Admission
The Valparaiso University Physician Assistant Program offers both a five-year, accelerated program for students entering Valparaiso University as a true, first semester freshman and a two-year, graduate program for Valparaiso University students enrolled in a Valparaiso University degree or those who have earned a Valpo degree.
The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) program is the graduate portion of the program and is a two-year professional program. This program serves as an extension of the 3-year Valparaiso University undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) program and is the culminating phase of the 5-Year Physician Assistant Program (3+2) model. Students currently enrolled in a Valparaiso University degree or those who have earned a Valpo degree are eligible to apply for admission into the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) program if they meet all listed graduate admissions requirements.
The MSPA Program does not accept graduate transfer students nor grant early entry.
The Valparaiso University PA Program does not participate in the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
PA Program Admission Pathways
The Valparaiso University physician assistant program is a rigorous curriculum in which students acquire the general knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors required for the practice of medicine. The Valparaiso University physician assistant program considers it essential for all physician assistant graduates to have the ability to function in a variety of clinical situations and to provide a wide spectrum of patient care. Essential Functional Eligibility Requirements (Technical Standards) are defined as the attributes considered necessary for students to complete their education and training and subsequently enter clinical practice. An individual must be able to independently demonstrate capabilities to meet these minimum standards, with or without reasonable accommodations, for successful completion of degree requirements. Reasonable accommodation will be offered for persons with disabilities in conjunction with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Specific Essential Functional Eligibility Requirements have been adopted for admission, promotion, and graduation from the PA program.
Students must possess the intellectual ability to learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize data. They must have functional use of the senses of vision, hearing, equilibrium, and taste. Their exteroceptor (touch, pain, and temperature) and proprioceptor (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, and vibratory) senses must be sufficiently intact to enable the student to carry out all the activities required to complete the functions described in the Technical Skills document.
Students who are applying to the College of Nursing and Health Professions will be required to complete supervised clinical practice experiences to fulfill the requirements of their field of study and degree. The vast majority of hospital systems, hospitals, clinics, and medical offices require students to submit documentation of a completed vaccination series (including COVID-19) to meet their requirements to enter their facilities and attend a clinical practice experience. This policy is mandated by the clinical site.
The student accepts all responsibility that, if there are no clinical sites available by May 1 prior to each student’s clinical year to meet all rotation requirements for the entire clinical year for an unvaccinated student (including COVID-19), the student would not meet the requirements for successful completion of the degree. The student assumes all financial responsibility for their decision.