Prerequisite

Requirement

Additional Information

• Minimum science GPA of 3.0 is preferred.
  
• Average for students admitted in the previous admissions cycle was 3.48.
  

Bachelor's degree

Complete by the end of fall term prior to matriculation

• No specific major is required or preferred (science and non-science majors are accepted).
  
• Degree must be granted from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or equivalent foreign institution (see the international applicants page for more information about equivalencies).
• Degree may be in progress at the time of application, but must be complete by the end of fall term prior to matriculation.
  

Overall Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics (BCP) credits

Minimum of 30 semester credit hours or 40 quarter credit hours

• Includes all coursework taken in the biology, chemistry, and/or physics departments that are medically, human, and/or animal science related.
  
• Prerequisite coursework listed below can count towards fulfilling the credit requirement (biology, chemistry, microbiology, A&P).
  
• Plant, marine, environmental, exercise science/kinesiology, nutrition, etc. coursework will not be counted towards the minimum credit requirement.
  

Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab(s)

2 semester courses or 3 quarter courses of a combined A&P with lab

OR

1 semester Anatomy with lab and 1 semester Physiology with lab

• Must have been completed within 5 years of planned PA program matriculation. 
• For application during the 2019-2020 cycle (matriculation in June 2020) A&P coursework with labs must have been complete Spring 2015 or more recent.
• Both Anatomy and Physiology with labs must be within 5 years of planned matriculation, whether taken as individual or combined courses.
• If the last anatomy with lab and/or physiology and/or combined A&P with lab course was taken over 5 years ago (as of planned matriculation), then a refresher is required.  
• Refresher course requirements:
• The refresher can be taken as minimum of one term (quarter or semester) of combined A&P with lab or as individual terms of anatomy with lab and physiology.
• Refreshing the full A&P with lab sequence is preferred and is the best preparation for PA school.

• Labs are required.  Physiology without a lab can be considered if a separate physiology lab was not offered by your institution.  Anatomy only and combined A&P courses must be taken with labs.  If they are taken without a lab, it will not be accepted.
  
• Preference is for an in-person lecture and lab. Online A&P labs are not accepted. However, a hybrid course with online A&P lecture and an in-person lab will be acceptable.
• If applicant attended a WA or CA state school, the 2 quarter sequence of 5 credit courses (10 credits total) will be accepted to meet the minimum.  Two quarter sequences of courses that are less than 5 quarter credits each are not acceptable on their own and additional A&P coursework must be taken to fulfill the requirement.

Microbiology with Lab

One course with lab; minimum 3 credits (semester or quarter)

• The lab is required.
  
• Will not accept Bacteriology* to meet requirement.

*UCSD BIMM 120 (formerly titled Bacteriology) is acceptable when combined with BIMM 121 Microbiology Laboratory.

Biology

Two courses; minimum 3 credits each (semester or quarter)

Lab(s) highly recommended

• The biology requirement can be fulfilled through a combination of the following courses:
• General biology
  
• Cell or molecular biology
  
• Genetics
  
• Introductory coursework accepted, but not preferred
• The courses can be non-sequential, as long as the minimum credits are met.
• Labs are highly recommended, but not required. 
  
• Additional biology coursework is recommended (see highly recommended courses below).
  
• Will accept AP or IB credit towards this requirement (AP or IB credit must show on college transcript as biology credit).

Chemistry

Two courses; minimum 3 credits each (semester or quarter)

Lab(s) highly recommended

• The chemistry requirement can be fulfilled through any combination of the following courses:
  
• General chemistry
  
• Inorganic chemistry
• Organic chemistry
  
• Biochemistry
  
• Introductory coursework accepted, but not preferred
• The courses can be non-sequential as long as the minimum credits are met.  
  
• Labs are highly recommended, but not required. 
  
• Will accept AP or IB credit towards this requirement (AP or IB credit must show on college transcript as chemistry credit).

General or Developmental Psychology

One course, minimum of 3 credits (semester or quarter)

• General Psychology, Human Development, or Introduction to Psychology. 
  
• Will accept AP or IB credit towards this requirement (must show on college transcript as psychology credit).

Biostatistics or Statistics

One course, minimum of 3 credits (semester or quarter)

• Will accept courses offered through math, stats, bio, psych, or soc departments
• Business statistics will not be accepted. 
  
• Will accept AP or IB credit towards this requirement (must show on college transcript as statistics credit).

Highly Recommended Courses

• 300-400 level (upper division) Biology and Chemistry courses (in addition to prereqs listed above)
  
• Genetics
• Biochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Pathophysiology
• Immunology
• Other courses which may be beneficial to a future health care provider (e.g., epidemiology, medical terminology, etc.)
• Spanish language course(s)