About the program
The University of Texas – HS Center at San Antonio 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 Department of Physician Assistant Studies at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is to make lives better by educating and preparing compassionate, competent, and adaptable physician assistants (PAs) who provide high-quality, patient-centered care across a broad range of clinical settings. Through excellence in education, clinical training, service, scholarship, and research, the program seeks to improve health outcomes, advance evidence-based practice, and serve the health care needs of San Antonio, South Texas, and beyond."
Our accredited Master of Physician Assistant Studies program provides classroom, laboratory, simulations, cadaver anatomy lab, and clinical rotations that prepare graduates for careers as physician assistants.
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: 10 Years
Program overview
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio offers a 30-month Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree, with the next cohort beginning in May 2027. The program holds continued ARC-PA accreditation and accepts both out-of-state and international applicants, though it does not offer distance learning or a part-time track. The incoming class size is set at 60 students.
The program's mission is grounded in preparing compassionate, competent, and adaptable PAs to serve San Antonio, South Texas, and beyond, with an emphasis on patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, and community health needs. Curriculum delivery draws on multiple pedagogical approaches, including asynchronous, case-based, problem-based, team-based, and systems-based learning, giving students exposure to a variety of learning frameworks throughout their training. Hands-on preparation is built into the experience through classroom instruction, laboratory work, cadaver anatomy lab, simulation, and clinical rotations.
On the academic side, the program sets minimum GPA thresholds of 3.00 across overall, science, and prerequisite coursework, though matriculants typically arrive with stronger profiles - an average overall GPA of 3.70 and a science GPA of 3.65. Prerequisite courses must have been completed within the last ten years and include general chemistry with lab, human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, microbiology with lab, and statistics. The GRE is required; the MCAT is not accepted. International applicants must also submit TOEFL scores.
Healthcare and paid direct patient care experience are both recommended but not required for admission, which may make this program accessible to applicants who are still building their clinical hours. At least two letters of reference are required. The application deadline is September 1, 2026, and all applications are reviewed together once that deadline has passed rather than on a rolling basis. Finalists complete a required on-site Multiple Mini Interview.
Tuition is structured with separate rates, and applicants should confirm current figures directly with the program. A seat deposit of $1,000 is required upon acceptance.
Applicants should assess whether their GPA meets the 3.00 floor while honestly benchmarking against the 3.70 average, and should weigh whether the MMI format, systems-based curriculum, and the program's strong regional service mission align with where they want to practice and how they learn best.