About the program
The Stony Brook University 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: "Our mission is to provide high quality graduate-level medical education in an inter-professional environment that fosters critical thinking and life-long learning. We seek to develop in our students the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to be outstanding, compassionate health care providers. We promote professionalism, leadership, service and an appreciation of ethical values and diversity. Physician assistant education at Stony Brook emphasizes comprehensive patient-centered medical care across the lifespan and our curriculum focuses on the principles of evidence-based practice and the importance of scholarly activity."
full cadaver anatomy, simulation labs, international rotations, strong reputation
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: yes. DACA status applicants are not considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. On-campus housing is available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 7 Years · up to 1 outstanding at application
Program overview
Stony Brook University offers a 24-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, a full-time, in-person program based in New York that accepts both out-of-state and international applicants. Accreditation status is Continued through ARC-PA, and the program anticipates an incoming class of approximately 70 students beginning June 2027.
The minimum GPA threshold sits at 3.00 across overall, science, and prerequisite coursework, but matriculants typically arrive with a 3.7 in both categories, signaling meaningful competition above the floor. Applicants should have at least 500 hours of direct patient care, with paid experience recommended though not strictly required; some form of healthcare experience is mandatory. Prerequisites include general chemistry (8 credits), general biology (8 credits), human anatomy (3 credits), human physiology (3 credits), microbiology (3 credits), and statistics (3 credits), all completed within the past seven years, with no more than one outstanding at the time of application.
The curriculum draws from multiple pedagogical approaches - case-based, problem-based, team-based, systems-based, and hybrid models - alongside asynchronous components, giving students exposure to a range of learning environments rather than a single teaching philosophy. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, scholarly activity, interprofessional education, and comprehensive patient-centered care across the lifespan. Distinctive features include full cadaver anatomy labs, simulation facilities, and the option for international clinical rotations, which sets it apart from programs limited to domestic placements. The mission explicitly names professionalism, leadership, diversity, and ethical reasoning as core developmental goals.
Admission operates on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis, with an application deadline of September 1, 2026 for the June 2027 cohort - applicants who wait until the deadline risk a disadvantaged position in the review queue. Three letters of reference are required. Interviews are traditional in format and are not required to be conducted onsite. A seat deposit of $500 is due upon acceptance, and the program has separate tuition rates, so applicants should verify current in-state versus out-of-state costs directly with the institution. There is no part-time option and no distance learning component.
An applicant with a competitive science GPA near 3.7, well-rounded patient care experience in a paid healthcare setting, and genuine interest in an interprofessional, research-aware academic medical center environment will be best positioned to assess whether Stony Brook is the right fit.