About the program
The Dominican University of California PA program is described in PAEA's published program data; full curriculum details, faculty, and admissions cycle specifics are maintained on the program's own website.
From the program's mission statement: "At Dominican, we prepare PAs to provide compassionate, high-quality, patient-centered care as members of interdisciplinary healthcare teams. To achieve this, the program provides an exemplary, active learning environment that integrates theoretical learning and inquiry skills with clinical practice, promoting diversity and inclusion among the student body, faculty and staff. Our approach to teaching nurtures reflection, creativity, and critical thinking as core competencies of the profession. Graduates will demonstrate cultural humility and be committed to lifelong learning and their professional development. They will be prepared to make significant contributions to the diverse communities that they serve and to the advancement of the PA profession."
At Dominican, we prepare PAs to provide compassionate, high-quality, patient-centered care as members of interdisciplinary healthcare teams. To achieve this, the program provides an exemplary, active learning environment that integrates theoretical learning and inquiry skills with clinical practice, promoting diversity and inclusion among the student body, faculty and staff. Our approach to teaching nurtures reflection, creativity, and critical thinking as core competencies of the profession.
Matriculant data
Actual stats for students who enrolled in the most recently reported cohort, sourced from PAEA's published program data.
Admission policies
Out-of-state applicants are accepted. International applicants: no. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. On-campus housing is available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: No Requirement
Program overview
Dominican University of California offers a 28-month MSPAS program in the state of California, holding ARC-PA Continued accreditation. The program admits an estimated 35 students per cohort, with the next class scheduled to begin in August 2027. Out-of-state applicants are welcome, though international applicants are not accepted, and the program is offered entirely on-site with no distance learning or part-time option available.
The admissions bar is accessible but firm. Applicants need a minimum 3.00 GPA both overall and in prerequisites, and they must have completed at least 500 hours of paid direct patient care before applying. General healthcare experience is also required. The prerequisite science foundation is fairly standard - eight credits each of general chemistry and general biology, four credits each of human anatomy, human physiology, and microbiology, and three credits of statistics - with no stated time limit on when those courses must have been completed. Three letters of reference are required. Admission is rolling on a first-come, first-served basis, with an application deadline of September 1, 2026, so early submission is strategically important.
The curriculum blends case-based, team-based, organ or systems-based, and hybrid traditional approaches, reflecting a commitment to active learning over passive lecture formats. The program's mission centers on preparing clinicians to function within interdisciplinary healthcare teams, with explicit emphasis on cultural humility, diversity and inclusion, and service to underserved and diverse communities. Reflection, critical thinking, and creativity are treated as professional competencies rather than incidental qualities, which suggests the program values practitioners who can think adaptively rather than simply apply protocols. A commitment to lifelong learning and professional development is woven into the program's stated goals for graduates.
The interview process includes both a group interview and a scenario room component, meaning applicants should expect to demonstrate interpersonal and clinical reasoning skills in real time, not just through written materials. An onsite interview is required.
Total tuition runs $152,314 with no separate rate for out-of-state students, and a $1,000 seat deposit is required upon acceptance. Applicants should assess fit based on whether the program's interdisciplinary, team-based philosophy, its emphasis on community service and cultural humility, and its Northern California location align with both their professional values and practical circumstances.