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-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.

The ARC-PA has granted accreditation-provisional status to the St. Bonaventure University Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by St. Bonaventure University.

Accreditation-provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

Accreditation-provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://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.

Swagata Banik named dean of SBU’s DePerro School of Health Professions

Nov 12, 2024 | Swagata Banik, Ph.D., has been named the new dean of the Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions at St. Bonaventure University.

St. Bonaventure’s Perkins elected president of American Nurses Association-New York

Nov 04, 2024 | Dr. Connie Perkins, founding director of Nursing at St. Bonaventure University, has been elected president of the American Nurses Association-New York (ANA-NY).

Elsigan is certified facilitator for 'Friday Night at the ER' exercise

Oct 25, 2024 | Julie Elsigan, clinical assistant professor of Physician Assistant Studies, became a certified facilitator for "Friday Night at the ER" by attending a workshop in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 3 and 4.