Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Pre-Physician Assistant Minor


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Katie Fisher, Coordinator
Phone
: (540) 568-6652
Email: fishermk@jmu.edu

Declaring Pre-Physician Assistant (Admission Standards)

Incoming first-year and transfer students can declare pre-physician assistant without verification from PPH Advising. Current students can request to declare the minor through MyMadison but will need approval for the request to be granted.

Access to Pre-Physician Assistant Advising (Progression Standards)

Once students have completed 12 hours of biology or chemistry (BC) coursework, they become subject to twice yearly review of their academic progress. Performance queries will be conducted after summer and fall semester grades are posted. If the review indicates successful progress (meeting the standard of a 3.00 cumulative GPA and a 2.70 BC GPA), they will be invited to formal advising activities. Topics include learning about different PA programs and discussing fulfillment of non-academic requirements and recommendations (shadowing, volunteering, research and leadership). Assuming continued progress, students planning for the applicant stage (typically spring of the junior or senior year) are invited to participate in application planning seminars.

Pre-PA students who fall below the standard of a 3.00 cumulative GPA and a 2.70 BC GPA are at high risk of not being admitted to a PA program. Targeted advising for these students focuses on strengthening academic skills as well as career exploration. If a student falls below the standard in a subsequent performance review, they will be administratively dropped from the pre-PA minor. This action will not impede a student from applying to PA programs, nor will it have an impact on a student’s degree program as the pre-PA program is not a major.

Students who wish to re-enter the Pre-Physician Assistant minor may do so as long as they meet the GPA standards.

Additional Information

Pre-professional health programs do not ensure that all prerequisites for admission to health professions schools are met. Students should inquire with physician assistant schools of interest, including JMU, to confirm details of admission requirements. 

Biochemistry lecture: 3 Credit Hours


Choose from:

At least two credit hours of laboratory in organic chemistry and/or biochemistry: 2 Credit Hours


Choose from:

Intermediate or advanced BIO course work: 4 Credit Hours


Choose from subjects recommended by physician assistant programs:

Behavioral science (PSYC): 6 Credit Hours


Recommend choosing from:

Recommended electives (not required):


  • 3 credit hours of MATH

 

Footnote


BIO 240  is a prerequisite.

Total: 52 Credit Hours


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