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Articulation Agreement: Shenandoah University Division of Physician Assistant Studies

This articulation agreement is designed for applicants who have completed the prerequisites and will be obtaining a baccalaureate from Shenandoah University. This agreement is available to all students enrolled full-time at Shenandoah University for undergraduate study.

Admission Requirements

For admission and entry into the Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program through this articulation agreement, candidates must complete the following for priority status eligibility:

  1. Submit a completed admission application available through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistant (CASPA) (https://caspa.liaisoncas.com) The CASPA admissions cycle begins on or about April 27th and ends on or about October 1st of each academic year.
    • Complete all prerequisites required for admission to the program.
    • Submit all official transcripts
    • Submit three letters of reference from individuals who are well acquainted with the applicant academically, personally, and/or professionally. Candidates should not obtain references from family members or others with whom they share a personal relationship. References must be submitted via CASPA instructions.
    • Submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores. Official scores are to be sent to CASPA. The Shenandoah designated institution code (DI) is 0414. While there is no minimum GRE score required for admission, the successful candidate generally has scores above the 50th percentile.
    • Obtain a score of acceptable or above in an interview with a Division of Physician Assistant Studies
  2. Academic Requirements To be considered for admission applicants must have:
    • A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree with all prerequisites completed at Shenandoah University. In order to satisfy prerequisites, courses must have been passed with a grade of C or better. In order to be competitive, however, it is strongly recommended that prerequisites be completed with a grade of A or B.
    • A minimum 3.0 CASPA-calculated overall cumulative grade point average (GPA).
    • A minimum 3.0 CASPA-calculated overall science GPA.
    • A minimum 3.0 Shenandoah University prerequisite GPA.
  3. Additional preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a commitment to practice in primary care in rural or urban medically underserved areas. Candidates requesting this preference must do so in the form of a letter uploaded with their CASPA application. Applicants should include their rationale for the request along with documentation supporting the commitment to primary care practice in underserved communities. Documentation is best achieved by identifying and describing prior work or community volunteer experience.

The program’s application deadline is October 1st which is published on the program specific page in CASPA.

Admissions Process

Up to a total of five students/graduates per year from Shenandoah University, who meet the criteria for admission through the Articulation Agreement will be granted priority status for admissions to the Division of Physician Assistant Studies at Shenandoah University. As with all other applicants, priority applicants must have an on-site interview prior to admission and receive an interview score of acceptable or above.

If more than 5 students meet the application deadline, Shenandoah University’s Division of Physician Assistant Studies will rank-order all priority applicants based on consideration of the full set of application materials and the evaluations from the admissions interview. The additional students will enter our regular applicant pool.

Campus location preference will be determined upon acceptance.

All decisions for Admission into the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program are made by the Admissions Committee for the Division of Physician Assistant Studies. Final decisions for all applicants are based on consideration of the full set of application materials and the evaluations from the admissions interview. Applicants who have been interviewed will be notified in writing of the Admissions Committee decisions within 30 days of their visit.

Students can be given provisional acceptance indicating that some of the admissions requirements need to be completed prior to matriculation into the program. Provisional acceptances are generally offered to those students completing final prerequisite courses prior to the program entry. These students receive a letter from the Division as well as from the Admissions Office that describes/outlines which courses, materials, or other requirements (e.g. – desired level of competency for remaining prerequisites) that need to be completed.

Nothing in this agreement is intended to negate the usual process of student evaluation or supersede final decisions on admissions. After successful completion of the curriculum in the Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Shenandoah University awards a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

This agreement is intended to be a long-term arrangement. Each party may continue or discontinue this agreement on a yearly basis with notice. Shenandoah University requires two-year notice for changes in prerequisites to provide adequate protection for students in a pre-physician assistant course of study.