Pre-Physician Assistant Studies

A physician assistant (PA) is a health care provider who is trained to provide routine diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative health care under the supervision of a physician. The pre-Physician Assistant program is designed to prepare students for admission to the USD Masters degree program in Physician Assistant Studies. A Bachelors degree is required for admission. Applications for the USD Physician Assistant Studies program are due by October 1 each year and are submitted through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CAPSA).

Students are selected for admission based on the evaluation of their: academic potential; potential for primary care practice; motivation, maturity, and ability to work with others; health care or other work experience; letters of recommendation; personal interviews.

Additional information regarding the USD Physician Assistant Studies program is available by contacting: Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Room 205, Julian Hall, 677-5128 (http://www.usd.edu/pa); Academic Advising Center, 677-5381 (Arts and Science, Room 20); Health Professions Advisor, 677-5156 (Julian Hall 143) or Department of Biology, 677-5211 or by visiting the following web site: http://admissions.usd.edu/academics/majors/pre-health-professions.cfm.