Graduates of the PA Studies program are joined by their instructors for a photo during the 2024 Long Whitecoat Ceremony.

St. Bonaventure University

Physician Assistant Studies Program


The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is a professional degree program that prepares students academically and professionally for responsibilities and services as a physician assistant.

arc-pa-logoOur program has been granted accreditation-provisional status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).*

The ARC-PA defines the standards for physician assistant education and evaluates physician assistant educational programs in the United States to ensure compliance with those standards.


  • PAs are key players in delivery of health care


    Physician assistants are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal health-care provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative.

    The PA profession is an important part of the teamwork required in improving health care in the United States. PAs practice in all 50 states and in every medical setting and specialty, improving health care access and quality.

    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a growth in PA employment of 37 percent in the 10-year period ending in 2026, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations.


    A demanding, yet rewarding, 28-month program

    Our entry level master's degree program consists of 122 credit hours divided into three phases that span 28 consecutive months. See our Program Curriculum page.

    Our goal is to graduate high-quality and compassionate PAs who will successfully pass their certification exam, then serve their patients and their communities with pride.

    The education of a PA is very rigorous. It will likely be the most demanding educational experience of your life. If you are ready for that challenge and seek to serve others, we welcome your interest in our program.

    To learn more about the Physician Assistant Studies program at St. Bonaventure University, please complete and submit our convenient online Graduate Programs Inquiry Form and explore the rest of our PA website.
     





  • We're a veteran friendly program


    Veterans are the foundation and backbone of the physician assistant profession.

    Duke University recognized early on that military veterans possess invaluable personal and professional skills, as well as traits that translate well to civilian careers in medicine. This is why Eugene A. Stead Jr., M.D., recruited former Navy corpsmen to comprise the first class of physician assistant students.

    We want to continue that tradition. We highly encourage veterans to apply to our program, and have developed a close relationship with St. Bonaventure's Military Aligned Student Program.



  • How to apply to the PA Studies program

    Applications to the Physician Assistant Studies program are accepted through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants, a service of the Physician Assistant Education Association.

    Please do no click on "apply" in the footer of his page (below), or try to apply via the standard "apply now" links found in Admissions and elsewhere on this website.




    News-Publications-Research- Banner