Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

Return to: Graduate Programs

Kathleen Ehrhardt, MMS, PA-C, DFAAPA
Program Director
610.282.1100, ext. 1483
Kathleen.ehrhardt@desales.edu

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program educates professionals to function as members of the physician led health care team and as patient advocates. The physician assistant program is 24 months (6 semesters) with the first year emphasizing academic medicine and the second year emphasizing clinical training.

Continuing accreditation has been granted by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)

Students gain strong fundamental knowledge of medicine along with varied experience, which prepare them for their roles as professional physician assistants.

Learning involves case-based profiles with outcome based educational objectives.

• Pharmacology is taught from the perspective of the prescriber.
• Pathophysiology shows the relationship of disease to concepts covered in clinical medicine.
• History and physical examination courses develop familiarity with obtaining pertinent and concise examinations as they relate to disease entities. Students gain practical knowledge by performing clinical procedures and by ordering and interpreting diagnostic testing, images, and electrocardiograms. Hands-on procedures such as suturing, insertion of nasogastric tubes, Foley catheters, and intravenous devices are emphasized.
• Research techniques as they relate to medical topics are taught for efficiency in assessing evidence based medical information along with reading/understanding medical literature.
• Clinical cases incorporating medical, surgical, and ethically based issues are presented by the students in the final year of the Program.

The program is consistent with the Christian humanistic philosophy of the University. Graduates of the program will function as members of the health care team and as patient advocates.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Physician Assistant Program is consistent with the enduring Christian humanistic traditions of DeSales University and seeks to graduate physician assistants who dedicate themselves to the total well-being of the patient. Graduates of the Program will deliver competent and compassionate health care including preventative services and wellness education to patients of diverse populations in a variety of settings. They will consider the patient holistically in the context of family, community, and society, and incorporate ethical principles into a patient-focused practice.  They will serve their patients by using evidence-based medicine and promoting life-long learning in the profession. 

Goals

1. Maintain PANCE pass rates higher than the national average.
2. Prepare graduates to obtain employment within the first six months following program completion.
3. Foster and maintain collaborative connections between the students and faculty.
4. Provide early clinical experiences to complement classroom teaching.
5. Develop critical thinking skills.
6. Provide education on and/or experiences with diverse and vulnerable populations.
7. Emphasize a focus on interprofessional education and practice.
8. Support the diverse backgrounds of all program constituents including students, staff, and faculty.

DeSales University’s physician assistant program has a longstanding history of excellent performance of its graduates on the national certifying examination (PANCE). Job placement in the physician assistant field remains very strong with DeSales graduates typically being fully employed within six months of graduation.

Program Defined Competencies

1. Knowledge for Practice

1. Demonstrate investigative and critical thinking in clinical situations
2. Access and interpret current and credible sources of medical information
3. Understand and apply the fundamental principles of epidemiology to identify health problems, risk factors, and disease prevention
4. Discern among acute, chronic, and emergent disease states
5. Recognize normal and abnormal health states
6. Formulate a differential diagnosis
7. Develop and implement patient management plans
8. Understand the pathophysiology of disease processes in order to formulate a treatment plan for the patient
9. Distinguish and order appropriate laboratory and diagnostic tests based on the differential diagnosis of the patient
10. Analyze laboratory and diagnostic tests that are ordered based on the patient’s diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis
11. Formulate a plan for the administration of medications including an understanding of pharmacologic principles
12. Recognize patient acuity for proper triage to the appropriate treatment setting (i.e. outpatient, inpatient, emergency department, surgery)
13. Initiate management and provide supportive care for acute life-threatening emergencies
14. Demonstrate core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care
15. Apply principles of clinical sciences to diagnose disease and utilize therapeutic decision-making, clinical problem-solving, and other evidence-based practice skills
16. Demonstrate understanding of and apply technical skills to satisfy assessment parameters as outlined in course syllabi

2.  Interpersonal and Communication Skills

1. Demonstrate sensitivity, honesty, and compassion to provide quality, equitable, and culturally competent care
2. Communicate effectively to elicit and provide information
3. Accurately and adequately document medical information for clinical, legal, quality, and financial purposes
4. Demonstrate emotional resilience, stability, adaptability, and flexibility to maintain effective interpersonal communication
5. Utilize appropriate patient education techniques for management, treatment, and preventative care

3. Person-centered Care

1. Elicit a detailed, accurate, and comprehensive patient history
2. Organize and present data from the history and physical examination
3. Perform an appropriate physical examination for all ages to include prenatal, infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly, in multiple settings, and with various presenting complaints
4. Elicit, acknowledge, and apply the context of the individual’s environment and cultural influences to their care
5. Develop, implement, and monitor effectiveness of patient management plans
6. Counsel and educate patients and families to participate in their care and enable shared decision-making
7. Recognize appropriate referral patterns, indications for consultation and interdisciplinary services

4. Interprofessional Collaboration

1. Communicate effectively with colleagues and other professionals to establish and enhance interprofessional teams
2. Recognize when to refer patients to other disciplines to ensure that patients receive optimal care at the right time and appropriate level
3. Demonstrate competence in working collaboratively as a member of an inter-professional, patient-centered healthcare team
4. Consistently maintain a professional relationship with all members of the healthcare team, patients and their family members

5. Professionalism and Ethics

1. Adhere to standards of care in the role of the PA in the health care team
2. Demonstrate cultural humility and responsiveness to diverse patient populations
3. Show commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of care, confidentiality, patient autonomy, informed consent, business practices, and compliance with relevant laws, policies, and regulations
4. Demonstrate compassionate behaviors when working with patients and their families
5. Demonstrate timely attendance, appropriate dress and accomplishment of assigned tasks on time
6. Demonstrate the ability to openly seek and positively respond to constructive criticism and feedback from preceptors and staff

6.  Practice-based Learning and Quality Improvement

1. Demonstrate an enthusiasm in learning and expand knowledge through self-directed learning
2. Access and interpret current and credible sources of medical literature and information

7. Society and Population Health

1. Recognize the cultural norms, needs, influences, and socioeconomic, environmental, and other population-level determinants affecting the health of the individual and community being served
2. Recognize the potential impacts of the community, biology, and genetics on patients and incorporate into clinical decision-making

Technical Standards

Technical Standards for Admission, Academic Progress, and Graduation: The technical standards for the DeSales University Physician Assistant Program have been established to ensure than students have the ability to demonstrate academic mastery, perform clinical skills, and communicate clinical information. These standards are aimed to ensure that each student has the academic and physical ability to acquire competencies defined by the National Commission on Accreditation of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). These technical standards also ensure that each student can participate in competency activities prescribed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). These activities include patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice. These technical standards are required for admission and must be maintained throughout a student’s progress through the Physician Assistant Program. In the event that a matriculated student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodations, then the student may be counseled to pursue alternate careers.

All students must be able to independently meet the following standards:

• General abilities - Students must possess:
  • a functional sense of vision, touch, hearing, taste, and smell in order to be able to integrate, analyze, and synthesize data in a consistent and accurate manner
  • the ability to perceive pain, pressure, temperature, position, vibration, equilibrium, and movement

• Observational abilities - Students must be able to:

• observe demonstrations, exercises, and patients accurately at a distance and close at hand
• note non-verbal as well as verbal signals

• Communication abilities - Students must be able to:
  • speak intelligibly
  • hear sufficiently
  • elicit and transmit patient information in oral and written English to members of the healthcare team
  • describe changes in mood, activity, and posture
  • communicate effectively and sensitively with patients
  • read at a level sufficient to accomplish curricular requirements and provide clinical care for patients
  • write or type appropriate medical documents according to protocol in a thorough and timely manner
• Sensory and Motor ability - Students must:

• possess gross and fine motor skills sufficient to directly perform palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other basic diagnostic procedures
• be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide basic medical care, such as airway management, placement of catheters, suturing, phlebotomy, application of sufficient pressure to control bleeding, simple obstetrical maneuvers, and extended standing and retraction in surgery

• Critical thinking ability - Students must:
  • be able to independently access and interpret medical histories or files
  • identify significant findings from history, physical examination, and laboratory data
  • provide a reasoned explanation for likely diagnoses and prescribed medications and therapy
  • recall and retain information in an efficient and timely manner
  • calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize
  • incorporate new information from peers, teachers, and the medical literature in formulating diagnoses and plans
• Behavioral and Social Attributes - Students must:

• possess the ability to use their intellectual capacity, exercise good judgment, and promptly complete all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis under potentially stressful circumstances, emergency situations, and extended hours
• be able to develop empathic, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients
• be able to adapt to changing environments and to learn in the face of uncertainties inherent in the practice of medicine
• be able to respond to supervision appropriately and act independently, when indicated

If an applicant states she/he is unable to meet the technical standards without accommodation, the University will determine whether the student can meet the technical standards with reasonable accommodation. This includes a review of whether the accommodations requested are reasonable, taking into account whether the accommodation would jeopardize patient safety or the educational process of the student or the institution, including all coursework and internships deemed essential to graduation. Students with a documented disability who wish to request academic accommodations should contact the Director of Student Accessibility (Dooling Hall, Room 20, extension 1453).

Admission Requirements

Selection for a place in the physician assistant program is very competitive. In order to be considered for admission in the next academic year, an applicant’s file must be completed and verified in CASPA no later than December 1. Admission is based on academic achievement, high quality performance in science and/or healthcare related courses, documentation of healthcare experience, demonstrated motivation and professional potential, and strong interpersonal skills. Experience with underserved or vulnerable populations receives consideration in keeping with DeSales University’s mission of Christian Humanism. As DeSales University participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, special consideration is given to applicants who have served or are serving in the US military. The Program also reserves two seats for graduates of DeSales University science programs.

Advanced placement in the physician assistant program is not possible. There is no credit for experiential learning.

NOTE: All Applicants must apply and submit required forms and documentation via CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants: www.caspaonline.org). To qualify for admission into the physician assistant program, students should have:

1. A bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges). An applicant who possesses a degree from an accredited institution outside of the US may also be considered for admission. Students must have their transcript verified and translated by an approved organization (such as World Education Council) and should meet all other requirements including those described in the International Student section.
2. Completed all required classes before matriculation in the program. Students may apply before the completion of these courses but only two outstanding courses can be completed after the deadline. Such candidates may gain conditional acceptance.
3. Achieved a GPA of at least 3.0 in all courses and a GPA of at least 3.0 in science courses required.
4. Taken and submitted the test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Physician Assistant College Admissions Test (PA-CAT). Scores should be received by December 1. GRE will be waived if a score of 30 or higher has been achieved on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
5. Submitted to CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) a completed application and official transcripts from all colleges attended.
6. Submitted a minimum of three letters of recommendation, maximum of five.
7. Completed a minimum of 500 hours of health care experience (paid, volunteer, or shadowing). The experience should be completed within the United States due to the wide variety of global health care delivery systems. The 500-hour requirement must be completed before matriculation into the program and does not need to be completed by the time of the application. The most useful health care hours relate to direct patient contact, including by not limited to EMT, CNA, MA, surgical technician, patient care technician/associate, dietician, medical scribe, pharmacy technician, campus health center volunteer.
8. Submitted all transcripts of studies completed outside of the United States by December 1. These transcripts must have been evaluated by an accredited credentialing agency.
9. Attended a personal interview (by invitation only).
10. A criminal background check, fingerprinting, child abuse clearance, and immunizations are required for matriculation into the program. A positive result may affect the ability of the student to matriculate into the program, be placed on clinical rotations, or obtain licensure.

International Admissions Requirements

Please see section on International students in General Information portion of the graduate catalog.

Prerequisite Requirements

Prerequisite requirements for students with bachelor’s degree:

1. Completion of the University’s general education requirements or equivalents.
   English Composition I
   English Composition II
2. Completion of basic science requirements
   General Biology
   Microbiology
   Anatomy and Physiology I (Human)
   Anatomy and Physiology II (Human)
   Inorganic Chemistry
   Organic Chemistry
3. Psychology
4. Statistics

The anatomy and physiology courses and microbiology courses ordinarily should be taken within 5 years of application to the PA program, though this may be waived if the applicant is actively working in the medical field.

Application Procedure

Application may be requested from www.caspaonline.org (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) or by calling CASPA at 240.497.1895. Selected applicants will be interviewed by the faculty. Ordinarily, this will be done through a personal visit. Following the interview candidates are evaluated by the Admission Committee to assess their acceptability to the program. Applicants will be notified about the status of their acceptance.

Student Status

The calendar year (January 1 - December 31) is divided into a fall semester (late August - late December), a spring semester (early January - early May), and a summer semester (mid-May - late August).

The DeSales physician assistant program is available only as a full-time, in-person program.

The Academic Calendar may be found at www.desales.edu.

Academic Standing

Students are required to maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.0 having no grade lower than “C” during each semester. The first instance failing to reach the above requirement, the student will be placed on PA program academic probation. These students will be notified of their probationary status in writing. The second occurrence during the PA program will result in PA program academic dismissal. Students academically dismissed may appeal in writing to the medical director of the program who serves as chair of the PA Academic Appeals Committee. Students who fail to achieve a “C” (C- is not acceptable) in any course during the PA program are required to repeat the course at the time the course is offered. All additional costs are the responsibility of the student.

As part of the training, students are given the opportunity for clinical experience. Participants in clinical experiences must act professionally at all times, maintaining patient and practice confidentiality. Breaches of professional conduct may result in dismissal from the program and/or University. Preceptors involved in the training are viewed as instructional faculty and will therefore have a role in evaluating the professional behavior of the students.

Work Policy

Students enrolled in the physician assistant program are not prohibited but are discouraged from working full-time due to the intense nature of the program.

Graduation Requirements

To qualify for graduation with the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree, students must:

• follow the approved course of study, satisfactorily completing all courses.,
• complete all professional phase courses with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 with no course or rotation grade below “C” (C- is not acceptable),
• complete all remediation assignments as determined by the program,
• settle all financial accounts with the University, and
• successfully complete the Summative Experience upon completion of the clinical year.

Summative Experience

Consistent with Accreditation Review Commission for Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) Standards, the program provides a summative experience at the culmination of the curriculum. Successful completion of the summative experience is a graduation requirement. This includes a written comprehensive examination and various stations that evaluate the student’s clinical and technical skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, interpersonal skills, medical knowledge, and professional behaviors. Successful completion of the written exam and clinical assessment stations must meet program-defined passing scores.

Costs

Costs are determined on a yearly basis by the University’s Board of Trustees. Students are notified of the yearly costs in writing.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are available at www.desales.edu.

Refund Amount

Withdrawal after 1st class: 80% of tuition refunded
Withdrawal after 2nd class: 65% of tuition refunded
Withdrawal after 3rd class: 50% of tuition refunded
Withdrawal after 4th class: 25% of tuition refunded
Withdrawal after 5th class: No refund

Physician Assistant Program Information 2023-2024 (Fall Start)

Financial Aid Application Process

Complete and submit the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/. Be sure to designate DeSales University with school code 003986. You will need to complete the FAFSA for each additional academic year you are enrolled to retain your federal loan eligibility.

Financial aid eligibility is based on the information provided on the FAFSA and your enrollment.  Email notifications are sent to your DeSales email address when award packages have been prepared.   You can view your Award Letter by logging into your WebAdvisor Self Service account under Financial Aid and selecting Financial Aid Checklist.  

Financial Aid Loans

Eligible PA students may borrow up to $10,250 per semester in the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program. Students may choose to make interest payments while in school but are not required to until after they graduate or are no longer enrolled in at least three credits per term. 

Federal Direct Loans have an aggregate borrowing limit of $138,500. This includes loans borrowed during an undergraduate degree program. If you have previously borrowed and would like to review your loan history, you can access this information at https://studentaid.gov/  and view your “Dashboard”

First-time borrowers planning to utilize the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program at DeSales must complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/. Please note that this process must only be completed once while you are enrolled at DeSales University.

Federal Direct Loans cannot be processed for any repeated courses/clinicals.

Additional Loan Options (Completed after May 1, 2023) Students are required to maximize their Unsubsidized Loan Eligibility prior to utilizing the additional loan options below:

Federal Graduate Plus Loan - Information on this loan program can be found here: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/plus. This loan may be deferred for six months after graduation or until the student enrolls less than three credits. 

Private Education Loans - Students may borrow through private lenders to support their education.  These loans may require a cosigner. Private loan rates and terms vary based on the student/cosigner’s credit information, choice of a variable or fixed rate loan, and repayment options.  Lender information and applications can be found at www.elmselect.com. 

**A comparison of the Federal Graduate Plus Loan vs. Private Education Loans can be found here: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/federal-vs-private

Billing and Payment Information

If you use a portion of your financial aid for living expenses each semester, you may be eligible to receive a refund of any credit on your account after the drop/add period closes. There will be NO refunds issued unless there is a credit balance on your account. If you have received a refund based on your enrollment and you change your enrollment status, you may be required to repay all or a portion of the refund.

FINANCIAL AID AWARD PERIOD FEDERAL LOAN LIMITS

2023-2024 FAFSA

2024-2025 FAFSA

2025-2026 FAFSA

To assist in financial planning, the Direct and Indirect costs for the 2023-2024 academic year are listed below.  Direct Costs (billed to the student) plus Indirect Costs (estimated additional expenses not billed to the student) are referred to as your Cost of Attendance. Please note: These figures are subject to change.

Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

Summer 2024, Fall 2024 and Spring 2025

Final Summer Semester 2025

 + Tuition rates for Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 are subject to increase; final rates for the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 terms are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees in  March 2023.

Important Contact Information

Office of Financial Aid                                              (610) 282-1100 ext. 1287                                          finaid@desales.edu

Student Financial Services                                       (610) 282-3382                                                            treasurer@desales.edu

The Financial Aid Office staff is available to meet on campus, virtually, or set up a call to discuss any questions you may have as you work through the process.  You can sign up for a meeting here: https://www.desales.edu/admissions-financial-aid/undergraduate-admissions-aid/financial-aid-scholarships.

Physician Assistant Program Information 2023-2024 (Continuing Student)

Financial Aid Application Process

Complete and submit the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/. Be sure to designate DeSales University with school code 003986. You will need to complete the FAFSA for each additional academic year you are enrolled to retain your federal loan eligibility.

Financial aid eligibility is based on the information provided on the FAFSA and your enrollment.  Email notifications are sent to your DeSales email address when award packages have been prepared.   You can view your Award Letter by logging into your WebAdvisor Self Service account under Financial Aid and selecting Financial Aid Checklist.  

Financial Aid Loans

Eligible PA students may borrow up to $10,250 per semester in the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program. Students may choose to make interest payments while in school, but are not required to until after they graduate or are no longer enrolled in at least three credits per term. Federal Direct Loans have an aggregate borrowing limit of $138,500. This includes loans borrowed during an undergraduate degree program. If you have previously borrowed and would like to review your loan history, log into https://studentaid.gov/ and view your “Dashboard”.

First-time borrowers planning to utilize the William D.Ford Federal Direct Loan program at DeSales must complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/. Please note that this process must only be completed once while you are enrolled at DeSales University.

Federal Direct Loans cannot be processed for any repeated courses/clinicals.

Additional Loan Options (Completed after May 1, 2023) Students are required to maximize their Unsubsidized Loan Eligibility prior to utilizing the additional loan options below:

Federal Graduate Plus Loan - Information on this loan program can be found here: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/plus.  This loan may be deferred for six months after graduation or until the student enrolls less than half-time. 

Private Education Loans - Students may borrow through private lenders to support their education.  These loans may require a cosigner.  Private loan rates and terms vary based on the student/cosigner’s credit information, choice of a variable or fixed rate loan, and repayment options.  Lender information and applications can be found at www.elmselect.com. 

**A comparison of the Federal Graduate Plus Loan vs. Private Education Loans can be found here: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/federal-vs-private

Billing and Payment Information

If you use a portion of your financial aid for living expenses each semester, you may be eligible to receive a refund of any credit on your account after the drop/add period closes. There will be NO refunds issued unless there is a credit balance on your account. If you have received a refund based on your enrollment and you change your enrollment status, you may be required to repay all or a portion of the refund.

FINANCIAL AID AWARD PERIOD FEDERAL LOAN INFORMATION

Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
FAFSA 2023-2024

Final Summer 2024
FAFSA 2024-2025

Cost of Attendance

To assist in financial planning, the Direct and Indirect costs for the 2023-2024 academic year are listed below.  Direct Costs (billed to the student) plus Indirect Costs (estimated additional expenses not billed to the student) are referred to as your Cost of Attendance. Please note: These figures are subject to change.

Summer 2023, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

Final Summer 2024

 + Tuition rates for Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 are subject to increase; final rates for the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 terms are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees in March 2023.

Important Contact Information

Office of Financial Aid                                              (610) 282-1100 ext. 1287                                          finaid@desales.edu

Student Financial Services                                       (610) 282-3382                                                            treasurer@desales.edu

The Financial Aid Office staff is available to meet on campus, virtually, or set up a call to discuss any questions you may have as you work through the process.  You can sign up for a meeting here: https://www.desales.edu/admissions-financial-aid/undergraduate-admissions-aid/financial-aid-scholarships.

Physician Assistant Program Information 2023-2024 (Final Summer)

Financial Aid Application Process

Complete and submit the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/. Be sure to designate DeSales University with school code 003986. You will need to complete the FAFSA for each additional academic year you are enrolled to retain your federal loan eligibility.

Financial aid eligibility is based on the information provided on the FAFSA and your enrollment.  Email notifications are sent to your DeSales email address when award packages have been prepared.   You can view your Award Letter by logging into your WebAdvisor Self Service account under Financial Aid and selecting Financial Aid Checklist.  

Financial Aid Loans

Eligible PA students may borrow up to $10,250 per semester in the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program. Students may choose to make interest payments while in school, but are not required to until after they graduate or are no longer enrolled in at least three credits per term. Federal Direct Loans have an aggregate borrowing limit of $138,500. This includes loans borrowed during an undergraduate degree program. If you have previously borrowed and would like to review your loan history, log into https://studentaid.gov/ and view your “Dashboard.”

First-time borrowers planning to utilize the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program at DeSales must complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/. Please note that this process must only be completed once while you are enrolled at DeSales University.

Federal Direct Loans cannot be processed for any repeated courses/clinicals.

Additional Loan Options (Completed after May 1, 2023) Students are required to maximize their Unsubsidized Loan Eligibility prior to utilizing the additional loan options below:

Federal Graduate Plus Loan - Information on this loan program can be found here: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/plus.  This loan may be deferred for six months after graduation or until the student enrolls less than half time. 

Private Education Loans - Students may borrow through private lenders to support their education.  These loans may require a cosigner.  Private loan rates and terms vary based on the student/cosigner’s credit information, choice of a variable or fixed rate loan, and repayment options.  Lender information and applications can be found at www.elmselect.com. 

**A comparison of the Federal Graduate Plus Loan vs. Private Education Loans can be found here: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/federal-vs-private

Billing and Payment Information

If you use a portion of your financial aid for living expenses each semester, you may be eligible to receive a refund of any credit on your account after the drop/add period closes. There will be NO refunds issued unless there is a credit balance on your account. If you have received a refund based on your enrollment and you change your enrollment status, you may be required to repay all or a portion of the refund.

FINANCIAL AID AWARD PERIOD FEDERAL LOAN INFORMATION

Summer 2023
FAFSA 2023-2024

Cost of Attendance

To assist in financial planning, the estimated Direct and Indirect costs for the 2023-2024 academic year are listed below.  Direct Costs (billed to the student) plus Indirect Costs (estimated additional expenses not billed to the student) are referred to as your Cost of Attendance. Please note: These figures are subject to change.

Final Summer Semester 2023

Important Contact Information

Office of Financial Aid                                              (610) 282-1100 ext. 1287                                          finaid@desales.edu

Student Financial Services                                       (610) 282-3382                                                            treasurer@desales.edu

The Financial Aid Office staff is available to meet on campus, virtually, or set up a call to discuss any questions you may have as you work through the process.  You can sign up for a meeting here: https://www.desales.edu/admissions-financial-aid/undergraduate-admissions-aid/financial-aid-scholarships.

Schedule

The Didactic Year schedule generally follows the University’s regular academic calendar. The clinical year schedule is:

2023-24 CLINICAL ROTATION SCHEDULE*

ROTATION #:                                                     ROTATION DATES:

Transition Week                                                  August 28, 2023- September 1, 2023        

Rotation #1                                                         September 5, 2023-October 4, 2023          

Rotation #2                                                         October 9, 2023 -November 8, 2023

Rotation #3                                                         November 13, 2023 -December 13, 2023

BREAK - DECEMBER 15, 2023 - JANUARY 1, 2024

Rotation #4                                                         January 2, 2024 - January 31, 2024

Rotation #5                                                         February 5, 2024- March 6, 2024

Rotation #6                                                         March 11, 2024- April 10, 2024

Rotation #7                                                         April 15, 2024- May 15, 2024

AAPA CONFERENCE BREAK- May 18, 2024 - May 26, 2024

Rotation #8                                                         May 28, 2024 - June 25, 2024

 Rotation #9                                                         July 1, 2024 - July 30, 2024

PACKRAT - FRIDAY, June 28, 2024

SUMMATIVE EXPERIENCE -AUGUST 5, 2024 - August 9, 2024

PROGRAM COMPLETION CEREMONY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2024

*subject to change

 Scheduled Call Back Day;

Rotation #1 October 5 & 6

Rotation #2 November 9 & 10

Rotation #3 December 14 & 15

Rotation #4 February 1 & 2

Rotation #5 March 7 & 8

Rotation #6 April 11 & 12

Rotation #7 May 16 & 17

Rotation #8 June 26 & 27

Rotation #9 July 31 & August 1

Call Back Day: All Physician Assistant students are required to participate in all Call Back Day activities.

Health Care Services Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Health Care Services is awarded only to students in the MSPAS program who cannot advance in the MSPAS program but have been deemed eligible based on a review by an academic advisor. Students who are not demonstrating satisfactory academic progress and are approaching the possibility of dismissal are advised of potential eligibility for the certificate by their advisor. Eligibility is defined as:

• cumulative grade point average >=3.0 in required certificate courses
• no grades below a ‘C’
• no professional or behavioral concerns
• approval of the student’s primary advisor

The certificate program cannot be awarded to a PA student in addition to the MSPAS degree.

Curriculum (Courses Accepted from PA Program)

PA - 502 History and Physical Exam I Credits: 3  
PA - 503 History and Physical Examination II Credits: 3  
PA - 504 Clinical Medicine I Credits: 4  
PA - 505 Clinical Medicine II Credits: 4  
PA - 506 Clinical Reasoning I Credits: 2  
PA - 507 Clinical Reasoning II Credits: 2   
PA - 517 Research Seminar Credits: 1  
PA - 575 Ethics of Health Care: Values Seminar Credits: 3  
PA - 619 Preventive Medicine and Health Promotion Credits: 1   

Program Learning Objectives

Programs

• Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS)

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