Dual Degree / Accelerated Physician Assistant Programs to Jumpstart Your Career

They say that the early bird catches the worm — and this has a special significance in the field of education. Developing a clear plan for your future career early on can help you go through the process of achieving your dreams more efficiently. In the physician assistant (PA) career path, the journey begins from senior high school.

Planning your career as a future PA before enrolling in an undergraduate degree can help you save more time and money compared to the traditional route. This is thanks to accelerated programs that confer both a bachelor’s and master’s degree upon graduation. 

An accelerated PA program usually takes about five years to complete — the first three years cover bachelor’s degree courses in sciences and math, and the last two years cover master’s degree courses in PA studies. Upon graduation and passing the PA licensure exam, you become set to practice the profession. 

This is more efficient compared to the traditional route where students first obtain a four-year bachelor’s degree, get experience in healthcare, complete prerequisites required for PA school admission, and complete a two-year PA program. This traditional path can take years to complete, so it’s a good idea to consider BS/MS accelerated programs for PA education. 

We round up 39 direct-entry, dual-degree PA programs that you can take in the United States. 

39 BS/MS Dual Degree Accelerated PA Programs

Below are some universities in the United States offering BS/MS dual degree accelerated PA programs to senior high school students:

  1. Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, NY: 3-year bachelor’s degree program and 28-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. 

  2. Arcadia University, PA: 4-year bachelor’s degree program and 2-year Master of Medical Science program.

  3. Chatham University, PA: Integrated undergraduate and graduate degree program and 24-month Masters of Physician Assistant Studies program.

  4. College of Saint Mary, NE: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Human Biology program and 2-year Master of Medical Science program. (read our article about the best PA schools in Nebraska)

  5. D’Youville College, NY: 4.5 years combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs. 

  6. Daemen College, NY: 4-5 years combined Bachelor of Science in Health Science and Master of Science in PA studies programs. 

  7. DeSales University, PA: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies program and 2-year Master of Science in PA Studies program. 

  8. Drexel University, PA: 3-year bachelor’s degree program and 27-month Master of Health Science program. 

  9. Duquesne University, PA: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program and 27-month Master of PA Studies program. 

  10. Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, LA: 3.5-year Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology-Human Medicine and 26-month Master of Medical Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies. 

  11. Gannon University, PA: 5-year combined bachelor’s degree and Master of PA Science programs. 

  12. Jefferson University, PA: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Health Science program and 25-month Master of Science in PA Studies program. 

  13. Hofstra University, NY: 3-year Bachelor of Science in PA Studies program and 28-month Master of Science in PA Studies program. 

  14. Kettering College, OH: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Human Biology program and 2-year Master of PA Studies program. 

  15. King’s College, PA: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies program and 2-year Master of Science in PA Studies program. 

  16. Le Moyne College, NY: 3-year Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts program and 2-year Master of Science program. 

  17. Lock Haven University, PA: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Health Science program and 2-year Master of Health Science program. 

  18. Marquette University, WI: 2-year Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences program and 3-year Master of PA Studies program. 

  19. Marywood University, PA: 3-year bachelor’s degree program and 27-month Master of Science in PA Studies program. 

  20. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA: 30-month Bachelor of Science in Premedical and Health Studies program and 2-year Master of PA Studies programs. 

  21. New York Institute of Technology, NY: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences program and 3-year Master of Science in PA Studies program. 

  22. Nova Southeastern University, FL: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences program and 27-month Master of Science in PA Studies program. 

  23. Quinnipiac University, CT: 4-year Bachelor of Science in Health and Science Studies program and 27-month Master of Health Science program. 

  24. Rochester Institute of Technology, NY: 2-year bachelor’s degree program and 3-year combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in PA Studies programs. 

  25. Rutgers, NJ: 3-year Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts program and 3-year Master of Science program. 

  26. Salus University, PA: 3-year bachelor’s degree program from Brigham Young University and 2-year Master’s of Medical Science in PA studies program. 

  27. Seton Hall University, PA: 3-year Bachelor of Sciences in Biology program and 3-year Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. 

  28. Seton Hill University, PA: 2.5-year bachelor’s degree program and 27 or 29-month Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs. 

  29. Slippery Rock University, PS: 3-year Bachelor of Sciences program and 2-year Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. 

  30. Springfield College, MA: 33-month Bachelor of Science in Health Science program and 27-month Master of Science program. 

  31. St. Francis University, PA: 3-year Physician Assistant Science Program, Bachelor of Science in Health Science and 2-year Master of Physician Assistant Science program. 

  32. Stockton University, NJ: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program and 2-year Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. 

  33. Union College, NE: 3-year Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts program and 33-month Master of PA Studies program. 

  34. University of Detroit Mercy, MI: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Biology program and 2-year Master of Science in PA Studies program. 

  35. University of the Cumberlands, KY: 3-year Bachelor of Health Science program and 2-year Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. 

  36. University of Evansville, IN: 3-year Bachelor of Health Science program and 2-year Master of Science in PA Studies program. 

  37. University of the Sciences, PA: 3-year bachelor’s degree program and 3-year Master of Science - Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Graduate PA Program. 

  38. Valparaiso University, IN: 3-year Bachelor of Science in Health Science program and 2-year Master of Science in Physician Assistant program. 

  39. Wagner College, NY: 3-year bachelor’s degree program and 3-year Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Advanced PA Studies program. 

Consider a More Efficient Route to Becoming a PA 

The BS/MS dual degree accelerated PA programs make your road to becoming a licensed PA much quicker and more efficient. It’s definitely worth your consideration. Applications for accelerated PA programs usually begin during senior high school, so you should get started with your preparations as early as now. 

Admissions for BS/MS accelerated PA programs are highly competitive and often require a candidate to belong to the top 10% of their class, an above-average SAT score and a strong GPA. But with a clear plan and the motivation to become a PA, you can surely ace your admissions and take the more efficient route to your dream career.