Pre-Physicians Assistants

Physician assistants practice medicine under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. They may treat injuries, prescribe most medications and perform routine patient care. A master’s degree is required and takes two-and-a-half years to complete.

General Preparation

Most graduate health professions schools require the same basic preparation as medical schools. That is, they require the fundamentals of science (biology, chemistry and physics) within a context of a well-rounded education. The common core of required and elective courses for most pre-health professional students includes:

• Foundations of Biology I and II
• Principals of Chemistry I and II
• General Physics I and II
• Calculus I
• Genetics
• Microbiology
• Organic Chemistry I and II
• Intro to Psychology
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Medical Terminology
• Statistics

Required or recommended courses

Capital offers the following course for Pre-Physician assistants:

• Developmental psychology
• Sociology

Pre-Professional Studies

Pre-Dentistry • Pre-Law •  Pre-Law Accelerated • Pre-Medicine • Pre-Occupational Therapy • Pre-Optometry •  Pre-Pharmacy • Pre-Physicians Assistant • Pre-Physical Therapy • Pre-Podiatry • Pre-Public Health  • Pre-Seminary • Pre-Veterinary Medicine     

Pre-professional means that you would like to prepare for a specific career. It's a set of courses that you should take if you plan on taking the exam and entering Law school, or medical school, after you graduate.

It is important to note that a pre-professional plan (e.g. - Pre-law) is not a major. You could major in Instrumental Performance and be Pre-law at the same time if you wanted. However, most students attempt to major in an area that will complement their career choice.

Here are some examples:

• A Pre-law student might major in Government or Economics.
• A Pre-veterinary student might major in Biology or Biochemistry.
• A Pre-seminary student might major in Literature or History.  

Why is Capital a good fit for my pre-professional plan?

Choosing a pre-professional program and completing your plan does not guarantee admission into a professional program. We know that navigating through the first four years is challenging enough, so thinking about your post-degree plans can be mind-boggling. 

At Capital, our professors are also your academic advisors. They are your mentors and biggest advocates.

With a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Capital can enrich your studies with personal connections between you and our faculty, and we have several programs in place to ensure student success – from academic advising and career development to our peer-to-peer compass leaders who help you align your vocation with your career.