Simon FindsHere in this post, we are going to give you concise and relevant information on how to secure admission into the Duke University PA Program.
The information you will find here includes, but not limited to, admission requirements, cost of the program, program ranking, acceptance rate, clinical experience and admission statistics.
Duke University PA Program Course Description
The Duke University PA Program is an educational program in the Department of Community and Family Medicine in the Duke University School of Medicine.
The department is poised to improve the health of people in their communities by working with them to improve understanding of health and illness in the family, workplace, and community; to develop and evaluate collaborative interventions which will improve health and prevent disease, and to institute educational programs for a wide variety of medical professionals.
The department comprises five interdependent divisions — Community Health, Family Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Physician Assistant and Student Health.
Duke University PA Program Admission Requirements
To gain admission for the program, you need to fill out and submit an application. The complete application package includes the CASPA application, Duke PA Program’s supplemental application, and official GRE score report.
Remember to have your scores sent from ETS directly to CASPA at code 0422 and to follow up with CASPA to make certain the scores have been linked to your application.
CASPA will accept up to five evaluations. Our program requires three, including at least one from a health care professional with whom the applicant has worked. Relatives and personal or family friends of the applicant are not allowed to complete evaluation forms.
To be eligible for the program, here are the conditions:
1. An Undergraduate Degree
You need to have a baccalaureate degree from an institution that is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of a Regional Accrediting Organization is required.
College seniors can apply, as far as they will receive the baccalaureate degree prior to the August starting date of the PA program. College seniors or those who recently graduated may be at a disadvantage because they often have fewer months of patient care experience than other candidates. College seniors constituted less than 5 percent of accepted applicants in 2018.
Candidates who received their baccalaureate degrees from colleges and institutions outside of the United States must complete at least one year (30 semester hours) of extra undergraduate or graduate study at a U.S. college or university before they apply to the program.
2. Prerequisite College Courses
The Duke University Physician Assistant Program requires 8 prerequisite courses as listed below. Please note that all prerequisite courses should have been taken no earlier than 10 years prior to application.
- Anatomy: 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours
- Physiology: 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours
A combination of anatomy and Physiology courses are only accepted as far as the total credits received is a minimum of 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hours. Human Anatomy and Physiology and labs are an advantage, even though they are not a necessity.
- Other Biology course of choice: 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours
- Microbiology: 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours
- Second Other Biology course of choice: 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours
In order to fulfill the other biological science course requirements, the PA Program recommends courses in genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, embryology, histology, or immunology. While none of the latter courses are mandatory, they serve as a good foundation for the study of medicine.
- Chemistry course of choice with lab: total of 4 semester or 5 quarter hours
- Statistics: 2 semester hours or 3 quarter hours
- Second Chemistry course of choice with lab: total of 4 semester or 5 quarter hours
Duke University PA Program GRE Requirements
Graduate Record Examination
You are expected to submit official scores from the Graduate Record Examination general test (GRE) taken no earlier than January 1, 2015, and no later than October 1, 2019. No other test scores are accepted in place of the GRE. All students are mandated to submit the, plus candidates who have already bagged masters or doctoral degrees.
Duke University PA Program Cost
For the program cost in terms of tuition, here is a breakdown:
For PA students matriculating in Fall 2018 (Graduating Class of 2020) , here are the yearly tuition rates:
First Year
- $41,844 divided into three equal installments.
Second Year
- $41,844 divided into three equal installments.
For the current clinical year PA students (Graduating Class of 2019), here is the cost of tuition:
$40,823 divided into three equal installments.
Tuition fees are charged each term of enrollment for fall, spring, and summer terms. There are no differences in tuition between in-state and out-of-state students. Further first- and second-year program costs are instruments, books, student fees (including a computer fee), rent, food, student health, health insurance, and personal miscellaneous expenses.
As part of the interview packet, a projected student budget is included and may also be obtained by contacting the Office of Financial Aid at financial_aid@mc.duke.edu or (919) 684-6649.
See: Barry University PA Program
Duke University PA Program Ranking
Duke University PA Program is ranked at #1, making it one of the marginally placed programs among universities in the system.
Duke University PA Program Acceptance Rate
Admission into the Duke PA Program is highly competitive. Prospective applicants should take a look at the information below in order to realistically assess their chances of admission into the program and also plan accordingly.
The ranges of both academic and experiential qualifications for the middle 50 percent of enrolled applicants for Fall 2018 are as follows:
- Overall GPA: 3.5-3.8
- Natural science GPA: 3.3- 3.8
- Total natural science hours: 53- 80
- GRE General Test scores:
- Verbal: 154-161
- Quantitative: 153-161
- Analytical Writing: 4.0- 4.5
- Hours of full-time patient care experience: 2900-5152
Although this information represents the range of qualifications among enrolled candidates, each application is assessed based on individual merits. Proof of academic potential, deep knowledge of the health care system, motivation, personal maturity, self-confidence and good interpersonal skills will strongly influence the outcome of the admission decision.
Duke University PA Program Clinical Experience
For clinical experience for the program, a minimum of 1,000 hours of patient care experience is required with direct, one-on-one patient contact (e.g., EMT or paramedic, health educator, RN, patient care attendant or nurse’s aide, clinic assistant, Peace Corps volunteer or other cross-cultural health care experience, technologist, therapist, clinical research assistant, etc.). The 1,000 hours of patient care experience must be completed no later than July 1, 2019.
However, the following types of experience are NOT accepted toward the 1,000 hours of patient care experience: PA or physician observer or shadow, non-clinical research assistant posts, pharmacy technician, student clinical experience (student nurse, student EMT, student athletic trainer, or other health care student), student “intern” experiences for which school credit is obtained, candy striper or junior volunteer posts, CPR or ACLS instructor, patient transporter, wilderness medicine instructor, pharmaceutical rep, ski patroller (if not EMT certified), life guard, aerobics instructor, unit clerk, insurance clerk, medical secretary or other clerical positions.
Duke University PA Program Admission Statistics
For the 2018 incoming PA class, a total of 2,861 CASPA applications were received. 250 applicants were interviewed while 90 applicants accepted the offer of admission for the Fall 2018 entering class. As for class size, 90 students per are typically accepted yearly.
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