Program Overview

Introduction to the Physician Assistant Dual Admission Program

The Physician Assistant Dual Admission program at Nova Southeastern University is designed for future physician assistants who aim to provide compassionate and personalized care. This program trains competent, caring medical professionals dedicated to improving healthcare quality and outcomes.

Program Overview

The Dual Admission Physician Assistant program takes six years and three months to complete. Students who complete the program will receive a bachelor's degree and a Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.) in Physician Assistant. Candidates will follow a prescribed 4-year course of study in any undergraduate major and two years and three months of training in the PA program at the Dr. Pallavi Patel School of Health Sciences.

Degrees Earned

• Bachelor's degree in any undergraduate major
• Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant (M.M.S.)

Program Length

• Earn bachelor's degree in four years
• Earn master's degree in two years and three months

Interview Required

Students applying for dual admission must interview during Shark Preview, an exclusive admitted student event.

Deadline to Apply

• Fall Admission: February 1

Eligibility

To be considered for Dual Admission, there are specific requirements that must be met.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

These requirements are for first-time in college students applying to earn a bachelor's degree. This Dual Admission program is ONLY for first-time in college students, although college credits earned through advanced high school programs may apply.

GPA

• 3.5 Weighted GPA in High School

ACT/SAT

• 4+: 1270 SAT / 27 ACT
• 3+: 1360 SAT / 30 ACT

CLT Equivalent

Courses:

• Biology*
• Chemistry
• Algebra II *Anatomy and Physiology, and Living Environment may be substituted for Biology

Graduate Admission Requirements

These are the standards students need to maintain while earning their undergraduate degree to remain eligible for the graduate or professional program.

Degree Required

Students must complete a bachelor's degree in any major they choose. Additional prerequisites may be communicated upon admission.

Undergraduate GPA

Students must maintain a 3.4 cumulative and science GPA. They must also earn at least a C in each prerequisite course.

Required Test Scores

• GRE: No less than a 153 on the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections, and no less than a 4.0 on analytical writing.
  • All minimum test scores must be achieved on the same test attempt (no superscoring).

Credits Required

Students must earn at least 120 credits to enter the P.A. graduate program.

Additional Requirements

Transfer Credits Through High School

College credits earned through advanced high school programs such as AP, IB, or college academy, or in summer coursework following high school graduation, prior to attending NSU, may transfer to NSU. However, students are strongly encouraged to take a majority of their specific science program pre-requisites at NSU to highlight their competency in these critical domains and maximize their long-term profile for future graduate/professional school candidacy.

Placement Information

A student's initial course placement in mathematics, science, or composition may impact the timing of the completion of all dual admission prerequisites and major courses, and could result in the need to take summer courses.

Application Process

To apply for the Dual Admission program, students must:

• Apply for undergraduate admission using the NSU Application or the Common App.
• Submit a supplemental application for Premier Programs for fall entry.
• Interview during Shark Preview if admitted to NSU and after submitting the supplemental application.