Physician Assistant
Your path to PA school starts here …
Navigating the path to physician assistant programs can be complex. We're here to guide you every step of the way.
Plan Your Path to Physician Assistant Program
Choose Your Ideal Physician Assistant Program: Tailor your UIS academic plan to meet the prerequisites of your chosen PA program. Consider factors like location, student body, and curriculum. With over 300 accredited PA programs across various institutions in the U.S., use the PA Education Association's directory for guidance in choosing your ideal program.
Plan Your Course of Study: Your journey to a physician assistant program requires careful planning. From selecting the right prerequisites to aligning your courses with physician assistant program requirements, our advisors are here to tailor a plan that suits your goals.
Join our Pre-Health Community: Benefit from transformative support and connections, including mentorship, hands-on experiences, and collaborative projects, all essential for your healthcare journey. Engage with our community of faculty, staff, students, and professional mentors.
Classes
Each physician assistant program sets its own unique requirements, yet there are several standard prerequisites you're likely to encounter. Here's an overview of the commonly required courses.
| Typical PA Program Requirements | What to take at UIS |
|---|---|
| General Chemistry - 2 semesters | GENERAL CHEMISTRY – CHE 141 AND CHE 142 |
| Organic Chemistry - 2 semesters | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY – CHE 267/268 AND CHE 269/271 |
| Biochemistry - 1 semester | BIOCHEMISTRY – CHE 475 (CHE 476 LAB OPTIONAL) |
| Biology - 2 semesters | BIOLOGY – BIO 141 AND BIO 142 |
| Physics – 2 Semesters | PHYSICS – ALGEBRA-BASED PHYSICS (FORTHCOMING) OR ASP 201 AND ASP 202 |
| Anatomy and Physiology – 2 Semesters | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY – BIO 201/202 OR BIO 429/431 |
| Medical Terminology | EXR 212 |
| Math – 2 Semesters | MATH – MAT 115 AND MAT 121 |
| English – 2 Semesters | ENGLISH – 2 SEMESTERS |
| Psychology – 1 Semester | PSYCHOLOGY – PSY 101 |
General Advice
If you are a student considering PA education as your next step the PAEA has many resources to help with the decision and make application process smoother.
Recommendation
Students interested in PA school should consider a Psychology Minor.
Foundation Course: PSY 101 - Principles of Psychology
Psychology Minor Courses
- Required Course: PSY 302 - Research Methods in Psychology
- Suggested Elective Courses: (Choose a total of 12 hours)
- PSY 221 - Lifespan Developmental Psychology
- PSY 322 - Child Development (Pediatrics)
- PSY 323 - Adolescence (Pediatrics)
- PSY 326 - Family Psychology
- PSY 333 - Positive Psychology
- PSY 335 - Health Psychology
- PSY 336 - Psychology of Eating
- PSY 353 - Psychology of Addiction
- PSY 484 - Childhood Trauma: Risk and Resiliency