Admission Requirements

Applicants for Baylor University's Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program must meet the minimum prerequisites, admission requirements, and technical standards outlined below. All courses within the professional pre-clinical and clinical curriculum are required for completion of the MPAS degree. Baylor does not grant advanced placement credit for experiential learning, or transfer credits from other programs or institutions. 

Apply Now in CASPA

Admission Requirements

Candidates for admission to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree program must possess at a minimum:

1. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. or Canada prior to matriculation into the program
   • A master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian school will be accepted in lieu of the bachelor’s degree if a bachelor’s degree was completed outside of the U.S. or Canada. However, all prerequisites must also be completed from a regionally accredited institution within the U.S. or Canada within 10 years of application to the program.
2. All of the following minimum GPA requirements (on a 4.00 scale):
   • Cumulative GPA: 3.00 or higher
   • Prerequisite Coursework GPA: 3.00 or higher
   • Overall Science GPA: 3.00 or higher (required beginning with the cohort entering Fall 2027)
   • If the cumulative GPA is less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, an applicant may still be eligible for admission if a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater has been achieved over the last 60 semester or 90 quarter hour credits of coursework.
   • Preference will be given to applicants with GPAs above 3.19 with increased consideration for higher GPAs.
     • Pass/Fail courses will only be accepted by individual waiver
3. Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the last five years from the application is required. While there is no minimum score requirement, preference will be given to those with Quantitative scores at or above the 60th percentile and Analytical Writing scores of 3.0 or higher, with greater consideration for higher scores. GRE scores must be directly reported from ETS to CASPA code 1397. We encourage applicants to follow up with CASPA to assure that scores are posted to the application in a timely manner. We will not accept scores reported directly to Baylor University.
   • There are no exceptions or waivers to the GRE requirement for students who have completed graduate-level education.
   • ETS offers free preparation materials, webinars, and testing day advice for the GRE. Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of these resources.
4. Three letters of recommendation are required to be submitted through CASPA.
   • At least one recommendation must come from a healthcare professional knowledgeable of the applicant’s clinical performance.
   • Three letters of recommendation are required, but applicants may submit up to five. No additional letters beyond the five submitted through CASPA will be accepted.
5. A minimum of 500 hours of direct healthcare experience (paid or volunteer) in the U.S. must be completed by all applicants prior to application. Eligible experiences include roles in which the student has interacted directly with patients about their healthcare concerns and needs. Examples include, but are not limited to scribe, therapist, therapist aide, technologist, phlebotomist, EMT, paramedic, pharmacy technician, health educator, nurse, nurse aide, patient care attendant, health-related Peace Corps volunteer or other cross-cultural health care experience. Preference will be given for:
   • Experience greater than 500 hours
   • One year or more (>= 1,000 hours) paid professional experience as a health care professional beyond licensing, certification, or graduation.
6. Preference will be given for professional experience in research for one year (>= 1,000 hours) or longer.
7. Preference will be given for first generation college students.
8. Preference will be given for applicants from a Health Professional Shortage area or Medically Underserved area.
9. Preference will be given to applicants with a conferred degree from Baylor University.
10. Other admission criteria:
    • International students will not be accepted at this time.
    • Students must meet the minimal technical requirements for admission, continuation, and graduation.
    • If invited, an interview is required. Interviews are offered based on a complete assessment of the full application. Final admissions decisions are the result of a holistic evaluation of applicants following the completion of their interview.
    • An approved background check must be completed prior to matriculation.