Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite Courses
- Pass/Fail Grades – The UCPA program will accept pass/fail grades for prerequisite courses completed during the Spring 2020 to Summer 2021 semesters if the associated lecture was taken during that timeframe.
- Prerequisite Course requiring Lab – The UCPA program will waive lab requirements for prerequisites for the Spring 2020 to Summer 2021 semesters if the associated lecture was taken during that timeframe.
- Online Courses and Labs – Online courses and labs are accepted but may weaken the strength of an application.
- AP and CLEP Credits – AP and CLEP credits are accepted if your undergraduate school accepted credit for these.
- Community College Credits – Community college credits are accepted but may weaken the strength of an application.
- Transcripts – If courses were completed after submission of the CASPA application, official transcripts should be sent to the University of Charleston Physician Assistant Program, C/O Jeanette Bane, Admissions Coordinator or directly to Jeanette at jeanettebane@ucwv.edu.
Prerequisite Requirements – All applicants must complete the required prerequisite coursework in the following table prior to matriculation into the Physician Assistant Program. These courses do not have to be completed prior to application, but there must be a feasible plan for their completion prior to the program start date for which application is being made. If all admission requirements are not yet complete at the time of application submission, a plan should be detailed on either the UC Application (for Fast Track and Transfer Applicants) or the CASPA Application under the Supplemental Question Section (for CASPA Applicants) when applying to the program. Under no circumstance will applicants be permitted to begin the Physician Assistant Program if a prerequisite course is not completed prior to the program start date. Seats will be automatically forfeited if prerequisites are not completed in time.
| Course | Description | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Human Anatomy | Anatomy must be a “Human” anatomy course for science majors. Comparative or Vertebrate Anatomy will not be accepted. Two-semester combined Human Anatomy & Physiology course sequences are acceptable but must be completed at the same institution to provide consistency. UC students are recommended to take BIOL 251 and BIOL 252 to fulfill this requirement. Prerequisites must be completed within 10 years of matriculation into the UC Physician Assistant Program. Introductory courses and courses for non-science majors will not be accepted. A “B” or better is required for CASPA and Transfer applicants. An “A” is required for Fast Track applicants. | 1 semester (at least 4 credits including required lab) |
| Human Physiology | Physiology must be a “Human” physiology course for science majors. Comparative or Vertebrate Physiology will not be accepted. Two-semester combined Human Anatomy & Physiology course sequences are acceptable but must be completed at the same institution to provide consistency. UC students are recommended to take BIOL 251 and BIOL 252 to fulfill this requirement. Prerequisites must be completed within 10 years of matriculation into the UC Physician Assistant Program. Introductory courses and courses for non-science majors will not be accepted. A “B” or better is required for CASPA and Transfer applicants. An “A” is required for Fast Track applicants. | 1 semester (at least 4 credits including required lab) |
| General Biology | A general biology course designed for science majors. For UC students, BIOL 130 is acceptable. Introductory courses and courses for non-science majors will not be accepted. A “C” or better is required for CASPA and Transfer applicants. An “B” or better is required for Fast Track applicants. | 1 semester (at least 4 credits including required lab) |
| Microbiology | A general Microbiology or Medical Microbiology course for science majors is acceptable. UC students are recommended to take BIOL 331 to fulfill this requirement. Introductory courses and courses for non-science majors will not be accepted. A “C” or better is required for CASPA and Transfer applicants. An “B” or better is required for Fast Track applicants. | 1 semester for CASPA and Transfer applicants (at least 3 credits – lab not required but strongly recommended) Transfer students are required to take 4 credits of microbiology with a lab. |
| Chemistry | Courses in General Chemistry for science majors, Upper-Level Chemistries and Biochemistry will be accepted. Introductory courses and courses for non-science majors will not be accepted. A “C” or better is required for CASPA and Transfer applicants. An “B” or better is required for Fast Track applicants. | 2 semesters (at least 8 credits including required lab) |
| Organic Chemistry | Organic Chemistry I for science majors. Introductory courses and courses for non-science majors will not be accepted. A “C” or better is required for CASPA and Transfer applicants. An “B” or better is required for Fast Track applicants. Organic Chemistry II with lab is also required of Fast Track applicants. | At least 4 credits of O.Chem I with lab is required of all applicants. At least 4 credits of O.Chem II with lab is required for Fast Track students only. |
| Statistics | Course directed towards an understanding of foundational statistics. A “C” or better is required for CASPA and Transfer applicants. An “B” or better is required for Fast Track applicants. | 1 semester |
| Psychology | Introductory, Developmental and Abnormal Psychology courses are acceptable. A “C” or better is required for CASPA and Transfer applicants. An “B” or better is required for Fast Track applicants. | 1 semester |
Note: Biochemistry — While not required, this course is strongly recommended. At least one semester with lab.
Note: Medical Terminology — While not required, a medical terminology course is highly recommended, as admitted students will be required to take a medical terminology exam the first week of classes. A Medical Terminology course is required for Fast Track Students.
Note: Calculus — While not required for CASPA and Transfer applicants, a calculus course is recommended. For Fast Track applicants, 3 or more credits of calculus with a “B” or better is required.
Traditional Admissions Pathway:
USE GRE CODE “8830”
Fast Track Admissions Pathway:
USE GRE CODE “5419”
Transfer Admissions Pathway:
USE GRE CODE “5419”
