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If you want to help patients and diagnose diseases, the six-year Health Sciences BS/Physician Assistant Studies MS Dual Degree program may be a good fit for you. The undergraduate curriculum provides a stimulating and supportive environment to build strong skills in critical thinking and problem solving through foundation courses in health, science, psychology and the humanities.
In addition to the prescribed curriculum, there are multiple opportunities for experiential learning through internships and clinical hours, all of which will enrich your college experience, provide you with exposure to various healthcare environments, and help you to build a professional network.
Students are assured a seat in the graduate portion of the program, provided they meet progression criteria set for their enrollment term, described below. Prior to enrolling in the PA graduate program, students must complete an online application through CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) prior to year 4 of undergraduate studies. Students are assured a seat in the graduate portion of the program, provided they meet progression criteria set for their enrollment term, described below. Students admitted to the dual degree program will be assigned to their campus location by the PA graduate program.
This undergraduate entry option is designed for students who have found their niche in healthcare as a physician assistant early in their academic career. Applicants with more than 15 college credits are not eligible to apply to this program. Transfer students with more than 15 college credits are encouraged to consider applying to the BS program in Health Sciences.
Curriculum
East Falls Campus
The undergraduate program is comprised of the first eight semesters of undergraduate study. Students complete medically-related science, health science, and psychology prerequisite courses, along with all of the components of the college studies program. The goal is to prepare students for the PA graduate program.
Curriculum
Year 1
- Pathways Seminar
- Writing Seminar I: Written Communication
- American Visions
- Writing Seminar II: Multimedia Communication
- Chemistry I Lecture & Lab
- Biology I Lecture & Lab
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Introduction to Health Professions
- Chemistry II Lecture & Lab
- Biology II Lecture & Lab
Year 2
- Introduction to Psychology
- Ethics
- American Diversity
- Global Diversity/Language
- Global Citizenship
- Developmental Psychology
- Anatomy & Physiology I Lecture & Lab
- Anatomy & Physiology II Lecture & Lab
- Introduction to Healthcare
- Health Sciences Electives (6 credits)
Year 3
- Abnormal Psychology
- Contemporary Global Issues
- Global Citizenship/Language
- Health Sciences Elective (3 credits)
- Microbiology Lecture & Lab
- Biology Elective (4 credits)
- Science Elective (Organic Chemistry recommended)
- Applied Statistics for Health Sciences
- Clinical Interactions
- Principles of Genetics Lecture & Lab
- Free Elective
Year 4
- Integrative Seminar
- Philosophies of the Good Life
- Medical Terminology and Documentation
- Psychology Electives (6 credits)
- Free Electives (15 credits; consider 4-course minor)
Progression Criteria for the PA Graduate Program includes:
- Complete all required undergraduate courses, with grade of B or higher, including labs. A course can be repeated only once; no more than two courses may be repeated. Withdrawing from a course will count toward number of repeated courses.
- Earn minimum 3.500 (unrounded) cumulative and science GPAs at end of each spring semester.
- Submit online CASPA application by stated deadline prior to year 4 (at least 9 science undergraduate courses must be completed at time of application).
- Complete minimum 200 hours of direct patient care.
- Complete EMT, CNA, or Medical Assistant certfication program at time of application to CASPA. Training hours for these certifications do not count in the minimum of 200 hours.
- Complete legal and health clearances required for matriculation.
Decisions about campus location (East Falls or Voorhees Campus) will be determined by the PA graduate program after students’ CASPA applications are reviewed.
If you meet all progression criteria, you are assured admission to the graduate program.
The graduate curriculum involves 25 months of continuous study, and includes both didactic and clinical coursework and experiences. The didactic year consists of three semesters of medically-related classroom and laboratory work, with limited clinical experience. The clinical year consists of extensive clinical experience through nine 5-week rotations at a variety of medical facilities such as hospitals and medical offices. Students must successfully complete all didactic courses before entering the final clinical year.
View the professional phase of the Curriculum here.
Upon completion of the graduate program, graduates will receive a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, be eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), and may participate in the Physician Assistant Program Completion Ceremony in August, as well as the commencement ceremony in May.