FSU-to-FSU PAthway

Streamline Your Future Healthcare Career as Physician Assistant

The Bachelor's to Master’s FSU PAthway

Overview

Frostburg State University (FSU) offers a streamlined pathway for dedicated students to advance from an FSU Bachelor's degree directly into the FSU Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.) degree in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies. This “FSU-to-FSU PAthway” or “FSU PAthway” is exclusively available to undergraduates at FSU to address the critical need for pipelining healthcare professionals from and/or for working in and with underserved regions and populations. In association with the FSU Physician Assistant Program, the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) offers focal preparation for undergraduates pursuing a future career in health professions, including Health Science, Biology, Chemistry, and other related areas of study.

Why Choose the FSU PAthway?

Benefit from a structured, supportive program designed to propel you into a rewarding healthcare career, and where fostering your journey of student success and wellness are a priority. Apply now and be part of the next generation of resilient healthcare professionals dedicated to improving patient care collaboratively and in the community. Here are more reasons to join:

• Supportive Advancement: Dedicated members of the institution, including the FSU PAthway coordinators, HPAC committee, and PA program, guide your educational journey of success.
• Clinical Adaptibility: Focus on practical, person-centered clinical experiences in a variety of care settings.
• Community Impact: Opportunity to serve and make a difference alongside other health professions students (e.g., medical students, residents, PT, pharmacy, etc.) through interprofessional collaboration in rural, underserved, and healthcare profession shortage areas.
• Innovative Care: Refine and grow your strengths to develop innovative practice solutions in healthcare systems, patient care, and community needs. 

Key PAthway Benefits

• Streamlined Transition: A seamless path from undergraduate studies to a professional healthcare career track with FSU Pathway advisement to enhance application competitiveness.
• Focused Education and Training: Tailored to meet the healthcare needs of rural and underserved communities, especially in Western Maryland and Appalachia.
• Priority Consideration: Early consideration with application review is granted when the priority deadline is met, applying to the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) portal by July 1st. Applicants will receive notification of receipt, confirming review status for the Pathway.
• Guaranteed Interview: An interview is guaranteed for prospective pathway students when the minimum admissions requirements are met, or with select requirements pending.*
• Reserved Seats: The program reserves at least five (5) seats for qualifying FSU Pathway candidates. If seats are unfilled by the final CASPA verification date, availability will be opened to other competitive candidates.
• Conditional Offer of Admission: Candidates may be given a Conditional Offer of Admission to the program contingent upon meeting all admission requirements (or the preapproved Progress Documentation), payment of the non-refundable seat deposit, and submission of any required supplementary documentation, as indicated.
• Progress Documentation Plan: Specifically for Pathway students who have not yet met the minimum admission requirements for the PA program though are progressing toward its achievement, a Progress Documentation Plan (“PDP”) is required. The PDP is a supplemental application listing outstanding requirements and enables the prospective student to demonstrate a plan to meet the requirements and by the specified timelines. (see Related and Supplementary Application Forms below).

We value all prospective students. A comparison highlighting the preferential requirements for the FSU PAthway and traditional applicants (“Non-pathway”) is outlined in the Table 1 for ease of reference.

At the PA program, we make student admission decisions in accordance with clearly defined and published practices of the institution and program (A3.13). All prospective students must meet the minimum admissions requirements outlined on the PA Program website (Admissions Information). While these requirements also apply to FSU PAthway applicants, preferential consideration (A3.12a) allows for conditional admission while completing certain outstanding requirements.* When these requirements are not met, regardless of the candidate type, the application review for admission will be halted and any conditional offers of acceptance will be rescinded.

Please note that the table below may not represent an all-inclusive list of the materials required for application and full consideration, nor the minimum admission requirements expected of all prospective students.**

Table 1 Key Differences between FSU PAthway and Non-pathway Admissions

*Satisfactory completion of outstanding items must meet the minimum admission requirements. Progress monitoring and completion verification are performed by HPAC with updates provided to the PA Program.

** See the PA Program webpage for more information, such as on Admission and Enrollment Practices (A3.12a-e), including favored or preferred characteristics, individuals, or groups (A3.12a), prior education (A3.12b), advanced placement (A3.12c), required work experience (A3.12d), and technical standards for enrollment (A3.12e).

The HPAC provides a Letter of Recommendation for high-caliber pre-health professions students demonstrating exceptional professionalism, knowledge of the career (e.g., PA), and personal alignment with the PA program’s mission. To ensure pathway students remain on track for full admissions consideration, the HPAC monitors prospective student progress through a PDP. Through mutual collaboration, the HPAC and PA program support applicant progress towards completion of the minimum admission requirements prior to matriculation.

Progress Documentation Plan

• Courses to complete the FSU baccalaureate degree
• Courses or grades to meet the prerequisite specifications
• Healthcare experience (HCE) – direct patient care hours or PA shadowing hours

The PDP Supplemental Application Form encompasses (at minimum) the following:

• A list of the prospective student’s outstanding requirements
• Plan for completion
• Timeline for completion
• Progress monitoring with final outcome verification

Waiver Form / Request

A waiver request is required such as when applicants are seeking a timeframe exception for pre-requisite courses, including the reason for the request and any relevant circumstances for program consideration. This request is completed by the applicant and submitted to the PA program. Instructions for its completion are provided under the section, “Waiver Eligibility,” found on the program’s Admissions Information webpage.

For more details and to begin your application, please visit the Admissions Information on the PA Program Website and contact the Undergraduate Health Science Program Coordinator and/or HPAC Chair:

Join us at FSU, bringing your talent and diverse perspective. Together, we make the difference in healthcare!