Admission Requirements for School of Health Professions

1. Online application
2. Official transcripts from all post-secondary educational institutions
3. A minimum of 2.8 overall GPA is required for MHA admission, and a minimum of 3.0 is required for MHA/MBA admission.
4. Language proficiency
   • Students for whom English is not their primary language, regardless of US citizenship, are required to submit their TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score with their application. The MBU school code is 5397. A minimum score is 570 for the paper-based exam.  A minimum score of 89 (DPT program only) or 88 (all other programs) for the internet-based exam. A student may be exempted if they have graduated with a bachelor’s or graduate degree from a four-year accredited U.S. university.
5. Pre-requisite courses:
   • MHA
     • Statistics or Research Methods (3 credit hrs.)
   • MHA/MBA
     • Statistics (3 credit hrs.)
     • Research Methods (3 credit hrs.)
     • Students without a background in business, accounting, or an approved business-related field will be required to take an exam to evaluate his or her level of business knowledge. Based on exam results, applicants may be required to take one or more pre-MBA module courses offered at MBU.

Note: No GRE/GMAT entrance exam is required. 

1. Online application
   • Applications will be processed online through Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistant (CASPA) once the application cycle opens. Applications must be CASPA-verified by October 1.
2. Official transcripts from all post-secondary educational institutions
   • Your official transcripts from your degree-granting institution(s) must be sent to CASPA. Transcripts available after CASPA applications are verified can be sent to us at: Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences/Mary Baldwin University, Office of Admissions, 100 Baldwin Blvd., Fishersville, VA 22939. Bachelor’s degree and all prerequisite coursework must be earned/completed by September 1.
3. 3.0 overall GPA
4. Three references (submitted via CASPA)
5. Brief personal statement/essay
6. GRE: Must have been taken within 5 years of application to our program. The CASPA/Mary Baldwin University identification code is 3656. MDCHS utilizes a holistic approach to admissions; therefore, we do not publish a minimum GRE score.
7. Casper Assessment: Casper is a 90-110 minute online, open-response situational judgment test (SJT) that helps determine the behavioral tendencies of applicants pursuing people-centered professions. To complete Casper visit Acuity Insights to create an account and complete the following assessment (Test: US Professional Health Sciences, CSP-10101) for Mary Baldwin University. A Casper Assessment must be completed in order to be considered for an interview.  Early submission is recommended. Duet is not required.
8. Healthcare observation hours or actual healthcare experiences are recommended but not required.
9. Language Proficiency: English proficiency is considered essential to providing quality patient care. Students for whom English is not their primary language, regardless of US citizenship, are required to submit their TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score with their application. The MBU school code is 5397. A minimum score is 570 (paper-based) or 88 (internet-based). A student may be exempted if they have graduated with a bachelor’s or graduate degree from a 4-year accredited US university.
10. Prerequisite Courses
    • Biology: 3-4 credit hrs; Any biology course in addition to Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology; must include lab
    • Human Anatomy‡: 3-4 credit hrs; Must include lab
    • Human Physiology‡: 3-4 credit hrs; Must include lab
    • Microbiology: 3-4 credit hrs; Must include lab
    • Chemistry: 3-4 credit hrs; Must include lab
    • Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry: 3-4 credit hrs; Lab preferred
    • Psychology: 6 credit hrs; 1 intro and 1 upper OR 2 upper-level psychology courses; abnormal and developmental psychology are preferred.
    • Statistics: 3 credit hrs; Can be from biology, mathematics, psychology, or business. NOTE – if a psychology course is used to meet this requirement, it cannot also be used for the psychology requirement.
    • Medical Terminology: 1-2  credit hrs; A medical terminology certificate could be used to fulfill the prerequisite requirement for this coursework.

Note: Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, and Medical Terminology prerequisites must be completed within 10 years of matriculation.

‡Can be combined Audit/Pass for 8 credits, but must include labs

Please note: A required $45 supplementary application fee is submitted through CASPA. For accepted students, a nonrefundable $2,000 deposit is required and will be applied to tuition upon matriculation.

Interview

The Admissions Committee will send invitations to selected candidates to interview. Not all applicants will be invited to interview. An interview does not guarantee acceptance into the program. All travel expenses are the responsibility of the candidate.

Technical Standards

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant (MSPA) Program has a responsibility to the public to ensure its graduates are prepared to become fully competent and caring health professionals. In order to fulfill this obligation, students must safely and proficiently demonstrate appropriate technical standards, as well as those outlined within individual course syllabi.

Immunization Requirements

A healthcare professional education includes contact with patients. This comes with the risk of catching or transmitting communicable diseases. Current MDCHS policy includes mandated compliance with required immunizations for adults and healthcare workers as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The purpose of this requirement is for the health and safety of patients. It is also for the safety of our coworkers, classmates, preceptors, faculty, and ourselves. While the university may honor accommodations to vaccine recommendations, clinical sites may have a higher or different standard. Clinical placement, progression in the program, and graduation may be affected by these standards.

Articulation Agreements: Physician Assistant Program

Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences’ PA program has established articulation agreements with the below partner institutions. The requirements are as follows: 

• 3.4 or higher minimum cumulative GPA
• Grade of “C” or better for all prerequisite courses
• Observation hours, if necessary (details on program pages).
• GRE scores and all other application materials submitted via the CASPA application (details on program pages).
• Casper assessment

Please consult your faculty advisor for more information. Admission is not guaranteed.  Rather, these agreements guarantee interviews to highly qualified candidates currently enrolled in partner schools to our competitive PA program. All students must apply through the CASPA.

PA Partner Schools

Bridgewater College
Columbia College
Eastern Mennonite University
Ferrum College
Hollins University
Mary Baldwin University
St. Michael’s College
Virginia Military Institute

Regional Applicants

Special favorable consideration during the admission process is given to applicants from the western Virginia and eastern West Virginia region. This includes the counties of and cities within Augusta, Rockingham, Albemarle, Nelson, Rockbridge, Bath, Highland, Pendleton and Pocahontas. This includes individuals who have either:

• Graduated from a high school in the above-mentioned region
• Are long-time residents of the above-mentioned region (defined as 5 or more years)

For those applicants who meet these terms and the general admissions requirements, they are offered a guaranteed interview. Admissions is not guaranteed.

Accepting Transfer Credit

The Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences adheres to the following procedures for accepting transfer credits. These procedures allow us to both increase the flexibility of transfer credit in graduate programs and allows veterans to use VA benefits in our programs.

If you are a graduate student seeking to transfer credits, you must submit the request in writing to the program director of the program for which you’re seeking acceptance.* Acceptance of the transfer credit is at the discretion of the program director.

Graduate programs in health sciences may allow up to six (6) graduate-level transfer credits with prior program director approval. Prior courses may be used to meet prerequisite requirements. There is no waiver of coursework or advanced standing granted in any program.

In order for transfer credit to be awarded, the following conditions must be met:

• The credit was earned at a regionally accredited institution.
• The credit was not used for a previously earned degree.
• The student earned a minimum grade of a B or greater. (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades are only accepted for a Pass/No Credit graded course at MDCHS.)
• The course is applicable to the anticipated program of study.
• A written request for a transcript evaluation is received prior to the prospective student being accepted into the graduate program.
• The request is approved by the program director for the graduate program in which the student is accepted.
• The approval is only valid for the program of enrollment, if the student transfers to a different program of study within MBU or the College of Health Sciences, the student will need to petition the new program director for approval.

*Physician Assistant Program Transfer Credits

The PA program will consider requests for up to 6 (or equivalent) semester hours of transfer credit into the curriculum. These courses must have been successfully completed within the past three years with a minimum grade of “B” or better in a graduate-level program at a regionally-accredited institution of higher learning. Courses must be directly applicable to the established PA program curriculum, as determined by the faculty after thorough review of all appropriate documents (application, transcripts, recommendations and personal request letter). Competency on the subject material will be assessed in accordance with the course requirements prior to acceptance of transfer credit.

If the request for transfer of credits is from another PA educational program, it must be from another accredited program in which the student is in good standing, and with the specific recommendation of the program director, dean or other appropriate official. The faculty will determine satisfaction of program course prerequisites for transfer students from other PA programs on a case-by-case basis. Transfer candidates must fulfill the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences prerequisites prior to matriculation.

Supplemental Fee Waiver

MBU/MDCHS PA program aligns with CASPA in providing a mechanism for applicants to waive the supplemental fee. To qualify, applicants must submit either:

• Proof of a granted waiver from CASPA
• Proof of a granted fee reduction for the GRE (GRE Fee Reduction Certificate)

The candidate’s application will not be considered complete until all materials, the
supplemental application fee, or the requested waiver, is received by the admissions office.

1. Online application
2. Official transcripts from all post-secondary educational institutions
   • Your official transcripts from your degree-granting institution must be sent to Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). If you are still taking prerequisite courses during the application cycle, please indicate these planned courses in your OTCAS application. Please note, however, that you will not be able to enroll in our program until your official transcript has been received verifying completion of these courses, and that you have received a “C” or better.
3. A preferred overall GPA of 3.0.
4. GRE scores are not required for admission. However, if you would like to submit your GRE scores, you are welcome to do so. The OTCAS GRE Code for Mary Baldwin University is 1992.
5. Two references are required. At least one reference must be from an occupational therapist. The online application will provide a form to send to each of your references.
6. Applicants must complete 40 hours of observation of occupational therapy practice in at least two different settings. Guidance regarding the submission of this information can be found on the OTCAS application form.
7. The OTCAS application form requires a brief personal essay describing why OT was selected as a career and how an occupational therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals.
8. Language Proficiency
   • English proficiency is considered essential to providing quality patient care. Students for whom English is not their primary language, regardless of US citizenship, are required to submit their TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score with their application. The MBU school code is 5397. A minimum score is 570 (paper-based) or 88 (internet-based). A student may be exempted if they have graduated with a bachelor’s or graduate degree from a 4-year accredited US university.
9. Prerequisite Courses
   • Introduction to Biology – 3-4 credit hrs; Lab not required but recommended
   • Human Anatomy – 3-4 credit hrs; Lab not required but recommended
   • Human Physiology – 3-4 credit hrs; Lab not required but recommended
   • Introduction to Psychology – 3 credit hrs
   • Abnormal Psychology – 3 credit hrs
   • Introduction to Sociology or Anthropology – 3 credit hrs
   • Lifespan Human Development – 3 credit hrs; Birth to death
   • Introduction to Research Methods – 3 credit hrs (Qualitative or Quantitative Research, Statistics or Research Methods)
   • Medical Terminology – 1-2 credit hrs; A medical terminology certificate could be used to fulfill the pre-requisite requirement for this coursework.

Articulation Agreements: Occupational Therapy Program

The Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences OT program has established articulation agreements with the below partner institutions.  Qualified currently enrolled applicants from these articulation agreement schools are guaranteed an interview with the OT program; certain highly-qualified applicants may be offered guaranteed admission to the OT program.  The details of the articulation agreement for each school can be obtained from the school’s liaison or the MDCHS admissions office.  All students must apply through OTCAS.  The MDCHS supplemental application fee is waived for qualified applicants from articulation agreement partners.

OT Partner Schools (guaranteed interview)

• Averett University
• Columbia College
• Ferrum College
• Mary Baldwin University
• Virginia Military Institute

OT Partner Schools (guaranteed interview and/or admission)

• Bridgewater College
• Eastern Mennonite University
• Hampden-Sydney College
• Hollins University
• Liberty University
• Roanoke College
• University of Lynchburg
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore

1. Online application
2. A preferred overall GPA of 3.0.
3. Official transcripts from all post-secondary educational institutions
   • Your official transcripts from your degree-granting institution must be sent to Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). If you are still taking prerequisite courses during the application cycle, please indicate these planned courses in your PTCAS application. Please note, however, that you will not be able to enroll in our program until your official transcript has been received verifying completion of these courses and that you have received a “C” or better.
4. GRE: You will need to request that your most current Graduate Education Examinations (GRE) score be sent to PTCAS. GRE must have been taken within five years of application to our program. The PTCAS GRE Code for Mary Baldwin University is 3866. There is no minimum GRE score needed to apply.
5. The PTCAS application form will require a brief personal essay.
6. Two references are required. At least one reference must be from a physical therapist. The online application will provide a form for you to send to your references.
7. PT Observation Hours: 40 hours are required in at least two different settings, such as hospital inpatient, outpatient, pediatrics, long-term care, etc. Instructions on how to provide this information can be found on the online application form.
8. Prerequisite Courses:
   • Human or Vertebrate Anatomy* – 3-4 credit hours. Lab recommended (Lab will be required beginning with the 2025-2026 application cycle)
   • Human or Vertebrate Physiology* – 3-4 credit hours. Lab recommended (Lab will be required beginning with the 2025-2026 application cycle)
   • Biology – 3 credit hours. At least one course; Upper-level biology courses such as cell biology or histology are recommended, but not required.
   • Chemistry – 8 credit hours. Must include labs
   • Physics – 8 credit hours. General physics, must include labs
   • Psychology – 6 credit hours. 1 intro and 1 upper or 2 upper-level psychology courses; Abnormal and developmental psychology are preferred.
   • Statistics – 3 credit hours. Can be from biology, mathematics, psychology, or business; NOTE: if a psychology course is used to meet this requirement, it cannot also be used for the psychology requirement.

*Can be combined for Audit/Pass.

Articulation Agreements: Physical Therapy Program

The Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences Physical Therapy (PT) Program has established articulation agreements with the below partner institutions.  Qualified applicants currently enrolled at these articulation agreement schools are guaranteed admission to the PT program.  The details of the articulation agreement for each school can be obtained from the school’s liaison or the MDCHS admissions office.  All students must apply through PTCAS.  The MDCHS supplemental application fee is waived for qualified applicants from articulation agreement partners.

PT Partner Schools (guaranteed admission)

• Bridgewater College
• Eastern Mennonite University
• Hampden-Sydney College
• Roanoke College
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Accepting Transfer Credit

The Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences adheres to the following procedures for accepting transfer credits. These procedures allow us to both increase the flexibility of transfer credit in graduate programs and allows veterans to use VA benefits in our programs.

If you are a graduate student seeking to transfer credits, you must submit the request in writing to the program director of the program for which you’re seeking acceptance. Acceptance of the transfer credit is at the discretion of the program director.

Graduate programs in health sciences may allow up to six (6) graduate-level transfer credits with prior program director approval. Prior courses may be used to meet prerequisite requirements. There is no waiver of coursework or advanced standing granted in any program.

In order for transfer credit to be awarded, the following conditions must be met:

• The credit was earned at a regionally accredited institution.
• The credit was not used for a previously earned degree.
• The student earned a minimum grade of a B or greater. (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades are only accepted for a Pass/No Credit graded course at MDCHS.)
• The course is applicable to the anticipated program of study.
• A written request for a transcript evaluation is received prior to the prospective student being accepted into the graduate program.
• The request is approved by the program director for the graduate program in which the student is accepted.
• The approval is only valid for the program of enrollment, if the student transfers to a different program of study within MBU or MDCHS, the student will need to petition the new program director for approval.