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Harris College
Physician Associate (PA) Studies

Prerequisite Coursework & Admission Requirements

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Grade Point Average 

*Advanced Placement is accepted for Math and English prerequisites. 

**If Anatomy/Physiology is a combined course, you must complete the required credit hours.

***These courses are intended for science majors that require Anatomy and Physiology as a prerequisite for application to graduate or professional school, as well as Nursing, Nutrition, Health and Fitness, and athletic training majors. They may not adequately prepare students for the rigors of PA school and are not accepted for pre-med majors. Instead, it is recommended that pre-PA students take BIOL 30414 Human Anatomy w/lab and BIOL 40403 Mammalian Physiology. Beginning with the admissions cycle for the class matriculating in January 2030, BIOL 20204, BIOL 20214,  will not fulfill the prerequisite requirements. 

Additional notes regarding prerequisite courses:

  • Prerequisites must be completed by September prior to January matriculation.
  • Prerequisites are effective for the class matriculating in January 2027.
  • Prerequisite courses must be passed with a letter grade of "C" or better.
  • Prerequisites may be taken at any regionally accredited, U.S. college or university.
  • TCU Physician Associate Studies program does not consider most nutritional science courses as adequate prerequisites. 
  • If Anatomy/Physiology is a combined course, you must complete the required credit hours.
  • Foreign coursework or non‑U.S. credits are not accepted unless they appear as transfer credit with U.S. equivalencies on an official transcript from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. 
  • Classes taken at a community college must be at the general level, not at the introductory level.
  • Advanced Placement, credit by exam, or pass/fail courses do not meet the prerequisite requirements, except for math and English requirements.
  • Prior learning experiences, courses at another PA program, courses at another healthcare career program, graduate course work, continuing education, foreign credits, and/or workforce credits will not be accepted or applied toward required prerequisite courses.
  • Math and English Prerequisites are not subject to a time limit, while all science must be completed within seven years of application. 
  • All science courses must be designated for "science majors".
  • Applicant must be in good standing with the college or university last attended or currently enrolled.

Highly qualified candidates generally will have enrolled in 2-3 upper-level Biological and/or Chemical Science courses each semester during their junior and senior years, completed most of their upper-level Biological and Chemical Science courses at a four-year institution, and taken few, if any, courses through an online program.

TCU Physician Associate Studies does not offer or accept advanced standing credit for any course offered within the program. Students are required to complete all courses during their academic career in the program.

Patient Care Experience

Patient care experience is preferred to ensure that applicants recognize the physical and psychological demands of the PA profession and appreciate the challenges and rewards of being a health care professional.

  • While no minimum requirement exists, applicants with health-related experience, patient care experience, shadowing, and volunteer service will receive additional consideration.
  • Online shadowing will not be accepted.