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.

Our program has been granted Accreditation-Continued 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.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the St. Bonaventure University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by St. Bonaventure University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be July 2035. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-st-bonaventure-university/.

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.

Technical Standards

The abilities and skills needed to complete PA education and training.

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Admission Criteria

Requirements for acceptance into the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies program.

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Tuition & Costs

Tuition and costs required of students in St. Bonaventure's PA Studies program.

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Program Goals

Prepare individuals to become certified members of the healthcare team.
Provide a curriculum which teaches the principles of Evidence-Based Medicine.
Highlight the importance of service by incorporating service into the program.
Encourage students to practice in areas of medical need including the Southern Tier of New York state.
Provide students with the medical knowledge and clinical skills needed to practice as a physician assistant.
Provide students the opportunity to become health care scientists by performing research and presenting their findings.

NOTE: View the measures, benchmarks and success rates for each of these goals.

Mission: School of Health Professions & PA Studies Department

The mission of the School of Health Professions at St. Bonaventure University is to foster the development of knowledgeable, skilled, compassionate and ethical healthcare professionals who vitally engage and promote the well-being of the community and are mindful of the Franciscan traditions of individual dignity, community inclusiveness, and service to others.

The mission of the St. Bonaventure University Department of Physician Assistant Studies is to educate physician assistants to become highly skilled and compassionate health care providers. The program will encourage an interdisciplinary approach with an emphasis on patient-centered care and dignity for each individual.

Graduates will become leaders in the health care community, continuously striving for excellence in their professional endeavors while compassionately providing for the health care needs of those they serve.

Medical Knowledge
Demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care. PAs should be able to:

1.1 Demonstrate investigative and critical thinking in clinical situations.
1.2 Discern among acute, chronic, and emergent disease states.
1.3 Apply principles of clinical sciences to diagnose disease and utilize therapeutic decision-making, clinical problem-solving, and other evidence-based practice skills.
1.4 Adhere to standards of care.
1.5 Work effectively and efficiently in various health care delivery settings and systems relevant to the PA’s clinical specialty.
1.6 Identify and address social determinants that affect access to care.

Interpersonal
Demonstrate interpersonal skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals. PAs should be able to:

2.1 Establish meaningful therapeutic relationships with patients and families to ensure that patients’ values and preferences are addressed and that needs and goals are met to deliver person-centered care.
2.2 Communicate effectively to elicit and provide information.
2.3 Understand emotions, behaviors, and responses of others, which allows for effective interpersonal interactions.
2.4 Demonstrate sensitivity, honesty, and compassion in all conversations.
2.5 Elicit and acknowledge the story of the individual and apply the context of the individual’s life to their care, such as environmental and cultural influences.

Clinical and technical skills

3.1 Gather accurate and essential information about patients through history taking, physical examination, and diagnostic testing.
3.2 Interpret data based on patient information and preferences, current scientific evidence, and clinical judgment to make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
3.3 Accurately and adequately document medical information for clinical, legal, quality, and financial purposes.
3.4 Maintain proficiency to perform safely all medical and diagnostic, procedures considered essential for practice.

Professional Behaviors

4.1 Exhibit self-awareness to identify strengths, address deficiencies, and recognize limits in knowledge and expertise.
4.2 Identify, analyze, and adopt new knowledge, guidelines, standards, technologies that have been demonstrated to improve outcomes.
4.3 Identify improvement goals and perform learning activities that address gaps in knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Clinical Reasoning and Problem solving abilities

5.1 Interpret data based on patient information and preferences, current scientific evidence, and clinical judgment to make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
5.2 Develop, implement, and monitor effectiveness of patient management plans.
5.3 Refer patients appropriately, ensure continuity of care throughout transitions between providers or settings, and follow up on patient progress and outcomes.
5.4 Access and interpret current and credible sources of medical information.
5.5 Apply principles of epidemiology to identify health problems, risk factors, treatment strategies, resources, and disease prevention/health promotion efforts for individuals and populations.

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.

Veterans have acquired an incredible amount of hands-on field training, leadership experience, and the ability to thrive in difficult situations. We're committed to serving our veteran population, recognizing the incredible sacrifice made by those who serve.

We encourage veterans to explore our program and to visit these helpful sites:

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.

SBU faculty, staff explore tools to enhance accessibility

Oct 22, 2025 | SBU faculty and staff explored new ways to support students with diverse learning needs during a series of informational workshops this fall.

PA faculty engage in dialogue on clinical education, innovation

Oct 22, 2025 | Faculty from the Physician Assistant Studies program — Dr. Keith Young, founding director and associate professor; Dr. Scott Medler, professor of PA Studies; Nicole Ackley, director of Clinical Education and clinical assistant professor; and Kate Nelson, clinical assistant professor — attended the Physician Assistant Education Association conference in San Diego, California.

SBU shines at state’s annual Physician Assistant conference

Oct 21, 2025 | St. Bonaventure University’s Physician Assistant (PA) program made a remarkable impression at this year’s New York State Society of Physician Associates (NYSSPA) Conference, bringing home multiple recognitions and showcasing the university’s growing presence in the state’s PA community.

Dr. Keith Young

Founding Director, Physician Assistant Studies

Associate Professor

(716) 375-2272

Send an email

Francis Hall 222

APPLY NOW

Through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants