Physician Assistant Program

The physician's assistant program at Samuel Merritt University prepares students to practice medicine and diagnose patients and offer treatment therapies to patients under physician supervision. Students who graduate from the physician's assistant program will have basic and clinical sciences knowledge and will be prepared to enter specialized medical fields such as: family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, general surgery, psychiatry, behavioral medicine, the delivery of health care services to homebound patients, rural populations, underserved populations, and community health services. Get more details below including other California colleges that offer physician assistant program.

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Samuel Merritt University

28000 Marguerite Pky, Mission Viejo, CA

Samuel Merritt University (SMU) was founded in 1909 in Oakland, California, as a hospital school of nursing. Offering undergraduate courses in nursing, and graduate programs in nursing, occupational therapy, podiatric medicine, physical therapy and physical assistant, the college is located on the campus of the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland.

Pre-nursing training via partnership programs are available at four San Francisco Bay area schools including Saint Mary’s College of California. Students successfully meeting graduating and performance criteria at these colleges are guaranteed admission to the B.S.N. program at SMU.

The mission of the SMU School of Nursing is commitment to educational innovation in theory and practice in order to empower future nursing leaders who will work to improve nursing practice and the health of diverse populations. The school is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Cost per credit for in-state and out-of-state students is $1,118, which puts this private school far above the average among all nursing schools in terms of affordability. Credit requirements vary between 36 and 58 credits. Financial aid is available for students who qualify, as are scholarships for eligible students.

State-of-the-art facilities include a Health Sciences Simulation Center that provides a virtual environment where risk-free learning in facilitated.

Career services are provided to graduating students in the form of résumé writing, job searches and interviewing tools. Additionally, a partnership with AfterCollege, Inc. provides an avenue for jobs and internships. An ongoing project in collaboration with Interview Stream will allow students to attend mock interviews in preparation for a career in health care.

Students Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Samuel Merritt University offers a master's degree program in physician assistant.

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Description

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

Physician Assistants

Description

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, physician assistants employment is expected to grow at a rate of 30.4% from 2014 to 2024

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).