Natural Science - Health Science B.S. / Physician Assistant Studies, M.S.

First year students interested in the BS in Health Sciences and MS in Physician Assistant Studies must apply directly to the Admissions Office of the University. The PA Program does not accept transfer applications. Transfer applicants are encouraged to complete a BS or BA degree and then apply to the MS program.

The comprehensive evaluation of freshmen applicants includes, but is not limited to, Grade Point Average (GPA), standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), rank in class, New York State Regents Examination Scores or equivalent, letters of recommendation, personal essay, and review of high school transcripts. It is expected that all successful freshmen applicants will have a record of academic performance that clearly demonstrates strong math and science preparation. Most successful applicants have:

• SAT score >1170 
• GPA > 94% (minimum 90%) 

It is preferred that students will have embarked on a challenging high school curriculum that included Advanced Placement (AP), Honors, and/or college credit coursework. However, All required BIO, CHE, and BCH courses must be taken at Daemen University and may not be transferred or substituted.

Faculty interview required. Students must demonstrate knowledge of the profession and demonstrate superior interpersonal communication skills.

Upon acceptance to the University, students must complete the following prerequisites and meet published academic requirements to be eligible to matriculate in the Physician Assistant Program. A student is immediately disqualified from the PA Program if he or she fails to meet the academic requirements.

• Pass all seventy-one (71) credits of prerequisite and liberal arts core curriculum courses with a grade of "C" or better and a grade point average of 3.30. One course repeat to raise the overall GPA is allowed. See program plan for list of required and elective courses. Once enrolled at Daemen University, all math and science prerequisite courses must be completed at Daemen University.
• The calculated grade point average (GPA) for the following five 300-level courses (19 credits) must be 3.00 or higher (B):
  • BCH 317/17L – BioOrganic Chemistry
  • BIO 315/ 315L – General Microbiology
  • BIO 330/330L – General Anatomy
  • BIO 340/340L – General Physiology
  • CMP 315 – Advanced Composition for Health Professionals

All 300-level courses used to calculate the GPA must be completed at Daemen University and may not be transferred or substituted. A student is not permitted to repeat one the 300 courses listed above. Course withdrawals from the 300-level courses are not permitted and if approved under extenuating, non-academic circumstances by the Program Director, will be counted as a repeat. A student is immediately disqualified from the PA Program if the GPA requirement is not met. If a course must be repeated, a student may need to decelerate and enter the following class.

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language by taking the TOEFL iBT® test. The test scores must be submitted directly to the admission department at Daemen University and the full report must be received by November 30th. The minimum requirements as stated below are specific to the Physician Assistant Department and does not represent the requirements of the Institution.

• Minimum total test score of 100.
• Reading Section, minimum score of 24
• Listening Section, minimum score of 26
• Speaking Section, minimum score of 26
• Writing Section, minimum score of 24

BS/MS and MS students who are verified as having lived in a Health Professional Shortage Area in Primary Care or in a Medically Underserved Area through the age of 18 will be awarded preference. 

BS/MS students who have demonstrated perseverance and/or hardship will be awarded preference.

The physician assistant (PA) degree is recognized as an undifferentiated professional degree that requires the development of entry level knowledge and skills in multiple domains of health care.  PA education requires the development of judgment through a wide range of learning activities and supervised clinical practice experiences in preparation for making appropriate, autonomous clinical decisions while practicing on interprofessional health care teams directed by physicians.  

The purpose of this document is to ensure that all students entering the Daemen University Physician Assistant Program (the PA Program) are aware of and understand the requirements of our program and the profession, so that informed decisions can be made regarding pursuit of this profession. Nothing in this document is meant to deter the application or participation of any student who is able to complete the requirements of the PA curriculum with or without reasonable accommodations.

Continue Reading

• 71 credits required
• 3.3 overall GPA required
• 3.0 GPA required in 300 level courses 
  • Anatomy/L, Microbiology/L, Bio-Organic Chem/L, Physiology/L and CMP 315
• No grade < C is accepted
• Only 1 course repeat is permitted and only to raise the GPA, not to replace and course failure.
• Required 300 level courses cannot be repeated
• Complete 120 hours of direct patient contact
• All requirements must be met by June 1 of sophomore year

Total Credit Hours for PA Program = 104

Didactic Phase Year 1

FALL YEAR 1: 16 credit hours

• PAS 510/L & PAS 516/L  Advanced Human Anatomy
• PAS 511 Microbiology
• PAS 513 Clinical Lab Medicine
• PAS 514 Pathophysiology
• PAS 535 Medical Professional Issues (MPI) I
• PHI 321 Medical Ethics

SPRING YEAR 1: 15 credit hours

• PAS 515 Fundamentals of Medicine I
  • Cardio, Pulm, GI, Endo, Urology, Radiology
• PAS 517 Physical Diagnosis I
• PAS 517L Physical Diagnosis Lab I
• PAS 518 Pharmacology I
• PAS 329 Statistics

Didactic Phase Year 2

FALL YEAR 2: 17 credit hours

• PAS 519 Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine II
  • Rheum, Derm, Cardio, Psych, Neuro, Radiology/POCUS
• PAS 520 Physical Diagnosis II
• PAS 520L Physical Diagnosis II Lab
• PAS 521 Pharmacology II
• PAS 522 The Cultural and Psychosocial Dynamics of Medicine
• PAS 536 Medical Professional Issues II
• PAS 538 Orthopedics

SPRING YEAR 2: 18 credit hours

• PAS 524 Pediatrics
• PAS 525 Clinical Problem Solving 
• PAS 526 Surgery
• PAS 527 Geriatrics
• PAS 528 Emergency Medicine with POCUS
• PAS 529 Research Methodology
• PAS 531 Preventative Medicine

Clinical Phase

• The following courses are divided between summer, fall and spring
• Total clinical year credit hours = 38
• PAS 601-610 Clerkships
  • students will complete 10 four week clerkships = 30 credit hours
    • 7 core rotations
      • family medicine
      • emergency medicine
      • internal medicine
      • surgery
      • pediatrics
      • women's health (including prenatal and gyn)
      • mental health 
      • 3 non-core/electives
• PAS 612 Research I
• PAS 613 Research II
• PAS 614 Clinical Seminar I
• PAS 615 Clinical Seminar II
• PAS 616 Clinical Seminar III

Clinical clerkships are arranged by the PA Program. Students are prohibited from soliciting or arranging clinical sites or preceptors. Requests may be considered.