James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA | Ownership not categorized | MPAS: Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Program Snapshot
| Item | Program information |
|---|---|
| Start term | August 2027 |
| Review model | Rolling - Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis |
| Delivery | Campus-based |
| Part-time option | No |
| Testing | GRE required; MCAT not accepted; TOEFL for international applicants |
| Accreditation | Accreditation-Continued |
| First accredited | 1999/04/01 |
| Next ARC-PA review | 2026/10 |
Mission and Program Differentiators
Published Mission
To provide educational opportunities and to foster a culture of wellness for students to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and resiliency necessary to function as primary care physician assistants, serving the medical needs of the Commonwealth of Virginia and society in general including rural and medically underserved areas.
Use these details only when they genuinely connect to your prior clinical, service, academic, or teamwork record.
Academic Thresholds and Cohort Context
| Item | Program information |
|---|---|
| Minimum overall GPA | Not reported |
| Minimum science GPA | Not reported |
| Minimum prerequisite GPA | Not reported |
| Reported matriculant overall GPA | 3.66 |
| Reported matriculant science GPA | 3.57 |
Interpretation: Minimums are eligibility screens. Matriculant averages describe a recent entering cohort and should not be treated as guarantees or hidden cutoffs.
Prerequisite Planning
- Human Anatomy 3 Credit(s), Lab Required
- Biochemistry 3 Credit(s)
- Microbiology 3 Credit(s)
- Human Physiology 3 Credit(s)
- Genetics 3 Credit(s)
- Medical Terminology 3 Credit(s)
| Item | Program information |
|---|---|
| Additional course policy | Online coursework is acceptable. |
| Course recency | 7 Years |
| Outstanding-course deadline | At any point prior to matriculation |
| Maximum outstanding prerequisites | 6 |
Compare labs, semester or quarter conversion, minimum grades, recency, online-course rules, and completion timing course by course.
Clinical Experience and Shadowing
| Item | Program information |
|---|---|
| Healthcare experience | Yes, required |
| Paid healthcare experience | Not Required |
| Volunteer healthcare experience | Not Required |
| Healthcare experience hours | 1000 |
| Healthcare experience time limit | No Requirement |
| Paid direct patient care | Not Required |
| Volunteer direct patient care | Required |
| Direct patient-care hours | 1,000 |
| Direct patient-care time limit | No Requirement |
| PA shadowing | Recommended but not required |
| Physician shadowing | Recommended but not required |
| Other-provider shadowing | Not Required |
| Clinical or non-clinical research | Not Required |
| Virtual healthcare accepted | No |
| Virtual shadowing accepted | No |
Strategy: Even when hours are recommended rather than required, describe role scope, patient contact, clinical judgment, teamwork, and what you learned about the PA profession.
Application Mechanics
| Item | Program information |
|---|---|
| CASPA deadline | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Reported resident tuition | $81,164 |
| Reported non-resident tuition | $96,923 |
| Deadline status requirement | Blue-Submit only: the applicant must only submit the application by your posted deadline. |
| Supplemental application | Yes |
| Supplemental deadline | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Supplemental fee | $60 |
| Reference letters | 3 |
| Reference types | No restrictions |
| Seat deposit | Yes, $1,000 |
| Deposit refundable | No |
Eligibility and Access Policies
| Item | Program information |
|---|---|
| Out-of-state applicants | Yes |
| Transfer applicants | No |
| DACA applicants considered | Yes |
| International applicants accepted | Yes |
| On-campus housing | No |
| Veteran support | Not reported |
Applicant Fit Analysis
Published Admissions Considerations
Holistic Admissions Review
Mission alignment
To provide educational opportunities and to foster a culture of wellness for students to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and resiliency necessary to function as primary care physician assistants, serving the medical needs of the Commonwealth of Virginia and society in general including rural and medically underserved areas.
Recent cohort context
Reported matriculant averages were 3.66 overall and 3.57 science GPA. These are context, not admission cutoffs.
Potential Constraints to Resolve Before Applying
- Rolling review means an application submitted well before the deadline may receive earlier consideration.
- At least 1,000 direct patient-care hours are reported.
- Prerequisite recency policy: 7 Years.
- No more than 6 prerequisite courses may remain outstanding.
- A supplemental application is reported, due Jun 15, 2026.
- An interview is required (Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)).
Interview Preparation
Reported requirement: Yes · Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
| Format | Preparation focus |
|---|---|
| Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) | Practice timed ethical, communication, teamwork, and health-system scenarios. Explain the reasoning process, not just the conclusion. |
Interview formats can change. Confirm whether the current cycle is onsite or virtual and whether writing, group, or timed scenario components are included.
Accreditation and Outcome Questions
Current status: Accreditation-Continued. First accreditation: 1999/04/01. Next review: 2026/10.
Questions worth answering before enrollment
- What are the latest first-time and ultimate PANCE pass rates, with cohort year and denominator?
- What are the latest graduation and attrition rates?
- How far may students travel or temporarily relocate for clinical rotations, and who bears those costs?
- Are core rotations assigned by the program, and can students be required to secure elective sites?
- What remediation, deceleration, and dismissal policies apply during didactic and clinical training?
Sources
| Source | What it supports |
|---|---|
| Official program website | Current program policies, curriculum, outcomes, and application instructions |
| PAEA program profile (updated March 6th, 2026) | Program-supplied admissions, curriculum, and matriculant data |
| ARC-PA accreditation source | Accreditation status and review history |