The Tarleton MMSc-PAM program seeks to recruit and retain learners that will demonstrate academic excellence and competencies required to effectively meet the health care needs of the communities they will serve. The program employs a holistic admissions process by which balanced consideration is given to each candidate’s experiences, attributes, and metrics.  

All applicants must apply through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) 

The Tarleton MMSc PAM CASPA Application Cycle will be available April 2025. 

Applicants must complete and submit the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application no later than December 1^st, 2025. 

Please note that CASPA closes the application portal at 11:59PM (EST), or 8:59PM (PST), and all applications received after that time will not be considered. 

All applications submitted by the deadline will be considered. However, to ensure timely processing of the application pre-requisite course should be completed and verified by CASPA before December 1^st, 2025.

Degree  

Baccalaureate Degree from a U.S. regionally accredited College or University. (Baccalaureate degrees must be completed by the end of the semester prior to matriculation.) 

Grade Point Average  

Overall GPA 3.0    

U60 Grade Point Average (the last 60 credits earned) 3.0  

 Prerequisite GPA of 3.0

The following are REQUIRED courses and MUST be completed with a grade of “C” or better. 

Statistics	3 Credit hours
Human Anatomy and Physiology OR Human Anatomy with lab (4 hours) AND Human Physiology with lab (4 hours) The program recommends that prospective learners complete upper-division Human Anatomy and Human Physiology coursework.	8 Credit hours
Microbiology with Lab	4 Credit hours
Genetics	3 credit hours
Biochemistry	3 credit hours
Medical Terminology	1 credit hour
Psychology	3 credit hours

Grades of Pass (P) for pre-requisite coursework will be accepted only for those completed in the academic year 2020-2021.

There is no time limit for completion of requisite coursework. However, the program strongly recommends repeating requisite coursework if it has been over ten years of completion.  

CLEP (College Level Examination Program) or Advanced Placement (AP) courses credit may not be used or substituted to meet prerequisite requirements.  

No applicant will receive advanced placement in the program.   

The Tarleton MMSc PAM program does not accept transfer credit from a student previously enrolled in another PA program or experiential credit.   

• Candidates are expected to have in-depth, hands-on, direct patient care experiences in a healthcare setting.   
• A minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care experience in a healthcare setting must be completed prior to application.   
• Direct patient care experiences in a healthcare setting will be evaluated based on the type of experience and the number of hours during the application process.
• Examples of direct patient care experiences in a healthcare setting may include but not limited to: EMT, Paramedic, Medical Assistant, Nurse, Surgical Technician, Athletic Trainer, Physical Therapy Aide, and Military Medical Corpsman.
• Medical scribe will not be considered as direct patient care experience.
• Shadowing experiences will not substitute direct patient care experiences in a healthcare setting.
• Candidates will submit verifiable information regarding their direct health care experiences on CASPA. 

• Three letters of recommendation are required.
• Letters should be from Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Research Mentors, Professors, Volunteer Coordinators/Supervisors who had direct interaction with the candidate and can attest to his/her qualities, strengthens and suitability for a career as a Physician Assistant.
• Letters must not be from a family member or peer.

Applicant personal statements must be submitted via the CASPA portal. Narrative entries should be clear, concise, well-written, and free of grammatical and spelling errors. Personnel selected and trained by the Tarleton MMSc PAM program will review all narrative sections of the application and score them using a rubric designed by the program.  

• Degree and prerequisite coursework taken outside of the U.S. is not accepted   
• If degree and prerequisite coursework are from a U.S. regionally accredited College or University; international learners must submit evidence of English proficiency through one of the following methods:
  • TOEFL score of at least 550 PBT/213 CBT80 IBT, administered at an official ETS testing center (not at a university)
  • IELTS score of at least 5.0.
  • Completion of an appropriate level ESL program
  • Appropriate level ESL program
  • CEFR score of C1.  

• U.S. Citizen
• Documentation of immigration status will be required if not a U.S. citizen.   

• Transfer credit or Admission with Advanced Standing from another PA program is not accepted.   
• All curricular components of the program are required for graduation and must be completed at the TSU MMSc-PAM program.  

Applicants who meet or exceed the program’s requirements and selection factors; and demonstrate the following attributes and experiences will be granted favorable consideration¹ and an invitation for an interview regardless of ranking:

• Current or former member of the United States military²
  • Veterans² 
  • Active members³ 
  • Reservist³ 
  • National Guard³  

• Tarleton State University alumni and currently enrolled learners
  • Tarleton State University alumni and currently enrolled learners who meet or exceed the program’s requirements and selection factors will be granted an interview and an opportunity to earn acceptance into the program.  

Favorable consideration¹ (but not necessarily an interview) will also be given for applicants who demonstrate the following: 

• Rural Texas residents
  • Texas resident of a county that has been designated as rural by the United States Census Bureau  

• Current resident or spent the majority of childhood a federally designated medically underserved area (MUA), or a health professional shortage area (HPSA) per HRSA.gov.⁴  

• 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 child⁴  

• First generation in family to attend college  

• Resilience and adaptability demonstrated through life experiences⁵

• U60 Grade Point Average (the last 60 credits earned) 3.0

  

¹ Favorable consideration refers to additional points given on admissions rubric.  

² Military Service Records (e.g., DD214) showing an honorable discharge and/or applicable documents must be uploaded to the Document section of the CASPA application.  

³ Active members, Reservists and National Guard members must be in good standing as evidenced by a letter from their commanding officer uploaded to the Document section of the CASPA application.   

⁴ Questions regarding childhood and socioeconomic indicators included in the CASPA application.    

⁵ As prompted by CASPA.

The application screening and review process begins after CASPA notifies the program that an application has achieved verified status. 

Step 1 

The Admissions Support Coordinator confirms the verified status of the application in CASPA and all supporting documents.  

Step 2 

The Admission Support Coordinator verifies that minimum requirements, prerequisite coursework, and all non-academic requirements have been met.  

Step 3 

Personnel selected and trained by the Tarleton MMSc PAM program will review all narrative sections of the application and score them using a rubric designed by the program. 

Step 4 

The Tarleton MMSc PAM Admissions Committee will score and rank each application utilizing a holistic screening rubric measuring metrics, attributes, and experience. The final score will include the score from the review of the narrative section. 

Step 5 

Competitive applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee according to ranking. The Admissions Committee will determine which applicants will either receive an interview invitation or a denial letter.

Tarleton State Graduate School Application

Following the review of the application in CASPA, the prospective learner will be invited by the Tarleton MMSc PAM program to apply to the Tarleton State University College of Graduate Studies  Tarleton State University.  This is in accordance with Tarleton State University and the Texas A&M University System institutional standards.

Prospective learners must not complete the Tarleton State University Graduate Admissions Application prior to being requested to do so by the Tarleton MMSc PAM Program. For more information please visit https://www.tarleton.edu/graduate/faq-2/

The interview is a required component of the Tarleton MMSc PAM program’s holistic admissions process. The invited candidate will meet with members of the Admissions Committee for a virtual interview. The Admissions Committee will evaluate attributes as communication, critical thinking, cultural sensitivity, ethical/moral decision making, empathy, self-awareness, knowledge of and commitment to the Physician Assistant profession, understanding of servant leadership and personal alignment with the program’s mission, vision, and values. Interviews will be scored utilizing a program defined rubric.  

All candidates should be aware that acceptance into a Physician Assistant program is an extremely competitive process. An interview does not constitute or guarantee acceptance.  

Each applicant will be evaluated and ranked based on the following:  

• Baccalaureate Degree from a U.S. regionally accredited College or University.  
• Cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA)  
• Pre-requisite Grade Point Average (pGPA)  
• Trends U60 Grade Point Average (the last 60 credits earned)  
• Letters of Recommendation  
• Personal Statement  
• Admissions preferences 
• Performance during the interview  

The Admissions Committee will use a rubric to award points based on the criteria above.  All decisions will be made holistically, taking in consideration the metrics, attributes, and experiences described above.  

At the end of each interview week the Admissions Committee will review the candidates’ application and interview scores with their respective comments and recommendations. The Admission Committee will make the following recommendations: Admit, Alternate List or Do Not Admit. The Admissions Committee will submit the recommendations to the Tarleton MMSc PAM Program Director who will review and confirm the committee’s decisions. Decision letters will be sent via email to all interviewees by the end of the day of each interview week.  

To ensure a fair and impartial process, at the end of each interview week the candidates placed on the Alternate List will be re-ranked with those interviewed that week. If the candidate on the Alternate List ranks higher than those interviewed that week, the decision status will be changed to Admit, and a letter of admittance will be sent to the candidate. This process will be repeated through the last week of interviews.  Candidates on the Alternate List after the class has been completely selected will be re-considered in the order of ranking if a seat becomes available. Re-considerations will be conducted until the end of the week prior to the first day of classes of the first semester. 

Acceptance offers are effective for matriculation only in the year of the application cycle and will not be transferred to subsequent years. Re-application is required if a candidate intends to matriculate within a cycle year that differs from their application year. Deferrals to subsequent cohort will not be granted except in cases of required military duty. 

The acceptance letter will include clear instructions with links to resources on where and how to complete the following requirements: 

• Security background check 
  • All entering learners must undergo a security background check prior to matriculation.  
  • The security background check must be completed after you have been offered acceptance and no more than 60 days prior to your enrollment into the program.  

• Drug Screening
  • All entering learners must undergo a drug screening prior to matriculation. 

• BLS or BCLS Certification 
  • Certification upon completion of an American Heart Association approved course. 
  • This is required upon enrollment in the program and must be maintained throughout matriculation.  

• Verification of Immunization History 

• Medical Clearance Attestation Form  

• Completion of HIPPA and OSHA Regulations Course 

• Payment of non-refundable $750 seat deposit