Mission

Our mission is to educate individuals to become competent and compassionate Physician Assistants who provide the highest quality health care in a collaborative environment, are dedicated to their communities, and advance the PA profession.

Our Values

We value the dignity of our patients and their families and recognize compassion must be a cornerstone of our professional interactions. 

We value integrity and professionalism by modeling honesty, thoughtfulness, and consistency in our words and actions. 

We value lifelong learning as an essential component of personal and professional growth as well as evidence-based medical care. 

We value nurturing an atmosphere that is supportive with a strong sense of community, understanding that we are part of something greater than ourselves. 

We value the pursuit of excellence as a standard of quality for the PA profession. 

We value the highest level of respect by advocating the virtue of inclusion while embracing the differences within communities where we serve, work, and teach. 

Program Overview

Marshall B. Ketchum University provides the highest quality PA education through excellence in teaching, patient care, research, and public service.

The College of Health Sciences’ School of Physician Assistant Studies offers a 27-month, post-baccalaureate program leading to the degree of Master of Medical Science. The class size is 50 students.

The didactic phase of the PA curriculum provides the foundation for clinical practice with instruction in applied medical sciences, patient assessment, clinical medicine, and pharmacotherapeutics. The curriculum is organized into systems-based modules which incorporate anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, clinical skills, patient assessment, diagnostic testing, and pharmacotherapeutics taught in an organized and integrated sequence with a strong emphasis on active learning. Other courses include medical ethics, DEI in healthcare, graduate seminars covering a wide range of professional practice topics, evidence-based practice, and population and public health. Students will also participate in interprofessional education courses and will experience supervised patient interactions.

The clinical phase of the PA curriculum focuses on direct patient care in various clinics, hospitals, and health centers. The program offers a vast array of clinical opportunities with diverse and challenging patient encounters. In order to graduate from the School of Physician Assistant Studies Master of Medical Science Program, a student must complete and pass each course, clinical rotation, Masters Capstone Project, and multi-faceted summative evaluation.

The Master’s Capstone Project involves two components:

1. Students work in small teams to conduct a review of literature and needs analysis in order to identify a population healthcare need. The students then develop and implement a project that addresses the healthcare need.
2. Students develop a scholarly poster and presentation that meets national and/or state conference standards.

Admissions

The School of Physician Assistant Studies (SPAS) is committed to accepting a diverse group of qualified individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences in accordance with MBKU’s nondiscrimination policy. Each application is reviewed and the merits are considered individually. Additional consideration is given to applicants with volunteer community service, qualifying science degrees, or military experience (verifiable by DD-214), or applicants in the Pre-Health Professions Linkage programs at Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, or Cal State Los Angeles.

We do not accept previous experience or medical training for advanced placement in the Master of Medical Science program. All students are expected to complete all didactic and clinical elements of the program. SPAS does not permit students to matriculate on a part-time basis, nor does the curriculum lend itself to an accelerated learning schedule.

Criteria

Technical Standards

PAs must have the knowledge and skills to practice in a variety of clinical situations and render a wide spectrum of care based on the patient’s needs. In addition to academic achievements, exam results, and faculty recommendations, PA students must possess the physical, emotional, and behavioral capabilities requisite for the practice of medicine as a PA. In order to successfully complete the PA program, students must demonstrate proficiency in academic and clinical activities with regard to the competencies described below.

Observation

Candidates and PA students must have sufficient sensory capacity to observe in the classroom, the laboratory, the outpatient setting and at the patient’s bedside. Sensory skills adequate to perform a physical examination are required including functional vision, hearing, smell, and tactile sensation. All these senses must be adequate to observe a patient’s condition and to accurately elicit information through procedures regularly required in a physical examination, such as inspection, auscultation, percussion,
and palpation.

Communication

Candidates and PA students must be able to:

• Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and others in both academic and healthcare settings.
• Speak clearly.
• Communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written English with faculty and staff, patients, and all members of the health care team. Communication includes not only speech but also reading and writing skills.
• Demonstrate reading skills at a level sufficient to accomplish curricular requirements, provide clinical care for patients, and complete appropriate medical records, documents, and plans according to protocol in a thorough and timely manner.
• Perceive and describe changes in mood, posture, and activity and interpret non-verbal communication signs.

Motor Coordination and Function

Candidates and PA students are required to possess motor skills sufficient to directly perform palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other basic diagnostic procedures; and execute motor movements reasonably required to provide basic medical care and emergency care to patients, including but not limited to:

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Administration of intravenous medication.
• Application of pressure to stop hemorrhage.
• Opening of obstructed airways.
• Suturing of simple wounds.
• Performance of simple obstetrical maneuvers.
• Negotiating patient care environments and mobility between settings, such as clinics, classrooms, laboratories, and hospitals.
• Maintaining sufficient physical stamina to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study. Long periods of sitting, standing, or moving are required in classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings.

Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities

These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem-solving, the critical skill demanded of PAs, requires all of these intellectual abilities. Candidates and PA students must be able to:

• Interpret dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of anatomical structures.
• Search, read, and interpret medical literature.

The ability to incorporate new information from peers, teachers, and the medical literature in formulating diagnoses and plans is essential. To complete the PA program, candidates must be able to demonstrate proficiency in these skills and the ability to use them together in a timely fashion during medical problem-solving and patient care.

Behavioral and Social Attributes

Compassion, integrity, ethical standards, concern for others, interpersonal skills, and motivation are all personal qualities important to providing compassionate and quality patient care.

Candidates and PA students must:

• Demonstrate the maturity and emotional stability required for the full use of their intellectual abilities.
• Accept responsibility for learning, exercising good judgment and promptly completing all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients.
• Understand the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of medicine and function within both the law and ethical standards of the medical profession.
• Interact with patients, their families, and health care personnel in a courteous, professional, and respectful manner.
• Tolerate physically taxing workloads and long work hours, to function effectively under stress and to display flexibility and adaptability to changing environments.
• Contribute to collaborative, constructive learning environments; accept constructive feedback from others; and take personal responsibility for making appropriate positive changes.

It is our experience that a number of individuals with disabilities, as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, are qualified to study and work as health care professionals and scientists with the use of reasonable accommodations. To be qualified for health sciences programs at MBKU those individuals must be able to meet both our academic standards and the technical standards, with reasonable accommodations if necessary.

For further information regarding services and resources for students with disabilities and/or to request accommodations, please contact University Student Affairs.

Prerequisites

We recommend that applicants possess a minimum GPA as follows:

• Overall GPA of 3.0
• Science GPA of 3.0

Degree Prerequisite

A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or an equivalent institution as determined by MBKU, is required for admission.

Applicants educated outside the U.S. must utilize a transcript evaluation service to verify their degree and coursework. The academic record must show credits and grades equivalent to those given by U.S. institutions of higher learning. If the degree was obtained outside the U.S., the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be completed and official scores submitted to MBKU using the school's code: 4893.

Coursework Prerequisites

The following courses must be completed at a regionally accredited institution in the U.S., with a grade of “C” or better, and are the minimum requirements for all applicants. A "Pass" grade will also be accepted.

12 semester or 16 quarter credit hours of Biological Science courses which must include:

• Microbiology w/ lab
• Human Anatomy w/lab (Must be taken in the last 7 years)
• Human Physiology w/lab (Must be taken in the last 7 years)
• Other biological sciences, any area

One course (3 semester or 4 quarter credit hours) of each of the following:

• Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry
• Statistics
• General Psychology
• Genetics (no lab required)

Advanced Placement (AP) credits will be accepted for Psychology and Statistics only.

All prerequisites must be completed at a college or university accredited by one of the U.S. regional accrediting associations. Please see Accrediting Institutions for a list of those associations. To verify a college or university accreditation, you are advised to visit their website.

Online Course Policy

MBKU accepts prerequisite lecture courses completed online through regionally accredited colleges or universities. Please see Accrediting Institutions for a list of those associations. No virtual labs are accepted, however, hands-on take-home labs will be accepted. If you have any questions or would like to verify that a specific lab meets our requirements, please email paadmissions@ketchum.edu.

Requirements In Progress

Applicants may submit their CASPA application with two prerequisites in progress. However, all admissions requirements, degree, and coursework prerequisites must be completed by December 31. Applicants should be aware; some universities have lag times in producing official transcripts which could impact their ability to be considered for admission.

Clinical Experience

Patient care experiences will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Both the hours and the quality of patient interactions are evaluated. All applicants must have at least 2000 hours of paid, verifiable, direct, hands-on patient care experience to be eligible to apply. Volunteer patient care hours that are part of a formal or professional training program may be credited towards this requirement.

Examples of preferred clinical experiences:

• Back Office Medical Assistant (MA)
• Certified Nurses’ Assistant
• Clinical Care Extender
• EMT (patient care hours only)
• Licensed Vocational Nurse
• Military medic or corpsman
• Paramedic
• Physical Therapy Assistant
• Radiological Technician
• Registered Nurse
• Respiratory Therapist
• Medical Scribe

Foreign Applicants

The SPAS does not accept international applicants at this time. U.S. applicants with foreign coursework must meet the following requirements:

1. You must have completed all the prerequisite courses in the U.S. Please note that even if you have taken the prerequisite courses as part of your undergraduate degree in a foreign university, you will need to repeat the prerequisite courses at a college or university in the U.S.
2. You must send all non-U.S./Canadian transcripts to CASPA (the centralized application service utilized by PA programs).
3. While the prerequisite courses are not accepted from a foreign university, the transcript to verify a degree and license is required. Applicants should have their foreign (Non U.S./Canadian) transcripts evaluated by one of the approved services and the evaluation forwarded to CASPA.
4. If the degree is obtained outside the U.S., the TOEFL must be completed and official scores submitted to MBKU using the school’s code: 4893.

Test Scores

Scores from the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) are not required. Applicants who have not earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution must also submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), regardless of the official language of the country in which the education took place or the predominant language of the degree-granting institution. Scores should be sent directly using Marshall B. Ketchum University Code 4893. Minimum scores are noted below:

Procedures

All applicants to the School of PA Studies at MBKU must submit their application through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). The website for the service is portal.caspaonline.org. All applicants should review the information and instructions on the CASPA website for submitting transcripts and letters of recommendation. Applicants will only have to submit transcripts and letters of recommendation to CASPA, not to the individual schools and colleges.

Upon completion of the application, applicants may designate MBKU as a school to receive the application.

All application documents MUST be submitted by the September 1st deadline to be eligible for admission. No exceptions will be considered. A “complete date” status is given when an application has e-submitted and all transcripts, payments, and at least three letters of reference have been received by CASPA and attached to the application.

Letters of Recommendation

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required. Reference letters should not be from personal friends or family members. Letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to CASPA on or before September 1. It is strongly recommended that letters of recommendation include at least one from a clinician (MD/DO/PA/NP preferred) and one from someone the applicant has known for at least 6 months. We strongly recommend documents be sent to CASPA at least two weeks prior to the September 1st deadline to ensure the applicant received the CASPA "complete date" by the deadline.

Process

Once the CASPA application is received by the admissions office, applicants will receive an email with a link granting access to the MBKU portal, my.ketchum.edu. Applicants must submit the non-refundable $50 supplemental application fee.

The number of applicants to the SPAS at MBKU exceeds the number of available seats. Some applicants will not be admitted even though their academic records surpass the specified minimum recommendations and requirements. We aim to select students who demonstrate academic strength and capability, motivation, and personal attributes necessary for the practice of medicine as a PA.

The admissions process begins with a screening of each applicant’s scholastic qualifications including college records and prerequisite completion. This is done in multiple steps. First is a screening of each applicant’s degree and coursework prerequisites for admission. Only those applicants who have completed all of the required courses move to the second stage. Applicants who have met all the required prerequisites are then reviewed for completion of their direct patient care experience. Applicants move to the next stage based on the totality of their GPA, academic qualifications, type and number of patient care experience hours, and any military experience.

Next, the applicant’s personal qualifications (essay, letters of recommendation, honors, awards, extracurricular activities, and community service, etc.) are evaluated and reviewed by members of the Admissions Committee, as the study and practice of a PA requires great responsibility, maturity, ethics, devotion, intellectual curiosity, and social commitment.

Those who meet the academic, clinical, and personal criteria of the preliminary screening may be considered for an interview with the SPAS at MBKU.

Additionally, the interviewing team aims to appraise such personal qualities as communication skills, problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, maturity, aptitude, and career motivation. Applicants will interview with various members of SPAS faculty, practicing PAs from the community, members of the University administration, and faculty members from other MBKU colleges. Applicants are invited to matriculate based on their total interview score and the number of available class seats.

Provisional acceptance is offered pending the successful completion of a routine criminal background check.

Accepted applicants are required to submit a non-refundable matriculation fee of $1500 within two weeks of their acceptance. The full $1500 deposit will be credited to the Fall quarter tuition upon their enrollment.

Advanced Placement

We do not accept previous experience or medical training for advanced placement in the PA program. All students are expected to complete all didactic and clinical elements of the program.

Transfer Policy

SPAS at MBKU does not accept transfer students or transfer credits from other schools. All students are required to complete the entire SPAS curriculum. Admission to advanced standing is not considered or accepted. SPAS does not allow students to take proficiency exams to test out of any course within the PA curriculum.

Financial Information

MBKU is a private, non-profit, independent education institution. The Office of Financial Aid provides financial services and advice to assist our students in meeting the educational expenses necessary to complete the PA Program and achieve their dream of becoming a PA. The vast majority of students receive financial aid through federal and private loans as well as grants and/or scholarships.

The cost of attending the School of PA Studies is:

Tuition

2024–25 Tuition, Master of Medical Science Program

Tuition for Returning Students Enrolled Less Than Full Time

Fees

BOOKS

Nearly all of the required SPAS textbooks are available as an e-book free of charge to enrolled students. Students may choose to purchase soft or hardbound textbooks at their own expense if they prefer. Required texts that are not available as an e-book are the student’s responsibility and are estimated to be approximately $300.  

Other Fees

During the clinical phase, students incur variable costs related to specific onboarding requirements for each clinical rotation site. These fees are paid directly to the vendor and not to MBKU. They include requirements such as updated background checks and drug screenings. The total costs vary depending on where the student is placed for each clinical rotation and is estimated to be a maximum of $900 for the entire clinical phase.

While the occasion has not previously presented itself, the Board of Trustees of MBKU does reserve the right to change the tuition and fees or to establish additional fees for special features or services if deemed necessary.

Curriculum

Didactic Phase

The didactic phase of the PA curriculum provides the foundation for clinical practice with instruction in applied medical sciences, patient assessment, clinical medicine and pharmacotherapeutics. The curriculum is organized into systems-based courses which incorporate anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, clinical skills, patient assessment, diagnostic testing and pharmacotherapeutics instruction. Courses are taught in an organized and integrated sequence with a strong emphasis on critical thinking and active learning. Other courses include medical ethics, graduate seminars on PA professional topics, population health, and evidence-based practice. In addition, students learn procedures including: sterile technique, venipuncture, IV placement, injections, airway management and endotracheal intubation, point of care ultrasound, urinary bladder catheter insertion, casting and splinting, local anesthesia and wound management and closure. Students also participate in interprofessional education courses and will experience supervised and simulated patient interactions. Integration of the curriculum facilitates the development of knowledge that is relevant and meaningful to clinical practice and which is amenable to updating and development as a part of an ongoing process of lifelong learning. Students must successfully pass all didactic academic requirements in order to progress to the second phase of their education, clinical rotations.

The didactic clinical medicine courses include:

• Study of basic medical sciences, principles of genetics, and immunology to prepare students for the advanced study of clinical medicine.
• Advanced study of human anatomy with 3-D human anatomy laboratories.
• Advanced study of physiology, pathology, and pathophysiology concepts of disease.
• Study of the epidemiology and etiology of disease states.
• Eliciting, performing, and documenting the medical history and physical exam.
• Selecting, interpreting, and applying appropriate laboratory, imaging, and other diagnostic tests.
• Advanced study of disease states including the development of a differential diagnosis, most likely diagnosis, and prognosis of disease.
• Developing patient management skills related to the principles of pharmacology as they pertain to prescription and non-prescription therapeutic agents.
• Study of the behavioral health aspects of wellness and disease.
• Study of preventive health care, patient-centered healthcare, patient-centered education, and health maintenance.
• Study of the clinical presentation of disease states across the lifespan.
• Identification and treatment of clinical emergencies.
• Study of current evidence-based healthcare principles.

The didactic interprofessional education courses are collaborative courses that instruct students across the colleges about the principles of interprofessional practice and allow students to practice interprofessional teamwork and communication skills in a classroom and small group setting.

The didactic professional courses are designed to provide students with instruction in evidence-based practice to include critical review of the medical literature; advanced study of the PA profession, medical ethics, public and population health, and employment issues.

* Specific sequence of courses subject to change

Medical Clinical Services

The clinical phase of the PA curriculum focuses on direct patient care that offers students a vast array of clinical opportunities with diverse and challenging patient encounters. Prior to beginning their clinical rotations, students engage in a comprehensive review of the entire first phase of training, designed to enhance their clinical exam skills and didactic knowledge. During their clinical rotations, students train with board-certified providers, across a number of different specialty areas, each averaging six weeks in length. Students are exposed to acute and chronic patient care needs across the lifespan in a variety of health care settings (i.e. emergency room, outpatient and inpatient settings, operating rooms, and long-term care facilities). In order to graduate, students must successfully complete all clinical rotations, the Master’s Capstone Project, and Graduate Seminars, as well as Summative Examinations.

Prerequisites: Completion of the preclinical phase of the School of Physician Assistant Studies or program permission.

The Medical Clinical Services courses will include experiences in the following:

Family Medicine

This clinical course provides the PA student with experience in outpatient evaluation of pediatric and adult patients, including preventive medicine and acute and chronic illness. Students will gain experience in proper and professional communication with patients, patient families, physicians, and an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.

Internal Medicine

This clinical course provides the PA student with experience in outpatient and inpatient evaluation of adult patients, including management of acute and chronic illness. Students will gain experience in proper and professional communication with patients, patient families, physicians, and an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.

Emergency Medicine

This clinical course provides the PA student with experience in triage, evaluation, and management of patients in the emergency department setting. The student will have the opportunity to learn skills necessary for appropriate triage, stabilization, evaluation, diagnosis, and management of patients with traumatic injuries and acute medical and surgical illnesses, as well as management of lower acuity health disorders. Students will gain experience in proper and professional communication with patients, patient families, physicians, and an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.

Surgery

This clinical course will provide the PA student with experience in the evaluation and management of surgical patients in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative environments. The PA student will evaluate and participate directly in the care of surgical patients before, during, and after their procedures. Students will gain experience in proper and professional communication with patients, patient families, physicians, and an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.

Pediatrics

This clinical course will provide the PA student with experience in outpatient and/or in-patient management of pediatric patients. The student will have the opportunity to perform well-baby and child exams, problem-oriented exams, evaluate common pediatric illnesses, and experience care of newborns, children, and adolescents. Students will gain experience in proper and professional communication with patients, patient families, physicians, and an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.

Women’s Health/Obstetrics and Gynecology

This clinical course provides the PA student with experience in managing common gynecologic care and the maintenance of gynecologic health. Obstetric experience will include routine prenatal care. Students will gain experience in proper and professional communication with patients, patient families, physicians, and an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.

Behavioral Health

The PA Student will gain experience in caring for ambulatory and/or hospitalized patients with behavioral and mental health conditions in a wide variety of settings during the clinical phase. The student will perform basic psychiatric evaluations, monitor medications, and support the clinical management plan for patients. Students will gain experience in proper and professional communication with patients, patient families, physicians, and an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. Telehealth concepts and experiences may be incorporated into this rotation.

Clinical Rotation Elective

These clinical courses are selected by the student from a variety of surgical or medical specialties, or subspecialties, such as orthopedics, oncology, endocrinology, primary care, occupational medicine, hospitalist medicine, and others. The student will gain experience caring for patients and managing conditions treated by these specialties and expand their knowledge of medical and/or surgical indications requiring referral to specialty care. Students will gain experience in proper and professional communication with patients, patient families, physicians, and an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.

INDEPENDENT STUDY 

This course is designed to provide the student an opportunity to deepen their understanding of clinical medicine and its application to patient care. Learning will occur through a variety of modalities including recorded or live lecture, online learning modules, simulated and/or virtual patient encounters, practice questions, individual tutoring, and independent study. Emphasis will be placed on developing the student’s ability to effectively evaluate, diagnose, and manage clinical medicine conditions in patients of all ages. This course may include principles of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, genetic heritability, epidemiology, etiology, clinical history taking, clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis (including diagnostic labs and procedures), therapeutic management, prevention, and prognosis of disease.

Courses

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for graduation and to receive the Master of Medical Science Degree, the student must meet the following requirements:

• Successfully pass all required courses and clinical rotations.
• Successfully complete the Master's Capstone Project and Presentation.
• Pass a comprehensive, multi-faceted summative exam assessing the student’s acquisition of the Graduate Learning Outcomes and competencies for PA Clinical Practice.
• Be recommended for conferral of the degree of Master of Medical Science by the SPAS Program Director.
• Settle all financial accounts with the University.

If a student has not met all graduation requirements, the student may be eligible to walk through and participate in the graduation ceremony with their class, but will not receive a diploma until all requirements have been met.

Note on licensure: Meeting the graduation requirements for the MMS degree at the SPAS at MBKU does not guarantee eligibility for state licensure. Some states have specialized requirements or exclusion criteria for licensure, and students are advised to check with the Medical or PA Board in states of possible residency for licensure requirements.

Probation Policy

SPAS has academic progression policies in place to ensure all students are meeting the specific goals and learning outcomes for each course and are qualified to progress within the Program. A student is considered in good academic standing at a given time if they have earned a "P" (pass) for all courses to date, have at least one reassessment opportunity remaining, scored within two standard deviations on the didactic PACKRAT exam (if applicable), passed the EOC summative exam (if applicable), and have not required extended learning for any course or rotation.

A detailed description of the Academic Progression Policy including academic probation and academic warning can be found in the SPAS Student Handbook.