Texas Tech University

Pre-Physician Assistant

The Profession

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.  

Being Pre-Physician Assistant

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.

Regardless of which degree-granting major a Pre-Physician Assistant student chooses at Texas Tech, they will always have a PPHC Advisor on their team. If you have any questions whatsoever about being Pre-PA, contact your assigned PPHC Advisor today!

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses for the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Master of Physician Assistant Studies:

COURSE NAME Texas Tech University Texas Common Course Numbering System
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I ZOOL 2403 BIOLOGY 2401, 2101, 2301
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II ZOOL 2404 BIOLOGY 2402, 2102, 2302
GENETICS1 BIOL 3416  
MICROBIOLOGY -or-
PRINCIPLES OF MICROBIOLOGY2
MBIO 3400 -or-
MBIO 3401 (preferred)
 
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY -or-
BIOCHEMISTRY3
CHEM 3305/3105 -or-
CHEM 3310
 
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY PSY 1300 PSYCHOLOGY 2301
STATISTICAL METHODS MATH 2300  MATH 1342, 1442, 2342, 2442

1Biology is not a prerequisite for entry to the TTUHSC Physician Assistant program, but BIOL 1401, 1402, or 1403 is a prerequisite for Genetics (BIOL 3416). Please direct questions regarding Biology prerequisites to the Department of Biological Sciences.

2Biology and General Chemistry are not prerequisites for entry to the TTUHSC Physician Assistant program, but ZOOL 2403 or BIOL 1402, or equivalent, and CHEM 1305 or CHEM 1307 are prerequisites for Microbiology (MBIO 3400); BIOL 1402 or BIOL 1403 and BIOL 1404 are prerequisites for Principles of Microbiology (MBIO 3401) and CHEM 3305 is a pre- or co-requisite. Please direct questions regarding Microbiology prerequisites to the Department of Biological Sciences.

3General Chemistry is not a prerequisite for entry to the TTUHSC Physician Assistant program, but CHEM 1307/1107 and CHEM 1308/1108 are prerequisites for Organic Chemistry (CHEM 3305/3105); Biochemistry (CHEM 3310) has a prerequisite of Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 3306/3106). Please direct questions regarding Chemistry prerequisites to the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

Additional Admissions Requirements

  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
  • Shadowing of a Physician Assistant is strongly recommended
  • Healthcare experience, life experiences, and community service are valued
  • The required science courses must be completed within the previous 7 years of application
  • Three letters of recommendation

While it is strongly encouraged to take science courses in a classroom setting, online courses will NOT be rejected.

For application and prerequisite information, please contact each professional program, checking their websites frequently.

Physician Assistant Programs

To learn more about professional degree PA programs both in Texas and elsewhere, please visit the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) directory here.

Success Roadmap

PPHC Advisors have created a year-by-year PDF guide to being Pre-Physician Assistant.

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