MCG Catalog > School of Allied Health Sciences > Physician Assistant > Admission Requirements

 

School of Allied Health Sciences: Physician Assistant

 

Admission Requirements

A Bachelor's Degree is Not Required for the MPA Degree.

 

Transfer Credit Policy

There is no advanced placement, transfer of credit (except for 90 semester hours of prerequisites at an accredited college or university) or credit for experiential learning allowed. Previous medical professions course work will not be accepted toward completion of the MPA degree. It is important that our students are exposed to specific course content.  To ensure this, only courses taught within our curriculum are accepted for credit toward graduation.

 

General Admission Criteria 
Admission is based on undergraduate college coursework including the overall, transfer, and math/science grade point averages. Other criteria include personal interviews, assessment of the applicant's motivation and the possession of the personal qualities needed to successfully complete the program.  Prior to enrollment, the applicant must have:

 

1.
  1. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) on all previous college work and an average of at
  2. least 2.8 on math and science courses.
2. Completed 90 semester hours of prerequisites at an accredited college or university.
3.
  1. A minimum combined GRE score of 900 is needed for full admission. The results of all three components,
  2. including the analytical/written section of the general GRE exam must be provided.
4. A minimum of 100 hours of health care experience or volunteer activities.
5.
  1. Observed physician assistants in a variety of PA clinical settings (more than two).
6.
  1. Three references that focus on the applicant’s generic abilities for clinical work rather than just their
  2. academic ability—one of which must be from a physician assistant that indicates PA contact.  Having at
  3. least one reference from a physician assistant from each of the clinical settings observed by the applicant
  4. is highly recommended.

 

Mandatory Course Prerequisites Include:

  1. General Chemistry I and II (Labs required)
  1. Biology I and II (Labs required)
Human Anatomy and Physiology  (Lab required)
General Psychology
  1. Organic Chemistry I (Lab required)

Statistics

  1. Microbiology w/lab
Interviews are by invitation only.
  • Preference is given to residents of Georgia and to residents of states with no Physician Assistant
  • Program.
Applicants whose first language is not English must submit official TOEFL scores. A minimum TOEFL score of 250 on the computer-based exam or 600 on the paper exam and a minimum score of 50 on the TSE-P are required for admission consideration. The TSE-A exam scores will not be accepted. Applicants must take both the TOEFL and the TSE-P by October 15 to be considered for admission the following year.

The Admissions Committee selects the applicants who seem best qualified for the program from among those who apply and submit all required documentation.  Applications must be postmarked by October 15, but earlier application is encouraged.

 

Prerequisites for the Master’s Physician Assistant Program

The prerequisite courses required to apply to MCG Master of Physician Assistant Program comprise a core curriculum divided into seven categories (Areas A-G). The courses acceptable to meet the requirements of each category are listed below. (back to top)

 

A. Essential Skills

9 semester hours
  • English Composition I (3 hours)
  • English Composition II-Literature based (3 hours)
  • College Algebra, Mathematical Modeling, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus or Calculus (3 hours)

B. Professional Skills

4 - 5 semester hours
  • Critical Thinking
  • Creative Writing
  • Ethics
  • Health and Wellness
  • Economics
  • Speech
  • Any approved guided elective from Area F

C. Humanities and Fine Arts

6 semester hours
  • Ethics
  • Fine and Applied Arts
  • Foreign Language
  • Speech, Oral Communications
  • World Literature
  • Philosophy
  • Drama, Art or Music Appreciation
  • Logic
  • Electives in Humanities and Fine Arts

D. Science, Mathematics and Technology

10 - 11 semester hours
  • Additional courses in science, mathematics or technology to meet this requirement.

E. Social Sciences

12 semester hours
  • United States History       
  • Sociology
  • Anthropology
  • Group Process
  • Social Problems
  • Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
F. Courses Required for Major

34  semester hours
  • Biology I and II – Labs Required (8 hours)*
  • General Chemistry I and II - Labs Required  (8 hours) *
  • Organic Chemistry I - Lab Required  (4 hours) *
  • Microbiology - Lab Required  (4 hours ) *
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology - Lab Required  (4 hours) *
  • Statistics (3 hours) *
  • General Psychology (3 hours) *
G. Guided Electives for Major

15 semester hours
Guided electives in any basic science which may include:  Comparative Vertebrae Anatomy, Organic II, Histology, Biochemistry, Evolution, Human Growth and Development, Abnormal Psychology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Embryology or Physics

*     These courses are MANDATORY.
**    Students may take any other science course to satisfy the remaining hours in this section.