Biology, Pre-Professional (Pre-Physician Assistant), B.S.

What does it mean to be Pre-Physician Assistant (Pre-PA)?

Pre-physician assistant is not a specific major.  The term is used to describe students who plan to enter a physician assistant (PA) program after completing an undergraduate degree. 

Pre-physician assistant students must complete courses required for admission to PA programs, acquire the capacity to perform well on the Physician Assistant College Admission Test (PA-CAT), and gain the depth of knowledge necessary to be successful in a PA program. 

Each PA program has its own specific prerequisites.  Almost all require one or two semesters of physics, two semesters of general chemistry, two semesters of introductory biology, a two semester sequence of human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, math (calculus or college algebra), statistics, and social science courses (psychology and/or sociology).  Some require 2 semesters of organic chemistry.  Because students will generally apply to more than one PA program, an undergraduate degree that provides a strong background in the natural sciences and “covers all the bases” is essential.

The Biology, Pre-Professional (Pre-Physician Assistant), B.S. is designed to provide prerequisite coursework and opportunities for students to acquire foundational knowledge (in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics) that will prepare them for the rigor of a PA program.  Pre-physician assistant students are encouraged to begin a discussion with their academic advisor during the first year (to develop a plan) and continue these discussions throughout their undergraduate career (to review progress and receive advice on the timing and execution of the plan). 

What Other Courses Should Pre-Physician Assistant Students Take?

We recommend PSYC 110  (General Psychology), which provides content relevant to the behavioral sciences portion of the PA-CAT.  Students may select this course as a General Elective.

We recommend that pre-physician assistant students select BIOL 221  (Human Anatomy and Physiology I) and BIOL 222  (Human Anatomy and Physiology II) as Electives in the Core. 

What Else Should Pre-Physician Assistant Students Do Before Applying to PA programs?

• Get experience.

Relevant work or volunteer experience is essential for developing a competitive application.  Examples include shadowing a PA, participating in healthcare related volunteer opportunities, becoming a medical scribe, or pursuing certifications (e.g., Emergency Medical Technician or Certified Nursing Assistant).  Students completing relevant work, volunteer, or shadowing experiences may be eligible to receive credit toward their degree program (BIOL 493  – Cooperative Internship Experience).

• Take the PA-CAT

What is the PA-CAT?

The PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test) is a standardized exam required for admission to many PA programs.  It is an important component of a competitive application.

The PA-CAT assesses knowledge in nine subject areas that are required for admission to a majority of PA programs.

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• General Biology
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Genetics
• General and Organic Chemistry
• Statistics
• Behavioral Sciences

Criteria for Admission to Program

Students pursuing a degree in biology are officially admitted to the program upon satisfying the following criteria:

2.0 GPA for all university work completed at time of admission to program.

Grades of C or better in the following core courses:

• BIOL 101  (General Biology I)
• BIOL 102  (General Biology II)
• CHEM 101  (General Chemistry I) or PHYS 101  (General Physics I) or PHYS 203  (Advanced General Physics I)
• MATH 130  (Applied Algebra) or MATH 170  (Calculus I)

GPA 2.00