Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Admissions
Information for Prospective Students
Admission Requirements | Application Requirements | Academic Prerequisites | Foreign Course Work | Applicant Selection | Interview Selection | Decision Dates | Transcripts | Waivers and Advanced Placement | Transfer Policy for Students from other PA Programs | Texas Residency | Contact Information
Notice
of Change in Admissions Requirements (Effective for Fall
2010 Admission)
Applicants are considered without regard to age, race, creed, sex,
national origin, veteran's status or disability. All applicants are required to
meet the posted Health and
Technical Standards in order to participate in the Physician Assistant
Studies degree program.
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- A minimum overall GPA of 2.85.
- Satisfactory completion of all prerequisite course requirements
- Two letters of professional reference (submitted to CASPA). A letter from a practicing physician assistant is highly recommended.
- One additional letter may be submitted directly to the UNTHSC Admissions Office.
Note: The GRE is not required.
Application Requirements (click on links below)
- CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants)
- Supplemental
Application (Available after May
15)
In addition to the CASPA application, all applicants are required to submit a Supplemental Application directly to the Physician Assistant Studies program. Applicants now have the option of completing the Supplemental Application prior to UNTHSC receiving the applicant's CASPA application materials. Please click on the Supplemental Application link and click the 'Admissions Application' Link.
After the PA Studies program receives your CASPA application, an e-mail will be sent directly to the applicant. This email contains the applicant's Enterprise User Identification (EUID) and Personal Identification Number (PIN). Applicants who have not submitted a Supplemental Application can use their EUID and PIN to login and begin their application. With the EUID and PIN, applicants can access the status of their documents received by the Admissions Office, as well as get additional information about the admissions process. UNTHSC's PA Studies program encourages all applicants to complete the Supplemental Application as early as possible.
The additional information requested on the Supplemental Application will provide us with valuable insights during the selection process. Applicant files will not be evaluated until we receive both the CASPA application and the Supplemental Application. There is no fee for the Supplemental Application.
- Prerequisites may be in progress at the time you submit an application to CASPA, however, they must be completed by December 31 prior to matriculation into the program.
- Ninety (90) semester credit hours of college credit must be previously earned by the posted deadline(s) from a regionally accredited college or university or coursework must be deemed equivalent by the PA Studies Program.
- Minimum prerequisite requirements cannot be waived and exceptions are not permitted.
- Prerequisite coursework must be satisfied with a grade of 'C' or higher (2.0 on a 4.0 scale).
- One course cannot be used simultaneously to meet two different prerequisites. For example, Calculus cannot be used to fulfill both requirements for mathematics and statistics.
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The Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS) is a cooperative effort among Texas community colleges and universities to facilitate transfer of freshman and sophomore level general academic courses. The list does not include all possible courses that will be accepted by the UNT Health Science Center PA program. Contact us if you need assistance or clarification. Applicants who have completed a Bachelor s Degree from a U.S. accredited college or university, prior to the prerequisite completion deadline of December 31, are not required to complete English Composition, U.S. History and U.S. Government. | ||
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GENERAL EDUCATION |
CREDIT |
TEXAS COMMON COURSE |
|
English Composition 1 and 2 |
6 |
Engl 1301 and 1302 |
|
U.S. History 1 and 2 |
6 |
Hist 1301 and 1302 |
|
U.S. Government 1 and 2 |
6 |
Govt 2301 or 2305 and 2302 or 2306 |
|
General or Introductory Psychology |
3 |
Psyc 2301 |
|
Psychology, Sociology or Anthropology Electives |
6 |
Any course within Psychology, Sociology or Anthropology |
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College Algebra or higher |
3 |
Math 1314 or higher level math |
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Statistics |
3 |
Math 1342 or other disciplines |
|
SCIENCE COURSES (must be designated for science majors) | ||
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Anatomy and Physiology with lab |
8 |
Biol 2401 and 2402 or upper-level Anatomy and Physiology courses |
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Organic Chemistry with lab |
4 |
Chem 2423 or 2425 |
|
Microbiology with lab |
4 |
Biol 2420, 2421 or upper-level Mircrobiology course |
|
Immunology or Genetics |
3 |
Biol 2316, 2416 or upper-level Immunology or Genetics course |
|
Biochemistry or Cell Biology |
3 |
Must be upper-level course |
Important Notes
- The GRE is not required.
- A Bachelor's degree is recommended prior to matriculation, but not required.
- Exceptions cannot be granted to the prerequisite deadline (December 31).
- Preference will be given to applicants who complete their course work in the classroom versus through examination tests such as CLEP.
- Correspondence or television courses obtained through U.S. accredited colleges or universities are recognized to meet the prerequisite requirement.
An applicant with academic credentials from a college or university located outside the United States, who chooses to apply that study toward meeting prerequisite requirements, must follow all instructions posted in the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistant (CASPA) application. Applicants must also follow application instructions when submitting coursework from foreign colleges or universities for U.S. equivalence through CASPA, and these courses must be deemed equivalent by the PA Studies Program. Upon satisfying all prerequisite requirements, applicants with academic credentials from non-U.S. colleges or universities are processed with the same consideration as all others.
Admission requirements are the same for applicants with foreign course work. All course work taken at foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated for U.S. equivalence by a CASPA approved evaluation service.
For a listing of evaluation services, you should contact CASPA at apply@caspaonline.org or visit their website at https://secure.caspaonline.org/
Upon completing of all the required applications and admission requirements (see above), applicants with foreign course work will be processed with the same consideration as that given to other applicants.
In reviewing applications for interview selection and acceptance, we evaluate many factors that help us examine the qualities that you bring to our program. Those factors include:
- Academic background
- Patient care or healthcare-related experience
- PA mentorship/shadowing experiences
- Understanding of the role of the PA
- Letters of reference (or support)
- Community Service
- Honors, achievements and awards
- Other life experiences and extracurricular activities
- Applicant's personal interview
Although an applicant's entire academic record is considered, this alone does not ensure acceptance. While prior experience in a health care setting is not required, this experience is considered a beneficial attribute and viewed positively by the Admissions Committee. PA mentorship and shadowing experiences are not required, but are encouraged. Letters of reference from a physician assistant or physician are strongly encouraged. Evidence of personal integrity, maturity, motivation, communication skills, interpersonal skills, critical thinking skills, writing ability, dedication and the ability to work with others are additional factors that will be considered. The above qualities are evaluated by several means, including letters of reference, the scope and nature of extracurricular activities (including work and volunteer experience), the scope and breadth of prior education and through the interview process.
Selected applicants will be invited to the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth for an admissions interview. Interviews generally take place on campus from September to February. Interviews may end sooner if the class is filled. Candidates that are invited to interview will be contacted by phone or email. Declining an invitation or failing to appear for a scheduled interview will result in rejection of your application. Early submission of your application can increase your chances of interview selection. Interview results are confidential and are considered in the competitive selection process.
The PA program can make admission offers as early as October. Offers will be continuously made until the class is filled with qualified candidates.
Upon notification of acceptance, all candidates admitted into the PA program will be required to send new official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities directly to the UNTHSC Admissions and Outreach Office.
Reminder: Official transcripts must be sent directly from the originating school to CASPA during the application process. Do not send transcripts directly to UNTHSC unless specifically requested to do so.
Waivers and Advanced Placement
Advanced placement and waiver of courses in the professional curriculum are not available to applicants to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree program. Once enrolled, a PA student may apply for advanced placement and/or course waiver by meeting specific requirements and deadlines. For more information on this, applicants should contact the PA program academic office directly. Prerequisite courses cannot be waived.
Transfer Policy for Students from other PA Programs
The Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree program does not admit transfer students from other physician assistant studies programs. All applicants must participate in a competitive admissions process.
At least 90 percent of each entering class must be Texas residents. Up to 10 percent of each entering class may be filled with non-Texas residents. An alien living in the United States under a visa permitting permanent residence, or who has filed with the proper federal immigration authorities a declaration of intention to become a citizen, has the same privilege of qualifying for Texas residency as do citizens of the United States.
For rules and regulations on Texas residency, visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Residency Information site.
University of North Texas Health Science Center
TCOM Office of Admissions
and Outreach
Attn: PA Studies
3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Fort Worth, TX
76107-2699
Phone: (817) 735-2204 or (800) 535-TCOM (8266)
Fax: (817) 735-2225
E-Mail: PAAdmissions@hsc.unt.edu
Applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, sex, national origin, veteran's status or disability.
Candidates must meet Health and Technical Standards to participate in the Physician Assistant Studies degree program.
This page last updated May 16, 2008
