Academics > Colleges/Schools and Departments > Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology > Programs > Biology > Pre-Physician's Assistant
Pre-Physician's Assistant Option
Bachelor of Science Degree
The Department of Biological Sciences offers outstanding preparation for a career as a Physician’s Assistant. The suggested curriculum on the reverse side of this brochure fulfills the admissions criteria for the University of Kentucky and other regional Master’s of Science in Physician’s Assistant (PA) Studies programs. Students usually apply to the 2-and-a-half-year professional program during the spring of their senior year for admission in January of the following year.
To meet the minimal requirements for admission into a PA program of study, students should adhere closely to the suggested Pre-PA curriculum and earn an overall GPA of at least a 3.0 and a GRE General Test score of 900. The General Test is a national examination and is composed of three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. The GRE is offered several times during the fall/early spring, and it is not uncommon for students to take it more than once. Competitive applications will have an overall GPA greater than 3.5 and a combined Verbal and Quantitative score of greater than 1050.
In addition, many PA programs have a requirement for health care experience which varies depending on the program (200-2000 hours). This direct "hands-on" patient care experience may include clinical experience as a health professional (nurse, health educator, paramedic, EMT, respiratory therapist, etc) or experience as a medical/nursing assistant, clinic aide, orderly, patient care attendant, etc. Any applicant with minimal exposure to physician assistants (no regular contact with a PA in a work setting for example) may want to arrange with one or more PAs to "shadow" them on a regular basis, especially PAs who work in primary care settings such as family practice, internal medicine or general pediatrics. Although the University of Kentucky does not currently have a requirement for health care experience, applications with experience will be more competitive. Students should familiarize themselves with the specific requirements of each program early into their Pre-PA studies.
Suggested Curriculum Sequence for B.S.
Freshman Year
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| | BIO BIO 1CHE SOC ENG | 099 115 201 133 105 | Transitions Cellular Basis of Life General College Chemistry I Introduction to Sociology Critical Reading, Writing and Inquiry | 1 3 5 3 4 | | BIO BIO CHE 2MAT MAT | 216 221 202 150 250 | Biological Inquiry and Analysis Animal Form and Function General College Chemistry II Algebra and Trigonometry or Calculus & Analytical Geometry | 4 4 5 5 | |
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Sophomore Year
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| | BIO CHE MAT PSY CIV | 222 312 135 300 201 | Plant Form and Function Organic Chemistry I Introduction to Probability and Statistics or Principles of Statistical Analysis World Civilizations | 4 5 3-4 3 | | BIO CHE PHY COM | 300 320 130/ 131 161 | Microbiology Organic Chemistry II General Physics I And Lab Introduction to Public Speaking Global Awareness, Cultural Diversity, and World’s Artistic Traditions Elective | 4 3 3 1 3 3-4 | |
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Junior Year
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| | BIO BIO BIO PHY CIV | 321 227/ 228 120 132/ 133 201 | Cell Biology: Mechanisms Human Anatomy Lecture And Lab Scientific Etymology General Physics II And Lab World Civilizations | 3 2 2 1 3 1 3 | | BIO BIO BIO PSY HUM | 333 229/ 230 220 260 211 | Genetics Human Physiology And Lab Clinical Terminology Lifespan Development Western Humanities Tradition | 4 3 1 2 3 3 | |
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Senior Year
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| | CHE CHE BIO BIO | 330 530 325 | Basic Biochemistry OR Fundamentals of Biochemistry I Biological Anthropology Elective Unrestricted Elective GRE General Test | 3-4 3 3 3 | | BIO BIO BIO BIO | 499 421 | Senior Biology Seminar Vertebrate Histology Elective Elective Unrestricted Elective GRE General Test | 1 4 3 3 3 | |
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1May take MAT before CHE (especially if ACT math standard score < 23).
2MAT 250 requires ACT math standard score of 26 or MAT 150.
Course in italics are recommended.
For More Information Please Contact:
Department of Biological Science
Murray State University
2112 Biology Building
Murray, KY 42071-3346
Telephone: (270) 809-2786
http://www.murraystate.edu/biology
or
email: chris.trzepacz@murraystate.edu