Graduation Requirements

A candidate for the degree of Master of Physician Assistant Studies at UT Southwestern School of Health Professions must meet all of the following requirements:

1. The student must demonstrate a high order of scholarly achievement in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, including appropriate professional competencies. The program’s Committee on Student Progress determines whether adequate mastery has been acquired.
2. The student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 112 semester hours at UT Southwestern School of Health Professions.
3. The student must discharge all financial obligations to the Medical Center. In the event of nonpayment, one or more actions may be taken by the Dean: a) readmission may be denied; b) and/or the degree to which the student would otherwise be entitled may be withheld.
4. The student must complete the academic requirements listed on his or her degree plan, including completion of any academic deficiencies in prerequisite courses, by the times stated in the student’s official letter of acceptance. The student is responsible for submitting official documentation of successful completion of the prerequisites to the Office of the Registrar.
5. The student must fulfill six (6) hours of service-learning at UTSW preapproved sites before graduation. A list of preapproved opportunities will be provided to students. All hours must be logged in the School of Health Professions Student Affairs service-learning registry. The SHP Student Affairs team will notify students at least three months prior to graduation of any outstanding service-learning requirements to provide ample time for completion.
6. The student must pay a graduation fee designated to partially offset the costs associated with the diploma and diploma cover production, regalia, and the commencement ceremony. All students completing a degree or certification must pay the fee without regard to whether they attend the commencement ceremony or not.
7. The student must successfully complete all required courses in the degree plan. For courses with letter grades, a grade of C or higher must be achieved in every class, with the exception of MPA 5509, MPA 5510, and MPA 5511, in which minimum grades of B must be achieved. For courses graded Pass/Fail, a grade of Pass must be achieved. A cumulative grade-point average of 2.75 must be maintained throughout enrollment. 
8. The student must complete and submit a Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool (PACKRAT) examination following completion of the didactic curriculum and again after completion of the majority of clinical rotations.
9. The student must successfully pass all required summative assessments at the end of the clinical curriculum.
10. The student must successfully complete a graduate project as approved by program faculty.
11. The student must complete all requirements for graduation within five consecutive years of the original date of matriculation.