Health Science - Pre-Physician Assistant

Degree(s): Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a major in Health Science - Pre-Physician Assistant
Master of Science (M.S.) with a major in Physician Assistant Studies

(a minimum of 146 credits at the undergraduate level)
(a minimum of 51 credits at the graduate level)

The mission of the Physician Assistant program is to educate students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in clinical, community, and academic service to humanity, building upon the College’s foundations of humanics and academic excellence. The Springfield College physician assistant program trains primary care physician assistants eligible for employment in a wide variety of medical settings and specialties.

This is a six-year program with students earning a bachelor of science degree in Health Science - Pre-Physician Assistant and a master of science degree in physician assistant studies upon successful completion of the program. The program is divided into two distinct phases: a preprofessional phase in which students complete the General Education Program and basic science program requirements, and the professional phase, which includes 15 months of didactic education and 12 months of clinical rotations. The didactic portion includes courses in clinical medicine, pharmacology, applied clinical skills, genetics, human anatomy and physiology, history taking and physical assessment, mental health issues, foundations of research, advanced statistics, research project, and seminar courses. Clinical education includes inpatient medicine, family medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, and emergency medicine. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Certification Examination and to apply for state licensure.

A graduate program for students with a bachelor’s degree is also available. The graduate program allows the student to complete the professional phase of the program in 27 months and be awarded a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies.

For more information about the physician assistant program, contact Charles Milch, M.H.P., M.B.A., P.A.C, the physician assistant program director, at (413) 748-3554 or the Admissions Office at (800) 343-1257.

Download a Physician Assistant Program Checksheet

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

I. General Education Program (40 - 46 credits)

The General Education program at Springfield College is informed by its century-old Humanics tradition of educating the whole person in spirit, mind, and body, for leadership in service to humanity. These requirements have the goal of developing literate, thoughtful, socially responsible students, and instilling in them a spirit of inquiry into the nature of humankind and the universe. Towards those ends, the requirements emphasize and encourage: the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, and competency essential for the improvement of the human condition in a diverse society; a search for personal and spiritual values; and the development of an understanding and appreciation of physical well-being. For specific requirements, see the General Education Program (40 - 46 credits) section or the Sequencing Guide for this major.

II. Major Requirements

A. Core Requirements

56 credits

BIOL 121 - Bioscience I Credits: 3
BIOL 123 - Bioscience I Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOL 122 - Bioscience II Credits: 3
BIOL 124 - Bioscience II Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOL 214 - Introduction to Medical Microbiology Credits: 3
BIOL 250 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 3
BIOL 252 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOL 251 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 3
BIOL 253 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory Credits: 1
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I Credits: 3
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II Credits: 3
CHEM 123 - General Chemistry I Laboratory Credits: 1
CHEM 124 - General Chemistry II Laboratory Credits: 1
CHEM 221 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 3
CHEM 223 - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory Credits: 1
CHEM 222 - Organic Chemistry II Credits: 3
CHEM 224 - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Credits: 1
CHEM 331 - Biological Chemistry Credits: 3
EMSM 114 - CPR, Health Care Provider Credits: 0.5
EMSM 115 - Emergency Medical Technician-Part I Credits: 4
EMSM 116 - Emergency Medical Technician - Part II Credits: 4
MATH 125 - Precalculus Mathematics Credits: 3
or
MATH 131 - Introduction to Calculus with Applications Credits: 3
or
MATH 140 - Calculus I Credits: 3
MATH 215 - Probability and Statistics Credits: 3
or
PSYC 211 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3
or
HSRS 325 - Biostatistics Credits: 3
PAST 101 - PA Seminar I Credits: 1
PAST 102 - PA Seminar II Credits: 1
PAST 221 - PA Seminar III Credits: 1
PAST 222 - PA Seminar IV Credits: 1

B. Selectives

Select three courses from the list below (9-12):

BIOL 241 - Developmental Biology Credits: 3
BIOL 310 - Evolution Credits: 3
BIOL 311 - Human Histology Credits: 3
and
BIOL 312 - Human Histology Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOL 316 - Virology and Immunology Credits: 3
BIOL 408 - Research Methods in Cell Biology Credits: 3
and
BIOL 409 - Research Methods in Cell Biology Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOL 420 - Cellular Physiology Credits: 3
and
BIOL 421 - Cellular Physiology Laboratory Credits: 1
CHEM 321 - Organic Reactions and Mechanisms Credits: 3
NUSC 250 - Nutritional Assessment Credits: 3
NUSC 261 - Introduction to Nutrition Credits: 3
NUSC 300 - Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism Credits: 3
NUSC 361 - Applied Nutrition Credits: 3
PHYS 210 - General Physics I Credits: 4
PHYS 211 - General Physics II Credits: 4

C. Related Requirements

BIOL 276 - Medical Genetics Credits: 3
PAST 515 - Clinical Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 2
PAST 540 - Ethical and Professional Issues in PA Practice Credits: 3

Program Minimum Technical Standards

Technical standards define the attributes considered necessary for students to possess in order to complete their education and training, and subsequently enter clinical practice. These standards are prerequisites for entrance, continuation, and graduation from the Springfield College Physician Assistant Program. Students must possess aptitude, ability, and skills in five areas: 1) observation, 2) communication, 3) sensory and motor coordination and function, 4) conceptualization, integration, and quantitation, and 5) behavioral and social attributes. These functions are critically important and must be autonomously performed by the student. It should be understood that these are standards for minimum competence in the program. More information on technical standards is available from the Office of Admissions and can be found in the Physician Assistant Program Student Handbook.

Students are required to follow the procedures and adhere to the policies of the physician assistant program as outlined in the Physician Assistant Program Student Handbook.

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