Program Overview

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Physician Assistant, M.M.S. Program

The Physician Assistant program in the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine offers a Master of Medical Science physician assistant degree. This program will prepare students to practice as physician assistants in primary and specialty care across the lifespan, to patients in culturally diverse and rural settings.

Program Description

The program will provide students with the tools and skills to support lifelong learning, to apply evidence-based medicine in practice, and to work in inter-professional teams.

Admission Information

The Physician Assistant program at Marshall University is a non-thesis, 28-month graduate-level program awarding the Master of Medical Science Physician Assistant (MMS PA) degree upon completion.

Admission Requirements

• Applicants will be evaluated using the applicant's academic record, recommendations, entrance exam, CASPer exam, essay, and interview.
• Consistent with our mission, applicants who are West Virginia residents will be given additional points in the admission rubric.
• Marshall University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, marital or family status, pregnancy, veteran status, service in the uniformed services, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or gender expression in the administration of any of its educational programs, activities, or with respect to admission or employment.

Rolling Admission

Admission is selective and operates on a rolling admission cycle. Therefore, it will benefit applicants to complete their applications early. Applications verified by CASPA by the October 1st deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Advanced Placement

No advanced placement is granted in the program. All courses must be taken in the Marshall University Physician Assistant program.

Application Deadline

Applicants who wish to join the cohort in January 2026 must have their CASPA application verified by October 1, 2025.

Prerequisite Coursework

• Baccalaureate degree from an accepted, accredited U.S. institution: no specific major is required so long as prerequisites are successfully completed.
• Required minimum overall GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) overall, as calculated by CASPA.
• Required minimum prerequisite coursework GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale), as calculated by Marshall University's PA program.
• Required minimum science GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale), as calculated by CASPA.
• Prerequisite coursework should have been taken within the last 10 years.
• No Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) coursework will be accepted in lieu of taking the courses themselves.
• All courses must be taken for a letter grade and be passed at the C or better level; a C minus is not acceptable.

Prerequisite Classes

• General Chemistry with associated lab - 8 cr.
• Statistics - 3 cr.
• Human Anatomy with lab - 4 cr.
• Human Physiology - 3 cr.
• Organic Chemistry I with lab - 4 cr. (or Biochemistry - 3 cr.)
• Microbiology with lab - 3 cr.
• Medical Terminology - one semester (1 cr. - 3 cr.)
• Psychology - 3 cr.
• College Algebra - 3 cr. (May be replaced with Pre-Calculus or Calculus)

Recommendations

Three recommendations are required. They must be submitted through CASPA and be from recommenders who can attest to the applicant's abilities to succeed.

Entrance Exam

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required. The MCAT may be substituted for the GRE. GRE/MCAT scores must be less than five years old at the time of application.

Essay

The essay, or personal statement, must be submitted through CASPA.

CASPer Exam

All applicants applying to the Marshall University Physician Assistant Program are required to complete the Altus Suite (Casper test only) for the admissions cycle.

Plan of Study

The program consists of a total of 122 credit hours, including:

First Semester

• PAS 500: Foundations of Medicine - 7 cr.
• PAS 520: Gross Anatomy for the PA - 4 cr.
• PAS 530: Pharmacology Principles - 3 cr.
• PAS 550: History and Physical Exam - 3 cr. Total credit hours: 17

Second Semester

• PAS 600: Clinical Medicine I - 6 cr.
• PAS 601: Pharmacology for the PA I - 2 cr.
• PAS 602: Clinical Concepts I - 2 cr.
• PAS 603: Clinical Assessment I - 2 cr.
• PAS 604: Testing and Procedures I - 2 cr.
• PAS 605: PA's in Health Care - 2 cr.
• PAS 606: PA Evidence Based Practice - 2 cr. Total credit hours: 18

Third Semester

• PAS 610: Clinical Medicine II - 6 cr.
• PAS 611: Pharmacology for the PA II - 2 cr.
• PAS 612: Clinical Concepts II - 2 cr.
• PAS 613: Clinical Assessment II - 2 cr.
• PAS 614: Testing and Procedures II - 2 cr.
• PAS 615: Health Policy for the PA - 2 cr.
• PAS 616: Clinical Specialties I - 3 cr. Total credit hours: 19

Fourth Semester

• PAS 620: Clinical Medicine III - 6 cr.
• PAS 621: Pharmacology for the PA III - 2 cr.
• PAS 622: Clinical Concepts III - 2 cr.
• PAS 623: Clinical Assessment III - 2 cr.
• PAS 624: Testing and Procedures III - 2 cr.
• PAS 625: PA Professional Practice - 2 cr.
• PAS 626: Clinical Specialties II - 3 cr.
• PAS 627: Psychiatry for the PA - 2 cr. Total credit hours: 21

Clinical Year

Students are also required to complete a Clinical Year by taking the following courses:

• PAS 650: PA Primary Care I - 4 cr.
• PAS 651: PA Primary Care II - 4 cr.
• PAS 652: PA Psychiatry I - 4 cr.
• PAS 653: PA Internal Medicine I - 4 cr.
• PAS 654: PA Internal Medicine Sub - 4 cr.
• PAS 655: PA Women's Health - 4 cr.
• PAS 656: PA Pediatrics - 4 cr.
• PAS 657: PA General Surgery - 4 cr.
• PAS 658: PA Emergency Medicine - 4 cr.
• PAS 659: Orthopaedics - 4 cr.
• PAS 660: PA Clinical Elective - 4 cr.
• PAS 690: Senior Seminar - 3 cr. Total credit hours for Clinical Year: 47

Total credit hours for the program: 122