PA Questions

Curriculum Inquiries

What are the grading standards at the P.A. Program?

The P.A. Program follows the grading standards used by The CUNY School of Medicine. Only letter grades are recorded on the transcript.

CUNY School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program, MPAS Degree

Transfer Credits

Courses taken at other campus or universities are not accepted for credit toward the degree in MPAS and are excluded from GPA.

Method of GPA Calculations

The GPA is calculated only from credits earned at The CUNY School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. This average is obtained by dividing the total number of quality points by the respective total of graduate credits completed at The CUNY School of Medicine PA Program.

Good Standing

Students must obtain a minimum cumulative grade point average GPA of 3.0 for eligibility for conferral of a Masters in Physician Assistant.

Can I waive out of or challenge a course?

No. All Students must successfully complete all published required courses, even if the course has been taken in another P.A. Program or in medical school.

What are some examples of elective rotations offered to students?

Some examples of elective rotations include:  Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma, Burn Center, Breast Surgery, Transplant Surgery, Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), Interventional Cardiology and Oncological Surgery.

Curriculum Overview

Admission Inquiries

How many applications do I fill out and where do I send them?

There is ONE application that must be completed and submitted. Applications are submitted through CASPA. 

Do I need to have letters of reference/recommendation to apply?

Yes. Three (3) letters of reference/recommendation are required for your application to be considered complete. To be competitive, these letters of recommendation should include at least one (1) from a physician or physician assistant who can attest, from first-hand experience, any abilities the applicant will bring to the profession. If the initial applicant profile does not include the above items, the file will not be reviewed for consideration by the Admission Committee.

Does the program participate in CASPA?

Yes, the program does participate in CASPA.  

How many applications are received by the PA Program during each admissions cycle? Residency & Citizenship

Generally the program receives 1500 applicants annually. Applicants must be citizens, permanent residents, or hold a valid visa or work authorization from the United States and/or possess a valid social security number in order to apply to the PA Program.

I am a Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG). Am I eligible to apply to the PA Program?

Yes. FMGs and graduates from foreign institutions may apply.

May I apply if I have some courses that are still not completed?

All pending courses at the time of submission must be successfully completed with a “B” grade by the end of the Fall semester (end of December). Applicants may apply with no more than TWO outstanding prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses are not accepted. Pending courses will not be calculated towards the GPA once an application is submitted.

Do you have expiration times on courses? If so, how long?

It is MANDATORY that the following pre-requisite courses be completed no more than seven years prior to the date of application:

• Microbiology with laboratory
• Statistics
• Two of the following courses:
  • Cell & Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Mammalian Physiology
  • Anatomy & Physiology I&II with laboratory (count as one course)
  • Biochemistry