Pre-Physician Assistant

• Biomedical Science (B.S.) Pre-Physician Assistant Degree Requirements
• Health Science (B.S.) Pre-Physician Assistant Degree Requirements
• Health Science (B.S.) Pre-Physician Assistant 3+2 Degree Requirements

Degree Maps

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

Course Delivery

Upon completion of this degree program, students will be able to:

• describe the cellular basis of life.
• describe the molecular and microbial mechanisms underlying human disease.
• describe the integration between animal form and function.
• describe the molecular biology of the gene and central dogma.
• communicate using the conventions of biomedical sciences.
• utilize biomedical laboratory tools and techniques to design experiments and analyze data.
• prepare for admission to physician assistant/associate programs.

The nationally ranked Physician Assistant Program at Commonwealth University is designed based on the medical model that emphasizes basic sciences, clinical sciences, and the critical thinking skills required to complement physician practice.

Program Mission

The mission of the Physician Assistant Program is to educate and train highly-skilled Physician Assistants who: 

• Are capable of providing quality health care
• Have expertise in the health care needs of the medically underserved
• Are prepared to critically evaluate, and become leaders in bringing about improvement in the medical and social systems that affect the health of underserved populations
• Will seek and retain employment as primary care Physician Assistants in medically underserved areas of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Program Overview

• Program Length – 24 months in duration. The first year (didactic phase) of the PA Program is primarily based in the classroom and lab settings while the second year (clinical phase) is primarily based in a variety of clinical settings. Courses are arranged so that foundational information is learned early and provides students with confidence and a strong basis for subsequent material. The total number of credits required for the PA Program (Didactic + Clinical Years) is 94.5.
• Service Opportunities – Available both locally and internationally. Recent international travel has included Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Honduras.
• Program Delivery – Offered in Lock Haven, Clearfield, Mansfield* and Harrisburg. Each location includes a dedicated classroom with state-of-the-art academic technology to link the campus locations as well as anatomy labs, physical exam labs, and study space.
  *Mansfield location is currently awaiting accreditation approval

Learn More 

Only available at the Lock Haven campus

To be considered for the accelerated option, you must have a completed online application designating the Health Science/Pre Physician Assistant track before November 1st with a 3.5+ weighted GPA, SAT score of at least 1200 or a composite score of 25 on the ACT submitted to the Admissions Office.  

Applicants are carefully screened to ensure they have the track record (e.g. high class rank and strength of curriculum) to succeed in this very concentrated, rigorous and demanding academic and professional program. If accepted, a compressed schedule of undergraduate classes, including summer work, will enable you to transition into the graduate program at the end of your third year.

If accepted into the "3+2" program, you must maintain the following criteria in order to ensure a guaranteed seat into the graduate program:

• Grade Point Average (GPA): 3.2 or above
• Grades in core classes: B or better
• Successful interview

Course Delivery