Seton Hall University offers a dual degree program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant. This six-year program offers you the opportunity to study in a traditional liberal arts environment as well as in a major healthcare organization.
Physician assistants are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. The physician assistant provides a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. They interview patients, compile patients’ medical histories, perform physical examination and, as necessary, order or perform required diagnostic laboratory tests. Forty-eight states have enacted laws that authorize physician assistant prescribing.
Employment opportunities for physician assistants are expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005 due to anticipated expansion of the healthcare system and an emphasis on cost containment. The first class of physician assistants graduated from Duke University in 1967. Today some 55,000 physician assistants practice in a variety of healthcare settings throughout the United States. These practice settings include solo and group private practices, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, long-term care facilities, student health services, and urban and rural clinics.
PREPARATION
Admission to the program is open to applicants who successfully complete a high school college preparatory curriculum, including courses in the social sciences, biology, mathematics, physics, English, a foreign language and chemistry. SAT scores are required of all applicants. International students must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.
Applicants are encouraged to volunteer or work in a local hospital or other healthcare setting to strengthen interpersonal skills and develop an understanding of the needs and capabilities of patients and the role of physician assistants.
The physician assistant program at Seton Hall is unique because it accepts students for enrollment in the entire program. If you successfully complete all professional admission requirements, you will be admitted into the final years of professional study.
Due to a limit on the number of physician assistant students in each entering freshman class admission into the program is extremely selective.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
All students in this program must fulfill the core requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, the departmental requirements for a degree in biology and the requirements for the physician assistant degree. Your adviser will assist you in planning your course of study to complete the program within the six-year time span. For the curriculum, visit our Web page at artsci.shu.edu/biology/pa.htm
SAMPLE CURRICULUM
(First 4 years)
First year (30 credits)
Fall Semester Credits
Calculus I 4
English I 3
General Biology I 4
General Chemistry 4
Total 15
Spring Semester Credits
English II 3
Calculus II 4
General Biology II 4
General Chemistry II 4
Total 15
Summer
Volunteer work in physician assistant settings. The volunteer work may be satisfied at any time prior to admission into the professional phase of the program. Students must complete a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer experience.
Sophomore year (34 credits)
Fall Semester Credits
Genetics 4
Organic Chemistry I 4
Psychology 3
Language 3
American/Third-World Civilization 3
Total 17
Spring Semester Credits
Cell Biology 4
Organic Chemistry II 4
American/Third-World Civilization 3
Religion Elective 3
Language Elective 3
Total 17
Summer Semester Credits
Behavioral Science and Western Civilization 3
Junior Year (35 Credits)
Fall Semester Credits
Physics I 4
Microbiology 4
Anatomy and Physiology I 4
Philosophy or Religion Elective 3
Western Civilizations 3
Total 18
Spring Semester Credits
Physics II 4
Anatomy and Physiology 4
Oral Communication 3
Ethical Questions 3
Philosophy 3
Total 17
PROFESSIONAL PHASE
First Professional Year (33 credits)
Fall Semester Credits
Human Anatomy 4
Introduction to Clinical Medicine 4
Psychiatry 2
Health Maintenance Education 2
Human Physiology 3
Total 15
Spring Semester
Introduction to Clinical Medicine II 4
Clinical & Diagnostic Methods 4
Pharmacology 2
Clinical Therapeutics 2
Pathophysiology 3
Neuroscience 3
Total 18
TOTAL CREDITS: 135
For more information, contact:
Dr. Gerald Ruscingno
Director of Health Professions
College of Arts and Science
Seton Hall University
400 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 275-2015
E-mail: ruscinge@shu.edu
Web: artsci.shu.edu/biology/pa.htm
To request an application, contact:
Enrollment Services
Seton Hall University
400 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, NJ 07079-2689
1-800-THE-HALL (out of state)
(973) 761-9332 (in-state)
Apply: admissions.shu.edu
