Prepare for a Career in Patient-Centered Care
Complete key prerequisites for PA programs.
The Natural Sciences major offers the Pre-PA Track for students interested in pursuing Physician Assistant (PA) studies after completing their undergraduate degree. This track provides the prerequisite coursework required for most PA programs, while allowing flexibility in scheduling and course selection.
Completion of the Pre-PA plan does not guarantee admission to PA programs. Most programs also require healthcare experience prior to admission. Students should review specific requirements for each PA program they plan to apply to.
Program Highlights
- Complete the Pre-PA coursework required for PA program admission
- Access to flexible on-campus and online course offerings
- Work closely with a CGS academic advisor to track prerequisites and plan your course schedule
- Build the foundation for a career in healthcare as a Physician Assistant
- Utilize pre-health resources and guidance to strengthen your PA school application
Degree Requirements
Students must complete 120 credits (approximately 40 courses) to earn the Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences. At least 24 credits must be upper-division (1000-level). These courses may come from any portion of the degree plan, provided they meet the track and general degree requirements.
For additional requirements outside the major, visit the General Education program page.
GPA Requirement
Effective for Spring 2022 applicants and beyond, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 to be admitted into the Pre-Physician Assistant Track. Maintaining strong academic standing is critical for competitiveness in PA school admissions.
Pre-Physician Assistant Track Requirements
Minimum 40 credits (core and recommended courses)
The following courses are required for the pre-physician assistant option. CGS online offerings are marked with (Web) or (Hybrid).
1. BIOLOGY
A. Foundations of Biology with Lab
B. Anatomy & Physiology
C. Microbiology
2. CHEMISTRY
3. PSYCHOLOGY
- PSY 1000 Level Elective
4. STATISTICS
Choose one of the following:
5. NUTRITION (OUTSIDE MAJOR)
Choose one:
6. MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY (OUTSIDE MAJOR)
Program Notes
If you are applying to the University of Pittsburgh's Physician Assistant program, the following course sequences are accepted as full substitutions for the corresponding requirements. Individual courses from different sequences may not be mixed and matched.
- NUR 0012/0002 & 0013/0003 or HDD 1011/1012 & HHD 1030/1033 - substitutes for: BIOSC 0041/0042 & BIOSC 1250/1255
- NUR 0031/0032 - substitutes for: BIOSC 1850/1855
- NUR 0088 - substitutes for: Statistics Requirement.
Some listed courses may require students to be enrolled in a specific program to register. Please check PeopleSoft for course restrictions.
For full admission requirements, visit the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences PA program website.
Resources & Flexible Options
Flexible Learning Options
While many core sciences require in-person labs, select coursework is available online to support scheduling needs.
View Online CoursesPlanning Resources
Use the Pre-PA Track Checklist (PDF) to map out your required courses and monitor your progress toward degree completion.
Download Checklist (PDF)Ready to Get Started?
Prospective students, request more information to learn about admission and begin planning your personalized degree path. Current Pitt students, connect with a CGS advisor.