Pre-Physician Assistant
Physician Assistants provide healthcare services under the supervision of physicians. They should not be confused with medical assistants, who perform routine clinical and clerical tasks. Physician Assistants conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery and can write prescriptions in 47 states.They are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services as delegated by a physician.
Pre-Physician Assistant is considered a designation at Texas Tech University; it is not a major. Pre-Physician Assistant students take the required courses in order to apply to a Physician Assistant Program. Pre-Physician Assistant students also have the option to major in any area they choose as long as they take the prerequisite courses required to enter a Physician Assistant Program along with the courses needed to earn a degree at Texas Tech University.
Prerequisite courses needed for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
School of Allied Health Sciences Master of Physician Assistant Studies:
| Texas Tech University | Texas Common Course Numbering System |
|---|---|
| ENGLISH 1301 | ENGLISH 1301 |
| ENGLISH 1302 | ENGLISH 1302 |
| MATH 1320 | MATH 1314 |
| MATH 2300 | MATH 1342, 1442, 2342, 2442 |
| CHEMISTRY I 1307 | CHEMISTRY 1311, 1411 |
| CHEMISTRY I 1107 (laboratory) | CHEMISTRY 1111, 1411 |
| CHEMISTRY II 1308 | CHEMISTRY 1312, 1412, 1414 |
| CHEMISTRY II 1108 (laboratory) | CHEMISTRY 1112, 1112. 1412, 1414 |
| BIOLOGY I 1403 | BIOLOGY 1406, 1106, 1306 |
| BIOLOGY II 1404 | BIOLOGY 1407, 1107, 1307 |
| ZOOLOGY 2403 | BIOLOGY 2401, 2101, 2301 |
| ZOOLOGY 2404 | BIOLOGY 2402, 2102, 2302 |
| MICROBIOLOGY 3401 | |
| INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP BEHAVIOR (9 hours) | SOCIOLOGY/ PSYCHOLOGY/ HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES AND RELATED COURSES |
| NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES 1325 OR 1410 OR ANY 3-4 hour Human Nutrition course | BIOLOGY 1322, 1323; HECO 1322 |
| 14 HOURS ELECTIVES |
For application and/or prerequisite information, please contact each professional program and check their websites frequently.
Recommended Electives:
- Computer Literacy, Medical Terminology, Communication Skills, and Genetics
Note: AP and CLEP credit will not be accepted for any science or social science prerequisite courses. Online science courses will NOT be accepted.
Completion of a degree, professional studies, health care certification, licensure or work experience, health care shadowing, and community service are not required, but highly recommended.
Click here for more information about the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Allied Health Sciences Master of Physician Assistant Studies.