About the program
The South College – Knoxville 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: "The mission of the South College Masters of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies program is to educate highly qualified physician assistants, preparing them to become competent, compassionate, and comprehensive healthcare providers for clinical practice in rural and urban areas, focusing on underserved communities."
Endeavoring to provide students with a comprehensive evidence-based medical education that focuses on the future delivery of excellent healthcare, the program promotes the importance of health maintenance, health education, the prevention of disease, and the need for a lifelong path dedicated to continuous learning and self assessment. The faculty strive for educational excellence as they prepare physician assistant students to think critically, Exposure to many labs, OSLERs, and Simulations.
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 not considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 7 Years
Program overview
South College in Knoxville, Tennessee offers a 27-month Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies, currently holding Continued accreditation status from ARC-PA, with a cohort beginning in September 2027. The program does not accept international applicants but welcomes students from out of state, runs on a full-time, on-site basis only, and admits a relatively large incoming class of approximately 85 students per cycle.
The program's mission centers on preparing physician assistants to serve both rural and urban underserved communities, which should resonate with applicants who have a genuine interest in healthcare access and equity. Curricular delivery blends case-based, problem-based, team-based, and organ-systems approaches, and the program places particular emphasis on hands-on preparation through exposure to labs, OSCEs, and simulation experiences. Faculty also stress evidence-based practice, health maintenance, disease prevention, and the development of habits suited to lifelong learning and self-assessment - themes that carry through the entire 27-month course of study.
On the admissions side, the program uses rolling review on a first-come, first-served basis with an application deadline of March 1, 2027, so applying early carries real strategic weight. The minimum GPA threshold across overall, science, and prerequisite categories is 2.75, though matriculants arrive with roughly a 3.7 overall and 3.6 science GPA, meaning the floor and the practical competitive range sit considerably apart. Paid direct patient care and healthcare experience are both recommended rather than required, which gives the program some accessibility to applicants still building their clinical hours, though competitive candidates will likely have meaningful experience. The program requires both the GRE and the PA-CAT; the MCAT is explicitly not accepted. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past seven years and includes general chemistry with lab (8 credits), general biology with lab (8 credits), human anatomy with lab (4 credits), human physiology with lab (4 credits), and microbiology with lab (3 credits). Three letters of reference are required, and candidates must complete a required on-site group interview.
Total tuition is $110,250 with no differentiated rate for in-state versus out-of-state students, and a seat deposit of $1,500 is required upon acceptance. Applicants should weigh whether the program's explicit underserved-community focus, large cohort size, simulation-heavy pedagogy, and dual standardized testing requirement align with their academic profile, clinical background, and long-term practice goals before committing early in the rolling cycle.