  B.S./M.S. students will then also receive a Master's of Physician Assistant Studies degree upon successful completion of the graduate program.

How many seats are available in the Seton Hill University Physician Assistant program?

We have 50 seats in our program.

Do you wait-list students?

Yes. Students can be wait-listed for one year. During that time, if a seat becomes available, it is offered to a student on the wait-list.

What is the faculty-to-student ratio?

In lecture-based courses, our ratio is 1 instructor to 50 students. In our lab-based courses, the faculty-to-student ratio is 1 instructor for every 13 students. In our problem-based learning course, we work in small groups of 10 - 12 students.

Can I complete the program in a part-time status?

No. We do not offer a part-time status in our program.

What is the class schedule like during the graduate phase of the program?

Classes occur usually between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. There are occasional evening and Saturday classes as well. During the clinical phase of the program, students are on-site seeing patients approximately 36 to 40 hours per week. During some rotations, there are evening, night call or weekend requirements.

Are there health care and shadowing requirements for admission?

Yes, students must complete 300 hours of health care experience before entering the graduate Physician Assistant Program. The health care experience can be paid or voluntary, but must involve direct work with patients. There is a shadowing requirement for entrance to the graduate program as well. You need to shadow at least three physician assistants in different practice settings for a minimum of 4 hours per experience.

What are the admission requirements for the Physician Assistant Program?

Please visit the B.S./M.S. Admissions or the M.S. Admissions sections of our site.

Where can I complete the prerequisite coursework for the graduate phase?

Prerequisites can be completed at any CASPA verified U.S. institution.  Online and community college courses are accepted, but we do not accept online labs.  For BSMS students, all prerequisite courses for the major must be taken at Seton Hill University. 

Can I work while attending the Physician Assistant Program? 

Working while enrolled in the graduate PA program is strongly discouraged due to the rigorous nature of the program.

Do you require the GRE? 

No. 

Is it too late to apply?

See the Admissions page for current application deadlines.

Does Seton Hill accept transfer students from other universities into this program?

No. 

Do the faculty also practice clinically? 

All of our faculty with a medical degree work clinically in various fields including emergency medicine, primary care, neurology, gastroenterology, and psychiatry. Our full-time faculty members have more than 120 combined years of clinical practice experience.

Do current Seton Hill students or Seton Hill alumni have an advantage in the admission process? 

No. 

When did Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Program begin? 

The program's first class began in 1998 and graduated in 2000.

What is the accreditation status of the program?

At its March 2024 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the Seton Hill University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Seton Hill University on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in March 2026. More details on Seton Hill's accreditation status.

How do Seton Hill students perform on the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE)?

99% of Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Program graduates who have taken the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) have passed, and 94% in the past five years on their first attempt. Pass Rate Summary Report

Do I have to find my own rotation sites?

No, our Director of Clinical Education and the clinical education team will schedule all required rotations in sites where we have affiliation agreements.  On average, students can expect to be assigned to 2-3 rotations that will require travel/housing away from the local area.

If I am accepted into the B.S./M.S. program is there a fee to hold my graduate seat? 

Yes, an $800 deposit is required to hold your seat. This non-refundable deposit will then be applied to tuition when you enroll in your first graduate-level courses.