BIOLOGY/PRE-PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
57 credit hours
WHY STUDY BIOLOGY/PRE-PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT AT Trinity?
You’ll never truly know what you’ve learned until you put your skills to the test. Supplement your classroom time with clinical hours in both program-directed and independent professional settings. When you graduate from Trinity, you will have met all the prerequisites required for post-graduate study in this field.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO EARN MY DEGREE?
Most Biology/Pre-Physician Assistant majors finish their degrees in 4 years. Major requirements total a minimum of 57 hours. This includes 25 hours in the required biology courses, 28 hours in supporting courses and 3 hours of bioethics courses.
DID YOU KNOW?
Trinity offers the chance to pursue a master’s degree at the same time as you are completing your bachelor’s degree.
WHAT WILL I STUDY?
This program has been designed to combine a solid theoretical foundation in the sciences with clinical education experiences to prepare you for admission into post graduate professional physician assistant programs. You will be taking courses in biology, human anatomy and physiology, chemistry, bioethics, health sciences, human development and psychology as well as gaining clinical professional experience.
COURSEWORK:
Major requirements total a minimum of 57 hours. This includes 25 hours in the required biology courses, 28 hours in supporting courses and 3 hours of bioethics courses. Interesting courses you will take include:
- Developmental Biology
- General Medical Conditions
- Responding to Emergencies and Sport Safety Training
Biology Pre-Physicians Assistant Courses
| REQUIRED COURSES FOR GENERAL EDUCATION | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| BIO 111 | General Biology | 4 hours |
| CH 111 | General Chemistry I | 4 hours |
| MA 121 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | 4 hours |
| REQUIRED COURSES FPR MAJOR |
||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| Required Biology Courses | ||
| BIO 112 | Biology: The Plant and Animal Kingdoms | 4 hours |
| BIO 310 | Microbiology | 4 hours |
| BIO 340 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 hours |
| BIO 341 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 hours |
| BIO 410 | Biology Seminar | 1 hour |
| BIO 420 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 hours |
| Choose one: | 4 hours | |
| BIO 315 OR BIO 430 |
Genetics OR Developmental Biology |
|
| Required Supporting Courses | ||
| CH 112 | General Chemistry II | 4 hours |
| CH 211 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 hours |
| CH 212 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 hours |
| HS 161 | Medical Terminology | 1 hour |
| HS 360 | General Medical Conditions | 3 hours |
| MA 285X OR MA 280X |
Statistics OR Introductory Statistics |
3 hours |
| PHY 111 | General Physics I | 4 hours |
| PHY 112 | General Physics II | 4 hours |
| Required Bioethics Course | ||
| BE 474X OR BE 476X |
Introduction to Bioethics OR Undergraduate Bioethics Institute |
3 hours |
| REQUIRED CLINICAL HOURS* | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| HS 480 | Professional Rotation in Health Science** | 1–6 hour(s) |
| * Minimum Requirement is 1000 hours and may be more depending on the physician assistant program | ||
| **Clinical hours must be supervised by a licensed health care practitioner with emphasis given to hours supervised by a physician or physician assistant. Some programs require more than one site. Clinical hours must include patient contact. Registration for HS 480 credit must occur prior to the clinical experience. This requirement satisfies the professional experience requirement. Requirements for acceptance vary among physician assistant schools. By the first semester of the sophomore year, students should contact possible physician assistant schools for information regarding prerequisite coursework required for admission. Courses may then be selected from the recommended courses. | ||
| ELECTIVES | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| Highly Recommended (Required by many physician assistant schools): | ||
| HS 165 | Responding to Emergencies and Sport Safety Training | |
| Select at least one of the following psychology courses: | ||
| PSY 335 | Child Development | |
| PSY 337 | Psychology of Adolescence | |
| PSY 339 | Adult Development | |
| Recommended (Required by some physician assistant schools): | ||
| PSY 310 | Abnormal Psychology | |
| COM 112 | Speech | |
| Choose one: | ||
| ENG 210X OR ENG 240X |
Business Communication OR Writing for the Media I |
|
CAREER OUTCOMES: |
|
| Professional Sports | Surgeon Physician Assistant |
| Secondary Schools | Lab Technician |
| Performing Arts | Pharmacologist |
| Military | Nurse |
| Emergency Medical Technician | Urgent Care Physician Assistant |
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