Pre-Physician Assistant
A 4+2 program leading to a Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant) degree
About the Pre-Physician Assistant Program
The Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant) degree is designed to produce graduates who will be well-equipped to deliver high-quality, cost-effective primary health care in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices and community settings. The physician assistant is trained to take medical histories, perform physical examinations, diagnose common illnesses, order laboratory tests, determine treatment, and educate patients about their medical problems.
This is a 4+2 program, with four years of undergraduate study and two years of graduate study in the Physician Assistant program. A student interested in becoming part of the Physician Assistant program must first earn a bachelor’s degree in a major such as Biology, Chemistry or Psychology that enables him or her to complete the prerequisite courses. Arcadia University undergraduates whose academic records and Graduate Record Examination scores meet the 4+2 entrance requirements are assured admission into the graduate program at the end of the senior year.
The 24-month graduate portion of the program combines classroom instruction with extensive clinical experience in a variety of medical specialties. The overall emphases during these two years are primary health-care delivery and the role of the physician assistant as a valuable member of the health-care team. Transfer students also are eligible for assured admission to the graduate programs in Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant.
Students are strongly urged to work closely with the advisers from their chosen majors. They also take prerequisite courses for graduate-level professional work. Upon completion of their junior year, students apply to the Physician Assistant program through CASPA , the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants. To maintain the ongoing quality of the Physician Assistant program, the University reserves the right to limit the enrollment in all its offerings.
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