Gain the classroom learning and real-world experience you need to succeed as a physician assistant. This master's program will prepare you with important medical concepts and supervised clinical experience in a wide variety of clinical areas as you prepare for your career in health care.
Physician assistants (PAs) play an essential role on the health care team. These advanced health care practitioners practice in all areas of medicine, diagnosing injuries or illnesses, creating treatment plans, prescribing medications, researching treatments and ensuring high quality patient care.
As a physician assistant student at USD, you will gain the training, flexibility and agility needed to deliver the highest quality care to your patients. Our program offers a variety of strengths, including an evidence-based approach to patient care, curriculum that centers compassion in the health care setting, and an emphasis on primary care in rural populations. Plus, as a student in the state's only comprehensive health sciences, you'll have the opportunity to learn collaboratively with students in a variety of health sciences disciplines – uniquely preparing you to succeed on the health care team. Over the course of 24 months, you'll take your learning from the classroom to the clinical setting, gaining supervised clinical experience from licensed physicians and physician assistant preceptors in a number of clinical areas.
USD's master's program will equip you with a range of skills as you prepare to fill a critical need in the future of health care. You'll graduate ready to be the competent, compassionate professional your patients need.
Our physician assistant program takes place in two phases: didactic and clinical. Your first 12 months is spent in the classroom on the Vermillion campus learning important medical concepts necessary to succeed. During the final 12 months, you will gain supervised clinical experience from licensed physicians and physician assistant preceptors in a number of clinical areas ranging from family medicine to surgery to emergency medicine.
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This graduate program utilizes a specialized CAS online application to complete the admissions process. To learn more about this program's unique application process, requirements and program deadlines, visit Specialty Graduate Program Applications.
Additional requirements exist for international applicants. For more information, visit International Admission Requirements.
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies offers the only physician assistant studies program in South Dakota. Graduates of the program have experienced a 100% job placement rate, with many going on to practice in the state's rural areas. Our faculty provide expert training, preparing our students to become compassionate, competent physician assistants who are leaders and collaborators on the health care team.
The world of health care is expanding and changing each day. At USD, we believe your learning environment should be as innovative and dynamic as this rapidly-growing field.
At USD, you’ll learn in our Center for Health Education — a new building that houses modern classrooms, innovative technology, simulation centers, study spaces, health science labs, the Delta Dental Oral Health Center and more. Here, you'll find exceptional opportunities, training and support that will propel you into your career."
Your future patients have complex health care needs that extend beyond a single area of expertise. They should have an expert, compassionate care team that can work together to help them live healthy, fulfilling lives.
At USD, we prepare you not only to thrive in your unique career path, but also to collaborate effectively with health care professionals from a variety of fields. With the state's only comprehensive health sciences school and medical school, USD offers a learning environment that mirrors the health care industry – bringing you and your peers together to learn, study and practice as coordinated teams. You'll graduate with the skills, knowledge and connections you need to make holistic healing possible.
We have financial aid programs to assist students who have financial needs. The Office of Financial Aid is prepared to supplement student contributions from its aid sources for qualified applicants. Counselors are available to assist students in obtaining financial aid from outside sources. It is very important that all financial planning arrangements are complete prior to entering the program.
Physician assistant students are advised that employment during the didactic phase of the program is highly discouraged and not allowed during the clinical phase due to the heavy academic demands of the program.
The graduate catalog has more information about USD's refund policy and withdrawal policy.
USD's Physician Assistant Studies program has been accredited since 1995. Accreditation fosters quality educational experiences and helps to assure that the program is taught by qualified faculty, has the resources it needs to support the curriculum, meets its mission, has acceptable student outcomes, and provides accurate information to the public.
There is no doubt that the staff and faculty at USD provided myself, others in my cohort, and those before us with the best possible knowledge to provide patient-centered care for those in our communities, region, and across the country.
Mason W. Hanse, PA-C
MS in Physician Assistant Studies '26
Nebraska Orthopaedic Center
