Pre-professional health minors do not ensure that all prerequisites for admission to health professions schools are met. Students should inquire with schools of interest, including JMU, to confirm details of admission requirements.
Declaring Pre-Physician Assistant
Incoming first year and transfer students can declare the pre-physician assistant minor without verification from PPH Advising. Current students can request declaration but will need approval. If the student has completed fewer than 12 credit hours in biology and chemistry at JMU, the request will be granted after verification of course work. If the student has completed 12 or more credit hours in biology and chemistry at JMU, the request will be approved only if the student’s overall GPA is 3.00 or greater and the BC (biology, chemistry) GPA is 2.70 or greater.
Access to Pre-Physician Assistant Advising
Students who progress successfully will have access to advising as they move through the minor. Entry-level advising is targeted for students who have not yet completed 12 hours of biology and chemistry course work and will be done mainly in group settings and via electronic communication. Students who have completed 12 or more credit hours in biology and chemistry course work are subject to twice yearly review of their academic progress. Performance queries will be conducted after summer and fall semester grades are posted. Students who maintain an overall GPA of 3.00 or above and a BC GPA of 2.70 or above retain access to advising with emphasis on excellence in advanced course work, intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies, leadership, research, service and health-related experience.
Students whose performance falls below the standard of a 3.00 overall GPA and BC GPA are at high risk of not being admitted to PA school. Targeted advising for these students focuses on improving academic skills and career exploration. If a student falls below the standard in subsequent performance reviews, the pre-physician assistant minor will be administratively dropped.
Students who wish to re-enter the pre-PA minor can do so as long as they meet the GPA standards (3.00 or above overall GPA and 2.70 or above BC GPA). This applies to students who dropped voluntarily as well as those who were dropped administratively.
