Physician Assistant Studies | Springfield College

Physician Assistant Studies

Master of Science
About This Program
Admissions Contact

Danielle Clough
Associate Director of Graduate Admissions
(413) 748-3729 
dclough@springfield.edu
Make an appointment

Are you an International Student?
Please contact intladmissions@springfield.edu 
Make an appointment

Program Contact
Curriculum and Delivery
Start Dates and Duration
  • Start in January (spring semester)
  • Courses are offered full time
  • Complete in 27 months
Resources
Paying for Your Education
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Physician Assistant lab or clinic (PA). Graduate Students Practicing on a Patient.

At the Springfield College MS in Physician Assistant Studies (PA) you'll receive the most comprehensive education available in the academics of medicine, combined with significant practical clinical experience in a variety of settings. Springfield College has become renowned for its unique blend of academic rigor and hands-on experience in the field of PA. 

Students who enter the two-year track (professional phase) have already earned a bachelor's degree and will be awarded a master's degree upon completion. Individuals interested in this track should note that these students complete the entire 27-month program, but for the sake of simplicity the track is referred to as the two-year track.

The 27-month, full-time graduate program comprises seven semesters (112 credits). Students typically attend classes daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with some exercises requiring longer attendance. Students are required to maintain a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) with individual course grades remaining at "B" or higher. Additionally, students are expected to uphold professional standards of conduct.

Students will complete eleven 4-week clinical rotations in the fields of family medicine, inpatient medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, OB/GYN, psychiatry, surgery and the electives of their choice. The program has the responsibility of arranging the clinical instruction and supervision of each student. The program must approve each clinical site and retains the responsibility for student training and evaluation. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant (NCCPA) National Certification Examination (PANCE) and apply for state licensure.

The majority of our students enter the physician assistant program through the six-year track. Preference for admission is given to students entering through the six-year track as long as all program requirements are met.

Graduate applications for the 2025 cohort will open on Monday, January 22, 2024 and close on June 1, 2024. All application materials must be submitted by June 1st in order to be considered for the program.

"My sense of confidence, self-awareness and commitment to excellence would not be what they are if not for Springfield College. The College fueled my passion and has helped me prepare for a lifetime in service to others." Andrew Stratton, Graduate Class of 2025
Andrew Stratton - Springfield College
“The consensus among any health care professional I have encountered thus far has been unanimous: they all have nothing but positive things to say about not only Springfield College PA students, but also about PAs who are past graduates of the program.” Anna Russo, Class of 2024, Graduate Class of 2026
Anna Russo - Springfield College
“I chose the Physician Assistant Studies program at Springfield College because of its reputation for rigorous courses that push students to be well-rounded and caring providers.” Amanda Gallacher '23, Graduate Class of 2025
Amanda Gallacher - Springfield College
“So far, my experience with the PA program has been nothing short of great! I feel as though I have learned a lot so far, and I am already learning more than I could imagine in grad school. What we learn makes us excited to enter the health care field while also helping us feel prepared. I know that we will all leave Springfield College being knowledgeable and ready to take on our careers.” Jade Kiang, Class of 2024, Graduate Class of 2026
Jade Kiang - Springfield College

Admissions Requirements

  1. Complete the FREE online application: Once your application form is processed you will receive an email with your application portal login credentials and instructions for submitting supplemental materials as listed below.
  2. Essay: In two to three double-spaced pages, please describe significant life experiences that have contributed to your interest in your field, your understanding of this field, your occupational objectives, and why you have chosen Springfield College. 
  3. Resume: Please include any college activities, out-of-school leadership experiences, work history, and community involvement to support your interest in or qualifications for graduate study. 
  4. Three letters of recommendation: Three letters of recommendation from a faculty member or direct supervisor: Recommenders will receive an email when you submit your application and will be able to upload your letter to your application.
  5. Interview: This program requires an interview for selected finalists.
  6. Transcripts: An official transcript from each college/university you have attended is required. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be received directly from the original source, by email to graduate@springfield.edu or mailed to the college address: 

Springfield College
Office of Graduate Admissions
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109

International Applicants

In addition to the above admissions requirements, all international applicants from non-English speaking countries are required to submit:

  • Proof of English language proficiency by way of the TOEFL or IELTS: Other tests may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to our language requirements for more information on acceptable tests, minimum scores, exemptions, and conditional acceptance. If your undergraduate degree was earned in the United States and you successfully completed college-level English, we will consider English language proficiency met.
  • Please note: Transcripts must be in English. If the transcript is not in English you will be required to submit a professional credential evaluation completed by any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). For this we recommend SpanTran, with its customized portal for Springfield College applicants. World Education Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. are also recommended for your credential evaluations.

The Office of International Admissions can assist you with questions you may have about enrolling at Springfield College as an international student by emailing intladmissions@springfieldcollege.edu.

Deadline

Application Deadline: 

Graduate applications for the 2025 cohort will open on Monday, January 22, 2024 and close on June 1, 2024. 

 

Credential Deadline:

All application materials must be submitted by June 1st in order to be considered for the program.

 

The New Health Sciences Center at Springfield College

The new Springfield College Health Sciences Center empowers transformative approaches to education, career enhancement, service, research, and leadership in healthcare. The Center builds on the success of the School of Health Sciences, and ensure its standing as the leading choice for the finest students, faculty, and staff.

An architect's rendering of the health science center at Springfield College
Accreditation

Our Physician Assistant Studies program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Springfield College Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by Springfield College. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.


Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process, or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2026. The review date
is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-springfield-college/.

Clinical Preceptor

W. Brian Gorsuch, PhD, PA-C, MPAS, MS

"Once again, we are completely impressed and delighted to have a Springfield College student. There are many highly intelligent, intellectual, and superior academic students with great GPA's that apply for PA programs. However, the Springfield College Physician Assistant Studies Program appears to continue to excel at delivering incredibly intelligent students with uncommon and superior drive, maturity, and critical thinking, all the whilst not sacrificing interpersonal skills. This is only a direct result, I can imagine, from the start of your selection process, to the sixth year influence of your instructors then culminating in the course work itself."

Fellowships & Scholarships

Let us help you make your graduate education as affordable as possible.

Student Employment

Work on our campus to earn money while pursuing your graduate degree.

Employee Partnerships

Employees of our partnerships are eligible to receive a $5,000 or $10,000 partner grant.