Biology: Pre-Physician Assistant
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Pre-Physician Assistant (BS) Degree Map
Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree.
Outcomes & Careers
-
$126k
Physician Assistant
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a physician assistant is $126,010.
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$124k
Nurse Practitioner
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a nurse practitioner is $124,680.
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$38k
Medical Assistants
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a medical assistant is $38,270.
The biology pre-physician assistant option prepares students for any area of biology, put primarily prepares you for MMS school. You’ll complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours.
“Critical Courses” are italicized and bolded. Data shows that students who have
completed this course in the first two years and have earned the noted grade are most
likely to complete this program of study.
Required Courses:
- BI163 Evolution & Ecology (4)
- BI173 Cell & Organismal Biology (4)
- BI283 Genetics (4)
- BI389 Career Development in Biology (2)
- CH184 General Chemistry I Lab (1)
- CH185 General Chemistry I (3)
Choose one math course:
- MA116 Precalculus A (3)
- MA137 Precalculus (5)
- MA139 Applied Calculus (3)
- MA140 Analytical Geometry & Calculus I (5)
Choose one additional math course:
- MAxxx Additional math (for which MA116 is a prerequisite) (3)
- MA155 Statistical Reasoning (3)
Experiential Learning Requirement: 2 hours
- BI551-553 Biology Field Studies (2)
- BI563-565 Experience in Museum Curation (1-3)
- BI570 Development of Instructional Materials (1)
- BI582 Internship in Biology (1-3)
Pre-Physician Assistant Option Required Courses:
- BS113 Anatomy & Physiology I and Lab (4)
- BS114 Anatomy & Physiology II and Lab (4)
Biology Electives - choose 12 Hours
- BI/BO/BT/ZO prefix with at least 9 hours at the 300 level (12)
OR - BS 240 Microorganisms and Their Human Hosts (4)
AND - BI/BO/BT/ZO prefix with at least 9 hours at the 300 level (8)
Non-Biology Requirements:
- CH186 General Chemistry II (3)
- CH187 General Chemistry II Lab (1)
- CH341 Foundations of Organic Chemistry (4)
- HL113 Medical Terminology (3)
- PY220 Psychological Development Across the Lifespan (3)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
- Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
- Written Communication – 6 hours
- Oral Communication – 3 hours
- Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
- Mathematics – 3 hours
- Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
- Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
- Civics examination
Freshman Year
Fall Semester (15-17 Hours)
- UI100 (1)
- BI163 (4)
- CH184/CH185 (5)
- MA116/137/139/140 (3-5)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (14 Hours)
- BI173 (4)
- EN100 (3)
- CH186 (3)
- CH187 (1)
- PY220 (3)
Milestone: achieve a target cumulative GPA of 3.2
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- BI283 (4)
- PYxxx* (3)
- Experiential Learning Crs (2)
- General Education (3)
- Elective (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- Biology Elective (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: achieve a target cumulative GPA of 3.2
Junior Year
Fall Semester (16 Hours)
- BI389 (2)
- BS113/013 (4)
- Additional Math (3)
- Biology Elective (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (14 Hours)
- BS114/014 (4)
- CH341 (4)
- Biology elective (3)
- Elective (3)
Milestone: take admission test (if required) and apply through CASPA
Senior Year
Fall Semester (17-18 Hours)
- Biology Elective or BS240/040 (3-4)
- General Education (3)
- Elective (3)
- Elective (4)
- Elective (4)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- HL113 (3)
- Biology Elective (3)
- Elective (3)
- Elective (3)
- Elective (2)
Milestone: achieve a target cumulative GPA of 3.2
A “Milestone” signifies a significant stage for a student in the completion
of a degree.
*Recommended for program; consult advisor
What will it cost?
Hands-on Learning
You’ll gain hands-on real-world experience through a required 80 hours outside the classroom experiential learning opportunity working at hospitals or with PAs and doctors.
Become a Redhawk.
Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.
Getting the Job
Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, sell your knowledge and experience—and if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. They’ll provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time.
Happening in Biology
The Will to Do
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701