Admission Requirements for Public Health, MPH and Physician Assistant, MMS
Master of Public Health (MPH) / Master of Medical Science—Physician Assistant (MMS)
1. A Physician Assistant application to be completed through CASPA.
2. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a recommended GPA of 3.0 or better.
3. One official transcript from each college, university or professional school attended. Transfer credits included on a transcript must include grades earned; if not, an official transcript from the original school must be submitted. Transcripts must be sent from the issuing school in a sealed envelope and contain the appropriate signatures and official seals. Please send transcripts directly to CASPA.
4. Students must have completed the following prerequisites:
- a. Biological Sciences—five courses to include Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology. Biochemistry is recommended.
- b. Chemistry—three courses to include at least one semester of Organic Chemistry.
- c. Psychology—one course.
- d. Statistics—one course.
5. Three letters of recommendation. Ideally, one should be from a professor and one from a practicing licensed physician or physician assistant.
6. Test scores from either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), taken within the last five years. (CASPA GRE Code: 1578, Arcadia U Phys Asst Prog CASPA). These tests are required for all applicants, including those who already have a graduate degree.
7. A minimum of 200 hours of patient care experience.
8. Knowledge of the Public Health profession through work or volunteer experience.
9. Students must meet the minimal technical requirements for admission, continuation and graduation. An interview is required and is by invitation only.
10. International applicants should visit International Admissions for detailed information on admissions requirements and application procedures. Official results from the TOEFL or IELTS are required for all students for whom English is a second language except for non-native speakers of English who hold degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g. the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand). A course-by-course evaluation of all transcripts by an independent evaluation service based in the United States also is required.
11. Arcadia performs a holistic review of each student’s application. The program does not allow students to waive courses, nor does it admit students with advanced standing. However, students who have withdrawn or who have been dismissed from the program can be readmitted and granted credit for courses they have completed successfully.
12. Increasingly, clinical facilities are requiring that students seeking placements undergo various criminal background checks, child abuse clearances, and/or drug screens prior to placements. Therefore, students should be prepared to participate in these screenings. Applicants who are unable to pass these background checks may be denied admission into the program.
