Pre-Physician Assistant
At A Glance
Program Type
Pre-Professional
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Graduate Program
Affiliated with ºÚÁÏÍø’s physician assistant (PA) program
Facilities
Take courses in our state-of-the-art biology, chemistry and health sciences labs
Are you ready to offer solutions to the medical profession? As the practice of medicine shifts in America, the answer to overworked doctors, undertreated patients and a healthcare system that’s bursting at the seams is you.
As a physician assistant (PA), you'll be equipped to treat patients and walk with them on the road to health and healing. And, you'll get to begin this important work much faster – and with fewer student loans – than the medical school and residency path. Plus, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting the field will grow 28% by 2033, you can expect great job prospects upon graduation!
Equipped to Succeed
At ºÚÁÏÍø, you'll be equipped to thrive in your undergraduate studies as you work closely with your professors and academic advisors to meet prerequisite admission requirements for physician assistant programs. And you’ll benefit by learning at a university with our own physician assistant program. Our faculty are eager to see you succeed in your postgraduate studies!
ºÚÁÏÍø undergraduate students who meet all requirements of the ºÚÁÏÍø PA program are guaranteed an interview for the program.
Our Community
You’ll benefit from our 16-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, which ensures you’ll receive the personalized attention you need to thrive. Your professors’ instruction and career planning advocates will prepare you to be a competitive candidate in a physician assistant program that’s right for you!
You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with your peers by joining our student-run pre-health clubs.
Our Faith
Beyond preparing you academically, our professors will take a vested interest in you as a person – willing to listen as you discuss your hopes and dreams for your career, as well as your growth both personally and spiritually. They also teach science from a Christ-centered perspective, recognizing God as Creator, so you won’t be attending a school where science and Christianity are at odds.
Courses / Curriculum What Will I Study?
These recommendations are for people desiring to enter the physician assistant profession. Pre-PA students must have a sound background in science, which can be accomplished in many majors we offer, including biology, biochemistry, and biomedical engineering. Good communication skills are important, as is a broad general education in the social sciences and humanities.
Required Courses
Undergraduate courses that best meet prerequisite requirements for the ºÚÁÏÍø PA program include:
- One year of Anatomy/Physiology
- One semester of General Biology with Lab
- One semester Microbiology
- One semester of another biology course (second term of General Biology, Genetics, Cell Biology, Histology, Immunology, Virology, Epidemiology, Biochemistry)
- One semester General Chemistry with Lab
- One semester of another chemistry course (second semester of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry if not used for other biology)
- One semester psychology (General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Psychology throughout the Lifespan)
- One semester Statistics
- Medical Terminology (not required, but recommended)
Note: AP credit or CLEP scores are not accepted by most PA programs, including ºÚÁÏÍø’s PA graduate program.
Cornerstone Core
The Cornerstone Core is a set of 12 courses across 10 academic disciplines that undergraduate students take at ºÚÁÏÍø to cultivate their character within the Christian context.
As an alternative to Cornerstone Core, students can participate in our great books honors program.
Bachelors (BS) in Biology Requirements
×Biology Core Requirements (18 credit hours)
Complete the following:
Biology Upper-Division Electives (16 credit hours)
Complete at least one course from each of the following groups.
Choose one of the following:
Choose one of the following:
Choose one of the following:
Physical Sciences (16 credit hours)
Choose four of the following:
Quantitative Skills (6-8 credit hours)
Complete the following:
Choose one of the following:
Optional Thesis
Students can petition the department thesis committee by the end of the fall semester of their junior year for permission to do original research as part of their degree requirement. Students allowed to pursue the thesis option must:
- Complete an acceptable research proposal and the Research Methods course (BIOL 384) by the end of the spring semester of the junior year.
- Take up to 4 hours of Biological Research (BIOL 465) between the spring semester of their junior year and graduation, and Senior Thesis (BIOL 496) during the spring semester of their senior year.
- Complete a written thesis acceptable to the thesis committee by April 1 of their senior year.
- Prepare a poster and give an oral presentation of their research prior to graduation.
The department considers this an honor to be noted on the student's transcript. The thesis is designed to enhance a student's preparation for graduate or professional school.
Bachelors (BA) in Biology Requirements
×Core Requirements (41-45 credit hours)
Complete the following:
Choose one of the following sequences:
Sequence 1
Sequence 2
Complete the following:
Complete the following:
Complete MATH180 or higher. Students who complete MATH 180 College Algebra are encouraged to take MATH 240 Statistics (3) as well.
Complete the following:
Choose one of the following field studies courses:
Choose one of the following diversity courses:
Choose one of the following form/function courses:
Choose one of the following cell/molecular courses:
Upper-division BIOL electives
Liberal Arts Emphasis (14-16 credit hours) - choose one
Complete the following:
Choose 12 credit hours of electives from the following:
Option 1
Complete the following:
Spanish language sequence:
Option 2
Complete the following:
Spanish language sequence:
Choose 6-8 credit hours of Global/Cultural Understanding electives from the following:
Complete the following:
Choose three of the following:
Complete the following:
Complete the following:
Introductory course taken by majors in the field (3 hours)
Take 12 upper-division elective hours, as agreed upon by department chair of chosen discipline and biology department head. (12 hours)
Bachelors (BS) in Biochemistry Requirements
×Complete the following:
Complete the following:
Complete the following:
Choose one of the following:
Choose one of the following sequences:
OR
Choose three of the following:
Philosophy: The opportunity to pursue a chemistry thesis is an honor. Consequently, the thesis option will be noted on a student's transcript. The thesis is designed to enhance a student's preparation for graduate or professional school. The heart of the thesis is original research conducted under the guidance of a chemistry faculty member.
Eligibility: The thesis option may be pursued by any chemistry major in good academic standing. Students wishing to pursue a thesis must:
- Consult with their research advisor about an acceptable research project.
- In writing, notify the chemistry thesis committee (composed of the chemistry department faculty) of their intention to conduct research. The thesis committee must receive notification by the end of the fall semester of the student's junior year.
After the beginning of the spring semester of a student's junior year, students must petition the department thesis committee for permission to pursue thesis research. Students who pursue the thesis option must:
- Enroll in at least 1 hour of Chemical Research (CHEM 465) each semester, beginning the spring semester of their junior year, through the spring semester of their senior year.
- Submit the first copy of a written thesis to the thesis committee by April 1 of their senior year. The final, edited copy is due to the thesis committee the last day of classes during the spring semester.
- Prepare a poster and give an oral presentation of their research.
In some cases, students may apply research conducted off campus to the CHEM 465 requirement. Students who participate in off-campus research programs may petition the thesis committee for special consideration of the thesis option. The thesis committee must receive the petition by the beginning of the fall semester of the student's senior year. The thesis committee may elect to substitute the off-campus experience for a portion of the CHEM 465 requirement.
Biomedical Engineering Requirements
×Biomedical Engineering (53-54 credit hours)
Complete the following courses
Choose one of the following two sequences.
Medical Device Sequence
Pre-PT Sequence
Our spaces / Where Will I Learn?
Biology Labs
Learn surgical techniques in our anatomy and physiology laboratories located in the Edwards-Holman Science Center. These labs are used in our upper-division physiology classes and house three cadavers.
The department owns a $180,000 state-of-the-art Leica Manufacturing confocal microscope that provides opportunities for new research and helps uncover molecule relationships.
VR Labs
In 2021, ºÚÁÏÍø opened its Virtual Reality (VR) Lab . In it, students interact with two programs:
- The 3D Organon VR Anatomy program is an immersive self-discovery experience into human anatomy, allowing for the manipulation of bones, muscles, vessels, organs and other anatomical structures in 3D space.
- Complete Anatomy is an advanced 3D anatomy platform that includes a detailed atlas of the entire human body, instructional videos, 3D models, virtual dissections, injury and pathology simulations, and radiology images.
The lab is equipped with 24 Vive Focus 3 virtual reality headsets with 5K resolution and 120-degree field of view. Each station includes high-end computers for additional lab work.
Joe Mohr
ºÚÁÏÍø prepared me for grad school by helping me grow spiritually, academically and socially. The faculty here really care about you and take the time to get to know you and help you grow as a person. Personal relationships with faculty and small class sizes really helped me excel academically and laid a strong foundation to succeed in grad school.
Not only is ºÚÁÏÍø an exceptional academic institution, but the faith-based and service-driven aspect of the university drew me to pursue grad school here, [preparing me] to truly help people and make a difference in the world.