About the program
The University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 UAB Physician Associate Studies Program is to provide qualified individuals with the knowledge, skills, and judgment needed to assist physicians in the care of patients in surgical, acute-care, and medical settings."
We have a cadaver lab, vivisection lab, and offer a Dual Degree MS in Physician Associate Studies/MS in Public Health for qualified applicants.
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 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: No Requirement · up to 3 outstanding at application
Program overview
The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers a 27-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies with ARC-PA continued accreditation, admitting a class of approximately 60 students beginning in August 2027. The program's mission centers on preparing graduates to work alongside physicians in surgical, acute-care, and medical settings, which signals a practical orientation toward hands-on clinical work rather than research or public health generalism - though notably, qualified applicants can pursue a dual degree combining the MSPAS with a Master of Science in Public Health for those interested in that additional credential.
The curriculum is organized around organ-based and systems-based learning and incorporates early clinical exposure, meaning students encounter patient-care scenarios before the traditional didactic-to-clinical handoff. The program also maintains both a cadaver lab and a vivisection lab, giving students access to substantive anatomy and procedural training resources that not every PA program provides.
Competitively, matriculants average a 3.7 overall GPA and a 3.6 science GPA, though the program sets its minimums at 3.0 across overall, science, and prerequisite GPAs. This gap between minimums and actual matriculant averages is meaningful - applicants near the 3.0 floor should understand they are at the lower end of a competitive pool. Paid direct patient care is recommended but not required, and healthcare experience more broadly carries the same status, making this program relatively accessible to applicants still building their clinical hours, though candidates with substantive experience will be more competitive.
Required prerequisites include general chemistry with lab (8 credits), general biology with lab (8 credits), human anatomy with lab (4 credits), human physiology with lab (4 credits), microbiology with lab (4 credits), and statistics (3 credits). There is no time limit on when these courses were completed, and up to three prerequisites may still be outstanding at the time of application. The GRE is required; the program will not accept the MCAT as a substitute. Applicants must submit at least three letters of reference and complete an on-site interview. The application deadline is August 1, 2026, with all applications reviewed after that date closes rather than on a rolling basis.
The program accepts both out-of-state and international applicants, though separate tuition rates apply, so out-of-state candidates should confirm the cost differential directly with UAB before applying. A seat deposit of $1,000 is required upon acceptance. There is no part-time option and no distance learning component.
An applicant should judge fit here primarily by whether their academic record genuinely sits at or above the 3.6–3.7 matriculant average and whether they are prepared for a full-time, in-person 27-month commitment with a curriculum that emphasizes surgical and acute-care contexts.