Physician Assistant, M.S.
Program Description:
California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) is developing a 27-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant (MSPA) program to help meet the current and future healthcare needs of communities. As essential members of the healthcare delivery team, physician assistants (PA) can address existing health disparities by providing access to more affordable, high-quality healthcare. PAs are certified healthcare providers who diagnose conditions, develop patient-centered treatment plans, prescribe medications, and provide preventative care.
The CSUSB MSPA program believes that a dynamic, innovative curriculum is required to develop truly multidimensional PAs. Therefore, the program integrates active learning methods, educational technology, and practical experiences to empower student learning inside and outside of the classroom. Our thoughtfully designed classrooms and laboratory spaces encourage students to be actively involved in interactive sessions, group work, case-based learning, and interprofessional experiences. Students will be challenged to integrate individual and larger contextual factors affecting health into their clinical decision-making. Our program focuses on not only developing clinical knowledge but also learning to communicate with empathy and compassion.
Graduate Admissions Counselor: Jocelin Monge
Admissions inquiries: mspa.admissions@csusb.edu
General program inquiries: mspa@csusb.edu
Master of Science in Physician Assistant (MSPA) Program Page | MSPA Admissions Requirements
Overall Application Requirements:
CASPA and Supplemental Applications
- CASPA Application fee and free CSUSB supplemental application
Cal State Apply Application
- Only required for accepted CSUSB MSPA program students who are matriculating into the program.
Bachelor’s Degree
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
GPA Requirements
- Category 1: 3.0 Overall GPA or 3.2 last 60 credits GPA and
- Category 2: 3.0 Science GPA or 3.2 Prerequisite GPA
Seven Prerequisite Courses
- Must be at least a grade of C (2.0), at a regionally accredited institution in the United States, and within 10 years of the application deadline.
Clinical Experience
- Minimum 1,000 hours of clinical experience at the time of application
Letters of Reference
- Three letters of reference
- One letter from a practicing clinician (MD, DO, PA, or NP) or member of a healthcare team.
- Two letters from a:
- Practicing Clinician,
- Member of the healthcare team,
- Professor, or
- Professional reference.
Standardized Entrance Exams
- No standardized entrance exams required
Technical Standards
- Applicants must meet the CSUSB MSPA Program Technical Standards to enroll in the program.
Application Deadlines:
| Fall 2025 | Spring 2026 | Fall 2026 |
| 12/1/2024 | Not Offered | 12/1/2025 |
Application Details:
Admissions Preferences:
The CSUSB MSPA program strives to matriculate applicants who demonstrate a strong alignment with the mission and values of the program and institution. Therefore, the MSPA program provides special consideration to applicants who demonstrate one or more of the following:
- Current degree-track student or graduate of CSUSB
- Current resident or spent the majority of childhood + in the Inland Empire (San Bernardino and Riverside counties), a federally designated medically underserved area + (MUA), or a health professional shortage area (HPSA) per HRSA.gov.
- Clinical experience in a health professional shortage area (HPSA) or medically underserved area/population (MUA/P) per HRSA.gov.
- Received state or federal assistance as a child +
- First generation in the family to attend college (defined as your parent(s) did not complete a four-year college or university degree)
- Fluency in Spanish (or language other than English)
- Current or former member of the Military * (i.e., veterans, active members, and reserves)
+ Based on childhood and socioeconomic questions within the CASPA application.
Accreditation Status
California State University – San Bernardino has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). California State University – San Bernardino anticipates matriculating its first class in August 2025, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the March 2025 ARC-PA meeting.
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. In the event the program does not earn accreditation-provisional status, students will not matriculate, and admissions deposits will be refunded. The California State University – San Bernardino is fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The MSPA degree has been fully approved by the CSU Board of Trustees and Chancellor’s Office.