Pre-Physician Assistant
Champion health. Change lives.
A physician assistant works under the supervision of a medical doctor to evaluate patients, diagnose and treat illnesses and prescribe medication. In our pre-physician assistant program, you’ll:
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- Take foundational courses in biology, anatomy, physiology and chemistry.
- Get practical laboratory and research experience that will boost your graduate school applications.
- Explore diagnostic procedures and learn how to develop treatment plans.
At A Glance
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12:1Student-to-faculty ratio
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18Average class size
Possible Careers
Champion health. Change lives.
A physician assistant works under the supervision of a medical doctor to evaluate patients, diagnose and treat illnesses and prescribe medication. In our pre-physician assistant program, you’ll:
-
- Take foundational courses in biology, anatomy, physiology and chemistry.
- Get practical laboratory and research experience that will boost your graduate school applications.
- Explore diagnostic procedures and learn how to develop treatment plans.
Get to Know Pre-Physician Assistant
Meet the Pre-Health Professions Committee (PHPC)
The Alma Venture
Dream it, learn it, do it. Through our Venture program, you can design a unique, hands-on learning experience at home or abroad. Find out more about the Alma Venture.
Explore the Curriculum
Learn more about the fundamental courses that will offer a roadmap for your academic growth and expertise development.
Prepare to facilitate timely, compassionate care.
Our pre-physician assistant track is designed to work in tandem with your major. Many of our students major in fields such as biology, chemistry or integrated physiology and health science. That said, our program pairs with a wide range of disciplines.
You’ll also have access to opportunities directly related to the pre-physician assistant field. You’ll practice dissection in our human cadaver laboratory. Get experience administering electrocardiogram (EKG) tests. And you’ll study topics like pharmaceuticals, cancer biology, immunology, human embryology and genetics.
Do it all with the help of the pre-health professions committee (PHPC). This team of staff and faculty provides mentorship, training and graduate school application support to pre-health students.
What You Need to Know
While physician assistants may serve as primary providers and are active in every specialty of medicine, they do not have as much autonomy as a physician. In most states, they must have a practice agreement with a licensed physician.
To practice as a physician assistant, you need a master’s degree from an accredited program. These are typically three years in length. Some of the schools our alumni have chosen are:
- Baylor University
- Central Michigan University
- Faulkner University
- University of Michigan-Flint
Get Connected
Student Organizations
Like to keep busy? In Alma’s 100+ student organizations, you’ll find ways to forge friendships, make an impact and use your expertise to solve complex problems.
