Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

Admissions requirements

To be considered for this program the applicant must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Prior to matriculation, applicants must have received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 grading scale, and a minimum overall science GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 grading scale.
2. GRE official scores for all three sections of the test must be submitted to Brenau University (Code: 4397) prior to the application deadline of Sept. 1.
3. The college requires applicants to earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in each of the following required prerequisite courses and all prerequisite courses must have been completed by the application deadline of Sept. 1:
   • College Algebra or higher – 3 semester hours*
   • Statistics – 3 semester hours*
   • General Psychology or higher – 3 semester hours*
   • Biology I + Lab – 4 semester hours*
   • Biology II + Lab – 4 semester hours*
   • General Inorganic Chemistry I (4 hours) & II (4 hours) including labs – 8 semester hours*
   • Organic Chemistry I + Lab – 4 semester hours*
   • Microbiology including laboratory – 4 semester hours*^
   • Human Genetics – 3 semester hours*^
   • Human Anatomy & Human Physiology or combined A&P I & II courses with labs – 8 semester hours*^
     • *hours are indicated as semester hours; for colleges/universities using quarter hour system, applicant must have earned equivalent quarter hours.
     • ^These prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years of the time of application. Waivers for the time limit will be considered on a case by case basis for those with current, relevant health care or teaching experience in these areas.
     • Additional note: Graduates of foreign institutions where English is not the primary language of instruction must meet the additional requirements outlined below, in bullet number 7.
4. Other recommended courses include General Physics I, Biochemistry, Abnormal Psychology and Medical Terminology.
5. Prior health care experience is required and is considered for admission. Applicants must submit verifiable information documenting at least 500 hours of direct patient care experience by the application deadline of Sept. 1 in order to be considered for admission to the program. Higher numbers of direct patient care hours are considered more competitive.
6. Three letters of recommendation are required:
   • One letter from a professor or any individual who has worked with the applicant in a professional or educational environment. Reference should have worked with the applicant for a minimum of six months;
   • One letter from a physician assistant or physician (MD/DO); and
   • One additional clinical reference from a health care professional (e.g. physician assistant, physician, dentist, pharmacist, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physical or occupational therapist, etc.) Recommendation letters submitted by relatives, friends, personal health care providers, or personal friends of the family are not acceptable.
7. Applicants who have attended foreign universities or colleges are required to have their academic credentials evaluated for U.S. institution equivalence by a NACES accredited evaluation agency. Graduates of foreign institutions where English is not the primary language of instruction must present transcripts showing at least 18 semester hours of study from an accredited college or university in the United States. Of these 18 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours): three semester hours must be in English Composition, three semester hours must be in English Literature, and three semester hours must be in Public Speaking (courses do not include ESOL). The remaining nine semester hours can be any course of the applicant’s choosing (excluding physical education courses).
8. Candidates who fit either of the following will be given additional consideration during the admissions process:
   • those whose permanent residence is in and/or those who have been raised in northeast Georgia and/or in a rural or medically underserved community
   • those with prior military experience (active duty and reserves)
9. Applicants invited for an interview must complete/submit results of CASPer assessment to Brenau University.
10. Candidates who meet any or all of the following criteria are generally considered more competitive applicants:
    • those who take a course load of > 15 credits/semester for the majority of their undergraduate educational experience;
    • those who complete the prerequisite science courses as part of a full course load (> 15 hours) and at a traditional four-year institution;
    • those who also participate in extracurricular activities with verifiable hours during their undergraduate educational experience, including as a student athlete or employed at least half-time; and
    • those who have completed graduate level science coursework and/or a graduate degree.

Matriculation requirements

To be considered for this program the applicant must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Technical standards
   Students must meet the program-defined Technical Standards, as defined on the program’s website under “Technical Standards” All accepted candidates are required to meet the program’s Technical Standards (physical and psychological competencies of performance) prior to entering the program and throughout training. Technical standards include capacity for: observation, communication skills, psychomotor skills, cognitive/intellectual-conceptual skills, and behavioral/affective skills.
2. Health and immunization requirements
   Upon acceptance, students will be required to submit and maintain evidence of current health status and immunizations. The department’s policy on immunization of students is based on current Centers for Disease Control recommendations for health professionals. The CDC’s recommendations are available online. The department, along with all clinical programs in the Ivester College of Health Sciences, also requires students to be Up To Date on their COVID-19 vaccines, per CDC guidelines. A student is up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines when they have received all doses in the primary series and all boosters recommended for them, when eligible. This requirement is due to many of Brenau University’s partners, including the Northeast Georgia Health System, establishing new vaccine requirements for students who participate in clinical experiences. All students must be vaccinated and up to date or receive an approved exemption. Brenau’s exemption process will be overseen by the Brenau Institutional Review Board (IRB) c/o the Graduate Dean for evaluation and decision. Failure to follow the specified procedures will lead to a denial or termination of the exemption. If you wish to seek exemption please fill out our vaccine waiver form. Please contact Dr. Gale Starich at gstarich@brenau.edu with questions. The department also requires baseline screening for tuberculosis via one of the following methods:
   • 2 step TB skin test (administered 1-3 weeks apart) – OR –
   • QuantiFERON Gold blood test (lab report required) – OR –
   • If positive results, submit a clear chest x-ray (lab report required). As per the most recent CDC recommendations, annual testing is only required in the case of exposure. Please see TB Screening and Testing of Health Care Personnel from the CDC for the most recent recommendations.
3. Student health insurance
   Students are required to maintain university-approved health care insurance coverage while enrolled in the program. The university offers a health plan and students will be automatically enrolled and can then opt-out if they have other health insurance (proof of other insurance is required).
4. Drug screen
   All students will be required to pass a drug screen prior to matriculation. The student will be responsible for the costs of the pre-matriculation drug screen. Acceptance to the program is contingent upon drug screen results.
5. Background check
   All students will be required to complete a criminal background check prior to matriculation and prior to starting clinical rotations. The student will be responsible for the costs for the pre-matriculation criminal background check. Acceptance to the program is contingent upon the results of the background check.

Additional admission information can be found at the Department of Physician Assistant Studies Admission & Tuition page.