Physician Assistant Program Bouve College of Health Sciences Northeastern University

Physician Assistant Program at Northeastern University

Established in 1971, the physician assistant (PA) program in the Bouve College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University is one of the most experienced programs of its kind in the United States.

This master's degree program has had accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant since its inception. Its rigorous curriculum enables students to acquire the expertise needed to diagnose and treat patients' medical problems.

Because it emphasizes both theoretical and clinical education, the MS Program in Physician Assistant Studies at Northeastern University has a ranking of 13 on the "U.S. News and World Report" Best Graduate Schools 2011 list.

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Northeastern University

The MS in Physician Assistant Studies is a full-time program that can be completed in 24 months. The program trains students for careers as generalist healthcare providers in traditional primary care settings as well as for work in emerging aspects of the healthcare field.

Classes are taught in a small group format (2 to 6 students) and lecture format (no more than 36 students). This small-class design gives instructors the ability to provide in-depth answers to students' questions and creates an environment that promotes rich and dynamic classroom discussions.

Because of the comprehensive and demanding nature of the program, students graduate fully prepared to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. In fact, the pass rates for students who take the exam for the first time are consistently comparable to national rates.

Overview of Year One of the MS Program in Physician Assistant Studies

Students spend the first year of the program completing coursework in the medical and behavioral sciences. Courses include anatomy and physiology, physical diagnosis and patient evaluation, pharmacology, aspects of primary care, principles of psychiatry, and principles of surgery.

Students also take a clinical laboratory and diagnostic methods course that covers radiology, clinical laboratory tests, and electrocardiography. It also includes practice in a variety of laboratory methods.

Overview of Year Two of the MS Program in Physician Assistant Studies

Students spend the second year of the program completing clinical rotations in ambulatory medicine, emergency medicine, family practice medicine, inpatient medicine, and mental health. Clinical rotations also include obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, and electives.

Rotations, which are 5 weeks in length, take place at a variety of medical settings. Because of its reputation and relationship with healthcare providers, Northeastern University is able to place students in assignments at major teaching hospitals in Boston such as the Boston Medical Center and Tufts Medical Center.

NEU also sponsors housing costs for students whose clinical rotations take place in distant locales.

Prerequisites for the MS Program in Physician Assistant Studies

Students complete coursework in chemistry, general biology, human anatomy and physiology, and statistics before being accepted into the Master of Science (MS) in Physician Assistant Studies program.

They also have at least 1 year (2,000 hours) of hands-on experience caring for patients. This experience can be acquired through various positions including certified nurse's assistant, medical assistant, medical corpsman, nurse, physical therapy assistant, paramedic, physical therapist, respiratory therapist, and emergency room technician.

Furthermore, students have the following qualifications: observation skills; communication skills; sensory and motor coordination and function; intellectual-conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities; and behavioral and social attributes.

Faculty Members with Clinical and Research Experience

Faculty members are practicing clinicians as well as instructors whose specializations span a range of medical areas. Most of them have been teaching with the program for many years.

For instance, Erin L. Sharaf is clinical coordinator for the program as well as a clinical instructor whose specializations include internal and integrative medicine. She is a certified physician assistant, and her research interests include mindfulness based stress reduction.

Her colleague Rosann M. Ippolito, PhD specializes in primary care, transplantation, and neurosurgery. Her research focuses on the education, training, and clinical practice of the healthcare workforce.

Employment Opportunities for Physician Assistants

Individuals who earn an MS in Physician Assistant Studies from Northeastern obtain positions in clinical practice, research, administration, and education.

Those who enter clinical practice provide care in teaching institutions and hospitals that do not employ physician residents. They also secure positions at health centers, multi-specialty medical group practices, emergency rooms, college health services, physicians' offices, and nursing homes.

Admissions Process at Northeastern University

The admissions committee at Northeastern University evaluates applications for the MS in Physician Assistant Studies program on several criteria including academic records, science grades, personal statements, medical experience, and references.

The committee also assesses applicants' "genuine concern for the well-being of patients and families."

Furthermore, applicants are invited to visit the campus where they attend classes, meet with current students and alumni, and interview with program faculty and leaders.

Program Costs and Financial Aid

The costs for the MS Program in Physician Assistant Studies at Northeastern University include tuition, fees, textbooks, and parking. Graduate students may receive several types of financial aid such as student loans, graduate assistantships, and scholarships. Students may also be able to work part-time on a limited basis during the first year of study.

Northeastern University

Northeastern University is located in Boston, Massachusetts in the northeastern region of the United States. This esteemed private, research-oriented university was established in 1898 and is known for its extensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs.

NEU also offers nearly 20,000 students a highly-regarded cooperative education program that provides as many as 18 months of paid employment. Students gain invaluable experience -- in their fields of study or areas of career interest -- through their work with more than 2,000 employers that are located throughout the United States and 49 countries around the world.

Because of its commitment to academic excellence and groundbreaking research, Northeastern University has a ranking on the "U.S. News and World Report"' 2011 list of the 100 top national universities in the United States.

More information is available regarding graduate applications and graduate studies at Northeastern University.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Master of Science (MS)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 32
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? No
• Evening/weekend programs available? No
• Distance learning programs available? No
• Terminal master's degree available? Not reported

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Not reported
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied489
• Accepted34
• Acceptance Rate6%
• Enrolled34
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $25
• Application Fee - International $25
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Not Reported
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline September 1st Not Reported Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's Degreesminimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0; 2 semesters each of general biology plus lab and general chemistry plus lab; coursework in human anatomy, physiology, and and statistics with minimum B average in each; 2, 000 hours of hands-on patient care experience; interview; curriculum vitae
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, 600 paper based, TOEFL iBT

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *Not Reported
• Out-of-state tuition *Not Reported
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsMarch 1
• Types of financial support availableFederal Work-Study, Institutionally-sponsored Loans

• Existing Research
• Focus of faculty researchEducation and training, reimbursement
• Externally sponsored research expenditures last yearNot Reported