Bachelor of Science in Pre-Physician Assistant (B.S.)
If you're passionate about helping others and dream of working alongside doctors to make a difference in people's lives, the Pre-Physician Assistant program at Colorado Christian University can help you take the first step toward that goal.
As a Pre-Physician Assistant major, you'll build a strong foundation for graduate Physician Assistant (PA) programs while exploring the science behind healthcare and healing. Through courses in Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, and other key sciences, you'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for the next stage of your education and future career.
Pre-Physician Assistant Program at CCU
At CCU, you'll do more than study medicine. You'll learn how to care for people with both competence and compassion. Offered through the School of Science and Engineering, the Pre-Physician Assistant program integrates Christian faith with scientific learning, preparing you to serve others with excellence, integrity, and Christ-centered compassion.
You'll be challenged to grow academically, spiritually, and personally as you develop the leadership skills needed to work effectively with physicians, healthcare teams, and patients. By the time you graduate, you'll be well-prepared to pursue a graduate-level Physician Assistant program and equipped to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those you serve, both physically and spiritually.
Program FAQs
What is the pre-physician assistant major at CCU?
The pre-physician assistant major at Colorado Christian University is a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Physician Assistant offered through the School of Science and Engineering. This program provides excellent preparation for graduate physician assistant programs by fulfilling prerequisite courses required for admission while offering a well-rounded liberal arts education grounded in a Christian worldview. You will complete 120 credits that include comprehensive coursework in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology essential for PA programs.
CCU's pre-physician assistant program seeks to develop health care professionals filled with the compassion and care of Christ. The program blends medical practice with Christian faith, producing individuals with leadership skills and qualities needed to assist and work alongside other medical professionals. Through in-person instruction focused on biological sciences and hands-on laboratory experience, pre-physician assistant students gain both the scientific knowledge and biblical principles necessary to minister to patients physically and spiritually throughout their career in the physician assistant profession.
What can you do with a pre-physician assistant degree?
A pre-physician assistant degree prepares you for admission to physician assistant school to earn your master's degree and practice medicine under physician supervision. Most PA programs require a bachelor's degree and extensive clinical experience before admission, making the pre PA major an ideal foundation for this career path. Physician assistants work in diverse medical settings including family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, and pediatrics, providing comprehensive patient care services.
Before or while applying to PA school, you can pursue careers that build valuable clinical experience and strengthen your application to physician assistant programs. These positions include medical assistant, clinical research assistant, practice manager, and health care administration roles. Pre PA students often work in these health professions to gain the patient care hours that PA programs require while developing practical skills in problem solving, cultural competency, and health care delivery. This hands-on experience is essential for becoming a competitive applicant to PA school.
What courses will you take in the pre-physician assistant major?
The pre-physician assistant program curriculum includes prerequisite courses that most PA programs require for admission. Core biological sciences courses include Biodiversity, Developmental Biology, and Neurobiology, which provide essential knowledge about living systems and human development. You will also complete comprehensive coursework in anatomy and physiology to understand the human body systems that physician assistants diagnose and treat. The 69-credit major core ensures you fulfill admission requirements for the majority of physician assistant schools.
Beyond biology, the curriculum includes organic chemistry with laboratory components, statistics, psychology, and math courses that strengthen your science GPA and analytical skills. Many PA programs also recommend courses in health sciences and foreign language to enhance cultural competency when serving diverse patient populations. Working with your academic advisor, you can plan your course schedule strategically to complete all prerequisite courses while maintaining the strong grades and science GPA that competitive PA programs expect.
Why should you study pre-physician assistant at CCU?
CCU's pre-physician assistant program combines rigorous science education with Christ-centered values that prepare you to serve patients holistically. The program provides clear guidance for fulfilling admission requirements for physician assistant programs while offering a solid biblical training based in a Christian worldview. Small classes and laboratories led by experienced faculty allow you to develop mastery of complex scientific concepts through hands-on experience, building both technical competence and moral character essential for health care professionals.
Through the Pre-Health Club, you connect with other pre health students, gain research opportunities, and learn from professionals in medicine about the PA profession. This supportive community of pre-physician assistant students helps you navigate the challenging application process while preparing for the Graduate Record Exam and meeting the extensive clinical experience requirements that most PA programs require for accepted applicants.
What major is best for physician assistant school?
The pre-physician assistant major is specifically designed to prepare students for admission to PA school by systematically fulfilling prerequisite courses that physician assistant programs require. While PA schools accept graduates from various undergraduate majors, a dedicated pre PA major ensures you complete all required coursework in biological sciences, chemistry, physiology, psychology, and statistics without missing critical prerequisites. This structured plan helps you maintain a competitive science GPA while building the knowledge base necessary for success in graduate-level physician assistant education.
Some students interested in PA school pursue science majors or psychology majors and complete PA prerequisites separately, but this approach requires careful coordination with an academic advisor to ensure all courses required by your target schools are completed. The pre-physician assistant major streamlines this process by incorporating all recommended courses into the degree plan. The critical factor is completing prerequisite courses with strong grades, gaining extensive clinical experience, and demonstrating the service orientation and problem-solving skills that PA programs seek in accepted students.
hat are the admission requirements for the pre-physician assistant major at CCU?
Admission to CCU's pre-physician assistant major follows the university's standard undergraduate admission process for the College of Undergraduate Studies. You should demonstrate solid academic preparation in high school science and math courses, as these subjects form the foundation for rigorous college-level coursework in biology, organic chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. Successful students typically show strong performance in science classes.
Once admitted to CCU, you can declare the pre-physician assistant major and begin following the curriculum plan designed to prepare you for PA school. Working with your academic advisor, you will plan your course schedule to complete prerequisite courses each semester while maintaining the grades and gaining the clinical experience that physician assistant programs require.
How does the pre-physician assistant program prepare you for PA school?
The pre-physician assistant program prepares you for physician assistant school through comprehensive coursework covering all prerequisite courses that most PA programs require. The curriculum strategically includes biology, organic chemistry, anatomy, physiology, psychology, statistics, and math courses listed by physician assistant programs as admission requirements.
Beyond academics, the program emphasizes gaining the clinical experience essential for competitive PA school applications. Through the Pre-Health Club and faculty mentorship, you receive guidance on obtaining patient care employment as a medical assistant or in other health care roles where you develop hands-on experience. This practical preparation, combined with student organizations that connect pre health students with medical professionals, helps you build the service orientation, cultural competency, and problem solving skills needed in the physician assistant profession. CCU graduates enter PA programs prepared academically, clinically, and spiritually to practice medicine with compassion and excellence.
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