Accelerated 5-Year Bachelor of Science (Biology) to Master of Science (Physician Assistant) Program (BS/MS)
Description
The 5-year BS/MS program at 91传媒, sponsored by the Biology Department and the Physician Assistant (PA) Program, was the first 5-year entry-level PA master's degree program in the state. "Entry level" means that you enter 91传媒 as a freshman, and five years later, you graduate with both a Bachelor of Science with a major in Biology and a Master of Science with a major in Physician Assistant.
Our traditional program requires two years after you complete a four-year undergraduate program. Those with a bachelor's degree may apply directly to the graduate program.
91传媒's 5-year accelerated track in the Physician Assistant program accepts a select number of highly qualified, entering freshmen.
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Program Learning Outcomes
Please review the catalog page for BS Biology and the MS Physician Assistant for the Program Learning Outcomes. -
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Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
The 5-year accelerated BS Biology/MS Physician Assistant program accepts a select number of highly-qualified entering freshmen. To remain in the program, students must maintain a 3.5 overall GPA and a 3.3 GPA in the sciences. In addition, students must demonstrate maturity, leadership, academic integrity and complete 1,000 patient contact hours before beginning the graduate studies phase of the program. Students must pass the following criteria:
- Current seniors in high school are eligible for admission
- ACT of 26+ or SAT 1260+
- Cumulative high school GPA of 3.5+
- Science and math GPA of 3.5+
- Participation at Visit Day with a 5-year Physician Assistant Information Session
- Admission essay and interview
- Enrollment is capped at 25 freshmen per year
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Degree Requirements - Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biology (120 credits)
The first three years of the program comprise the undergraduate Pre-professional phase. The curriculum consists of medically related science courses, along with the components of the University Core Curriculum and general requirements for a bachelor's degree. Students in the five-year program cannot transfer in any science classes (with the exception of physics) or PA prerequisite coursework including nutrition, developmental psychology, biostatistics, medical ethics, microbiology or physiology.
The Professional phase (years four and five) is 24 months of continuous study and consists of additional graduate coursework in the medical sciences and related educational experiences. During the fifth year, students acquire medical expertise through a broad range of intensive clinical rotations, community health education, and health projects with medically underserved communities. Each student completes the course of study with a preceptorship in primary care medicine, and graduates are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).
Required Courses for the Biology Major/Accelerated Physician Assistant Program
- BIO 1200 General Biology I (3 credits) (meets Core C1 with BIO 1210)
- BIO 1210 General Biology Laboratory I (2 credits) (meets Core C1 with BIO 1200)
- BIO 1220 General Biology II (3 credits)
- BIO 1230 General Biology Laboratory II (2 credits)
- BIO 2700 Genetics (3 credits)
- BIO 2040 Applied Nutrition* (3 credits)
- BIO 2900 Biostatistics* (3 credits) (meets Core B2)
- BIO 4210 Microbiology* (3 credits)
- BIO 4220 Microbiology Lab* (2 credits)
- BIO 4630 Physiology* (3 credits) (meets Core IT2)
- BIO 4740 Cellular & Molecular Biology (3 credits)
- BIO 4801 Adv. Human Anatomy for Pre-Professional Students (3 credits)
- Upper-Level Biology Laboratory (choose one)
- CHM 1070 General Chemistry I (3 credits)
- CHM 1080 General Chemistry II (3 credits)
- CHM 1100 Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
- CHM 1120 Chemistry Laboratory II (1 credit)
- CHM 2250 Organic Chemistry Lab I (1 credit)
- CHM 2260 Organic Chemistry II (3 credits)
- CHM 2270 Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
- CHM 2290 Organic Chemistry Lab II (1 credit)
- PHY 1300 General Physics I (3 credits)
- PHY 1310 General Physics Lab I (1 credit)
- PHY 1320 General Physics II (3 credits)
- PHY 1330 General Physics Lab II (1 credit)
Other Required Courses
- MTH 1400 Elementary Functions (3 credits) or MTH 1410 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (4 credits) (meets Core B1)
- ETH 3580 Healthcare Ethics* (meets Core F1)
- PAS 1010 Introduction to the Physician Assistant Profession (2 credits)
- HUS 4410 Multicultural Understanding (3 credits) (meets Core IT3/4)
- HSA 4610 Health Care Economics (3 credits)
- PYC 2500 Developmental Psychology* (3 credits) (meets Core C2)
* Denotes the six prerequisite courses required of all physician assistant applicants that must be completed with a 3.0/4.0.
Core Curriculum
In addition to the courses required for this program listed above, the student must also fulfill the requirements of the University Core Curriculum for this program. Some of these courses may be satisfied by courses in the program.
Students in this Accelerated 5-Year BS/MS program who continue to the 91传媒 Master of Science program in their fourth year have been granted two core course exemptions:
- Core E1, E2, E3 - one course may be waived.
- Core D3, IT3, IT4, IT5 - one course may be waived.
Physician Assistant Courses Required to Complete the BS Biology degree
Students will receive their bachelor's degree in May or August of the first year of graduate-level coursework. These graduate courses are required to complete the undergraduate portion of the bachelor's degree. Credits from the Master of Science program will be double-counted towards the bachelor's degree to complete remaining Bachelor of Science requirements to reach 120 total credits.
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Additional Requirements
To remain in the program, students must maintain a 3.5 overall GPA and a 3.3 GPA in the sciences. Students are also required to have 1,000 documented hours of patient interaction before beginning graduate-level coursework. In addition, students are required to complete the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) with a score of at least 291.
The six prerequisite courses required of all physician assistant applicants must be completed with a 3.0/4.0. For students in the accelerated 5-year program, these courses are BIO 2040, ETH 3580, PYC 2500, BIO 2900, BIO 4630, BIO 4220 and BIO 4210.
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Optional Concentration - Biology Research
Please review the catalog page for BS Biology for the concentration in Biology Research.
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Optional Concentration - Applied Genetics
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Optional Concentration - Neuroscience
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Degree Requirements-Master of Science with a Major in Physician Assistant
Please review the catalog page for MS Physician Assistant for the degree requirements (68 credits) for the Master of Science. Three of the graduate courses are used to fulfill requirements for the undergraduate bachelor's degree. Additional graduate credits can be used to fulfill the 120 total credits for the undergraduate degree.
Program Contact Information
Biology Office
Jacob Kagey, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Biology
Office: Life Sciences 101
Telephone: 313-993-1408
Email: kageyja@udmercy.edu
Physician Assistant Program
Amy Dereczyk, PA-C, DFAAPA
Chairperson, Physician Assistant Program
Telephone: 313-993-2474
Fax: 313-993-1271
Email: dereczal@udmercy.edu