Dominican University of California Physician Assistant Program
San Rafael, California · Masters
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A closer look
Mission & approach
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.
Admissions insights
What this program looks for in applicants
Min 3.0 overall & last-30-science GPA; bachelor's any discipline; prereqs B- or higher; 500 paid DPC hrs; 8 PA shadow hrs; 3 LORs (clinician weighted); real-time personal statement; interview by invite. GRE recommended not required. Preferences: GPA >=3.50, veteran, healthcare licensure, >1,000 DPC hrs, Dominican degree, disadvantaged background, medically-underserved/near-campus residence, language fluency, >50 volunteer hrs.
Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.
Program admissions informationHow this program interviews
Applicants selected to continue in the process receive an invitation to interview, but the program page does not describe the interview's format or delivery.
Source checked Aug 1, 2026. Interview formats and dates can change between cycles.
Program interview informationAdmissions & prerequisites
Admission requirements
Science GPA policy & alternatives
The program requires a 3.0 GPA in the last 30 hours of science coursework. This is a separate metric from an all-course CASPA science GPA; compare your qualifying last-30-science coursework with the program.
Prerequisite coursework
Semester units (quarter-unit equivalents published)Review each course, its lab, and the program’s policies. Your links are planning records; the program decides equivalency.
| Course | Credits | Lab | Min grade |
|---|---|---|---|
Biological Sciences sequence with labs2 course(s)Course notes & alternativesTwo semesters, 8 semester units (or 12 quarter units); courses should include lab components and be sequenced for majors in human biology. | 8Semester units (quarter-unit equivalents published) | Preferred | B- |
Chemistry sequence with labs2 course(s)Course notes & alternativesTwo semesters, 8 semester units (or 12 quarter units); courses with labs, sequenced for chemistry majors. Inorganic or organic chemistry may be substituted, but the program doesn't define the baseline course list or how to substitute; confirm with the program. | 8Semester units (quarter-unit equivalents published) | Preferred | B- |
Human Anatomy with lab1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne semester, 4 semester units (or 5–6 quarter units); within seven years of CASPA cycle deadline. | 4Semester units (quarter-unit equivalents published) | Required | B- |
Human Physiology with lab1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne semester, 4 semester units (or 5–6 quarter units); within seven years of CASPA cycle deadline. | 4Semester units (quarter-unit equivalents published) | Required | B- |
Microbiology with lab1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne semester, 4 semester units (or 5–6 quarter units); within 10 years of CASPA cycle deadline. | 4Semester units (quarter-unit equivalents published) | Required | B- |
College Algebra or higher1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne semester, 3 semester units (or 4–5 quarter units). | 3Semester units (quarter-unit equivalents published) | Not specified | B- |
Statistics1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne semester, 3 semester units (or 4–5 quarter units). | 3Semester units (quarter-unit equivalents published) | Not specified | B- |
General Psychology1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne semester, 3 semester units (or 4–5 quarter units). | 3Semester units (quarter-unit equivalents published) | Not specified | B- |
Policies that can change your plan
- Chemistry route
- A two-semester (8-unit) chemistry requirement is stated, and inorganic or organic chemistry may be substituted, but how to substitute is not clearly defined. Organic Chemistry is strongly recommended, not separately required. Check with the program.
- Labs
- Biology should include labs; Chemistry should include labs. Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology explicitly require lab.
- Recency
- Anatomy and Physiology: 7 years; other prerequisites: 10 years, measured from current CASPA cycle deadline.
- Course delivery
- Online science prerequisites not accepted, except named COVID-period online lab windows.
The CASPA window runs May 1–October 1 with rolling review, and courses must be completed at application. Overall GPA and GPA in the last 30 science units must each be at least 3.0. Minimum 500 paid direct-patient-contact hours and 8 hours of PA shadowing are required. Three recommendation letters; clinician references are valued. Science prerequisites must be in person (the only exception is online labs in 2020-21).
When courses must be complete: All prerequisites completed with at least B- by application submission; CASPA application window May 1–October 1.
Dates & application steps
Your application must be verified by the deadline.
Know what the total includes
Published cost estimate
Confirm current cohortConfirm rates for your entering cohort
$154,520 TOTAL TUITION to completion (tuition only). RE-VERIFIED 2026-08-10 against the school's own cost page after the back-derivation sweep. Cohort: 2026-2027, 7 semesters.
Curriculum & clinical training
Didactic education
Medical education uses multiple teaching approaches to prepare students for supervised patient care.
Clinical education
Nine rotations include family and internal medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, surgery, behavioral health, emergency medicine, and other specialties.
The in-person, 102-unit MSPAS program lasts 28 months. Students return during the final month for summative evaluation and preparation for clinical practice.
The admitted class
Published class statistics describe the named cohort or population. They are not admission minimums or acceptance probabilities.
The program’s track record
Graduate outcomes
PANCE pass rates
See first-time program performance with clearly dated national context.
- First-time PANCE pass rate: 86%
- Five-year first-time PANCE pass rate: 88%
Accreditation history
ContinuedSources you can open
Links to the program’s own pages and the official directories we use.
- PA School Finder deadline record
- ARC-PA currently accredited programs — sponsoring-institution directory
- Dominican University of California MSPAS — Admissions and Prerequisites
- PA School Finder contact record
- Program contact page
About the U.S. News rank
The U.S. News PA rank uses the 2025 PA edition, matched to the listed program and campus. It reflects peer-assessed reputation, not admissions odds or a personal fit score. Programs without a separate entry are labeled “Unranked.”
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