3.5 + 2.5 B.S. Health Science and Physician Assistant (Accelerated)
Secure a seat in USJ’s Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program through this competitive major
This seven-semester, interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree in Health Science prepares students for post-graduate success in USJ’s Physician Assistant Studies Program.
The Pre-PA track is open to high school graduates who meet the admissions requirements specific to the program and then meet the yearly benchmarks through their junior year. Students that meet all the benchmarks and pass an in-person interview can secure a seat in the USJ PA program beginning January after their seventh semester.
Criteria for Program Admission
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 (unweighted, core courses)
- Completion of two semesters each of Biology, Chemistry, and Algebra II
Learning Outcomes for Health Science Undergraduate Students
The Health Science Program prepares all students to be able to:
- Identify health determinants in order to improve equity and access across all populations
- Analyze the impact that genetics, epidemiology, and nutrition have on individuals across the life span
- Integrate the scientific foundations of disease and disability with clinical reasoning skills in order to enter a health-related career
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate and collaborate with interdisciplinary professionals
- Apply knowledge from the natural, behavioral, social, and health sciences to form preventative and wellness initiatives
- Develop an understanding of professional ethics that can be applied in all healthcare professions
Progression Standards
Throughout the curriculum, students must meet the following requirements:
- Earn a B- or better in all major and supporting courses
- Take all major and supporting courses at USJ
- Cumulative 3.3 GPA or higher at the end of your Junior Year
- No repeat of courses without permission from the major advisor/program director (may delay matriculation into the Physician Assistant Program)
- Absence of disciplinary actions
- Maintain ability to meet Physician Assistant Technical Standards, with or without accommodation
- Completion of a successful in-person interview for the Physician Assistant Studies Program
- Completion of 1000 hours of field experience in the last five years (Health Care, Research, Volunteer, Shadow, etc.)
Clinical Placements and Career Opportunities
Undergraduate students in USJ’s program build the foundation necessary to earn an advanced degree and begin a thriving career in a number of areas, including research and internships available at nearby hospitals such as Hartford Hospital and Saint Francis Hospital. Potential careers: primary care, family medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, psychiatry, and more.
Advantages
USJ’s streamlined direct track graduate Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program allows students to complete their education efficiently in seven semesters and enter the field successfully with preparation for earning an MSPAS. The employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 30% from 2014-2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Fill out our inquiry form to learn more about USJ and your program of interest, and discover firsthand what makes our University so unique!
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