A vital role in healthcare. A vital role in your community.
Named the #3 Best Overall Job for 2020 by U.S. News & World Report, physician assistant (PA) is one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions today: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, demand for PAs is expected to grow by 31% over the next decade. U.S. News also ranked physician assistant:
Physicians assistants work as part of a larger healthcare team to examine, treat and diagnose patients in a range of medical settings and specialities. The need for PAs will be strongest in rural and underserved areas where residents have limited access to primary care physicians.
To become a physician’s assistant, you’ll need a master’s degree and licensure in your state of practice; a solid undergraduate, such as a bachelor’s in pre-physician assistant studies, will prepare for the rigors of a graduate-level PA program.
acceptance rate into PA graduate programs among students with qualifying GPAs
growth rate predicted for physician assistants through 2028 (BLS.gov)
median annual salary for PAs in Indiana, 2019 (BLS.gov)
Rooted in the liberal arts, built on Franciscan values and focused on patient-centered care, a USF education develops you into a reflective, ethical and compassionate healthcare provider.
Our pre-physician assistant program gives you:
USF’s PA program is internationally known, and our strong reputation in the regional healthcare community gives our pre-PA students access to quality clinical experiences, connections that lead to positions with top employers, and opportunities for meaningful service-learning opportunities.
You will graduate from USF ready to pursue a physician assistant graduate program and, ultimately, a rewarding career as a healthcare practitioner — for less than half the cost of training and education of a physician.
Developing into a caring, competent physician assistant requires practical experience and, at USF, you will get plenty of it:
By the time you complete the pre-physician assistant program, you will have more than 1,000 hours of direct patient care experience. Additionally, you can build valuable career skills with on-campus employment with health services, athletics and related offices and departments.
You will learn in small classes from expert faculty members, including practicing PAs — and you will do so in our state-of-the-art science center, which features:
As you prepare to enter a helping profession, you’ll be glad to know USF offers many opportunities for you to serve others through campus ministries, service-learning projects and student groups. Of particular interest to someone in our pre-physician assistant program are:
The faculty have helped me in so many ways: at different times, they’ve kept me focused, built my confidence, and offered advice. The professors are one of the reasons we have such a strong community where we all support each other.
Brittany Kuhlenbeck ’18
Once you’ve earned your master’s degree, met licensing requirements and officially become a physician’s assistant, you can find positions in a broad range of settings, including:
With additional training, you may also develop expertise in one or more medical subspecialties — such as cardiology, neurology or geriatrics — which will broaden your career possibilities.
Graduates of our pre-physician assistant program often earn their master’s of science in PA studies, and others have pursued their graduate studies at schools such as:
Your first step to becoming a USF Cougar is applying for admission. Our online application makes the process as convenient as possible.
Apply NowWhether you know what you want to see, who you want to meet or are just exploring your options, we will personalize your campus visit to fit your needs.
Visit USFAn academic plan is a general blueprint showing how one might complete the degree, semester by semester. Get an idea on what each semester could look like.