Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

Admissions requirements

To be considered for this program the applicant must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Prior to matriculation, applicants must have received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 grading scale, and a minimum overall science GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 grading scale.
2. GRE official scores for all three sections of the test must be submitted to Brenau University (Code: 4397) prior to the application deadline of Sept. 1.
3. The college requires applicants to earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in each of the following required prerequisite courses and all prerequisite courses must have been completed by the application deadline of Sept. 1:
   • College Algebra or higher – 3 semester hours*
   • Statistics – 3 semester hours*
   • General Psychology or higher – 3 semester hours*
   • Biology I + Lab – 4 semester hours*
   • Biology II + Lab – 4 semester hours*
   • General Inorganic Chemistry I (4 hours) & II (4 hours) including labs – 8 semester hours*
   • Organic Chemistry I + Lab – 4 semester hours*
   • Microbiology including laboratory – 4 semester hours*^
   • Human Genetics – 3 semester hours*^
   • Human Anatomy & Human Physiology or combined A&P I & II courses with labs – 8 semester hours*^
     • *hours are indicated as semester hours; for colleges/universities using quarter hour system, applicant must have earned equivalent quarter hours.
     • ^These prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years of the time of application. Waivers for the time limit will be considered on a case by case basis for those with current, relevant health care or teaching experience in these areas.
     • Additional note: Graduates of foreign institutions where English is not the primary language of instruction must meet the additional requirements outlined below, in bullet number 7.
4. Other recommended courses include General Physics I, Biochemistry, Abnormal Psychology and Medical Terminology.
5. Prior health care experience is required and is considered for admission. Applicants must submit verifiable information documenting at least 500 hours of direct patient care experience by the application deadline of Sept. 1 in order to be considered for admission to the program. Higher numbers of direct patient care hours are considered more competitive.
6. Three letters of recommendation are required:
   • One letter from a professor or any individual who has worked with the applicant in a professional or educational environment. Reference should have worked with the applicant for a minimum of six months;
   • One letter from a physician assistant or physician (MD/DO); and
   • One additional clinical reference from a health care professional (e.g. physician assistant, physician, dentist, pharmacist, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physical or occupational therapist, etc.) Recommendation letters submitted by relatives, friends, personal health care providers, or personal friends of the family are not acceptable.
7. Applicants who have attended foreign universities or colleges are required to have their academic credentials evaluated for U.S. institution equivalence by a NACES accredited evaluation agency. Graduates of foreign institutions where English is not the primary language of instruction must present transcripts showing at least 18 semester hours of study from an accredited college or university in the United States. Of these 18 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours): three semester hours must be in English Composition, three semester hours must be in English Literature, and three semester hours must be in Public Speaking (courses do not include ESOL). The remaining nine semester hours can be any course of the applicant’s choosing (excluding physical education courses).
8. Candidates who fit either of the following will be given additional consideration during the admissions process:
   • those whose permanent residence is in and/or those who have been raised in northeast Georgia and/or in a rural or medically underserved community
   • those with prior military experience (active duty and reserves)
9. Applicants invited for an interview must complete/submit results of CASPer assessment to Brenau University.
10. Candidates who meet any or all of the following criteria are generally considered more competitive applicants:
    • those who take a course load of > 15 credits/semester for the majority of their undergraduate educational experience;
    • those who complete the prerequisite science courses as part of a full course load (> 15 hours) and at a traditional four-year institution;
    • those who also participate in extracurricular activities with verifiable hours during their undergraduate educational experience, including as a student athlete or employed at least half-time; and
    • those who have completed graduate level science coursework and/or a graduate degree.

Matriculation requirements

To be considered for this program the applicant must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Technical standards
   Students must meet the program-defined Technical Standards, as defined on the program’s website under “Technical Standards” All accepted candidates are required to meet the program’s Technical Standards (physical and psychological competencies of performance) prior to entering the program and throughout training. Technical standards include capacity for: observation, communication skills, psychomotor skills, cognitive/intellectual-conceptual skills, and behavioral/affective skills.
2. Health and Immunization Requirements – Upon acceptance, students will be required to submit and maintain evidence of current health status and immunizations. The department’s policy on immunization of students is based on current Centers for Disease Control recommendations for health professionals. The CDC’s recommendations are available online.
   • Per the CDC’s 2025-2026 COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance; the “vaccine is recommended for people ages 6 months and older based on individual-based decision-making (also known as shared clinical decision making).” Brenau University requires that all students in clinical programs in the Ivester College of Health Sciences are up-to-date in accordance with these vaccination guidelines.
   • A decision to refuse COVID-19 vaccination may fundamentally alter a student’s program progression, and program completion and graduation may be delayed. Beyond institutional requirements, students must adhere to site-specific vaccination requirements. The Provost’s Office has stipulated that a clinical education program is only obligated to seek placement 3 times per student. If the student cannot meet the vaccination requirements of the clinical sites contacted, academic progression is severely at risk.
   • Please contact your clinical education faculty and staff with all questions regarding this process.
   • Additionally, as previously recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) as listed on the CDC’s website for Immunization of Health-Care Workers the Department of PA Studies requires students to provide documentation of the following immunizations and tests, prior to matriculation:
     • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis – primary series of DTP or DTap, in addition to at least one adult dose of Tdap followed by a Tdap or Td every 10 years.
     • Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) – two doses of a combined MMR – OR – two doses of Measles, two doses of Mumps, and one dose of Rubella – OR – laboratory evidence of immunity to each disease.
     • Varicella (Chickenpox) – positive Varicella antibody titer – OR – two doses of the Varicella vaccine given at least one month apart.
     • Hepatitis B – two or three dose series, followed by a post-vaccine quantitative antibody titer.
   • The department also requires baseline screening for tuberculosis via one of the following methods:
     • Baseline individual TB risk assessment,
     • TB symptom evaluation,
     • A TB test:
       • 2 step TB skin test (administered 1-3 weeks apart) – OR –
       • QuantiFERON Gold blood test (lab report required)  
       • If positive results, submit a clear chest x-ray (lab report required).
   • As per the most recent CDC recommendations, annual testing is only required in the case of exposure. Please see TB Screening and Testing of Health Care Personnel from the CDC for the most recent recommendations.
     • Please note: Some clinical agencies require more stringent immunizations, and students must also adhere to agency requirements. Documentation of immunizations, and any follow-up titers or x-rays, must be reported on agency forms. Most clinical agencies are now requiring an annual flu vaccine.
     • Students are encouraged to make copies of all written immunization records. You will not be allowed to participate in clinical experiences until proof of immunizations is recorded in the departmental tracking software.
     • Students are responsible for verifying that all immunizations are current, so plan ahead.
3. Student health insurance
   Students are required to maintain university-approved health care insurance coverage while enrolled in the program. The university offers a health plan and students will be automatically enrolled and can then opt-out if they have other health insurance (proof of other insurance is required).
4. Drug screen
   All students will be required to pass a drug screen prior to matriculation. The student will be responsible for the costs of the pre-matriculation drug screen. Acceptance to the program is contingent upon drug screen results.
5. Background check
   All students will be required to complete a criminal background check prior to matriculation and prior to starting clinical rotations. The student will be responsible for the costs for the pre-matriculation criminal background check. Acceptance to the program is contingent upon the results of the background check.

Additional admission information can be found at the Department of Physician Assistant Studies Admission & Tuition page.