Bachelor of Science in Premedical and Health Studies: Physician Assistant Studies Pathway (BS/MPAS)

Location: Boston
Start Term: Fall

As a physician assistant, you provide care to patients as an extension of the physician relationship and a vital member of the healthcare team. This program allows you to focus your education on your career goals, so you’ll be well prepared to start treating patients on the first day of your new career.

During this professional pathway program, you’ll earn a combined Bachelor of Science in Premedical and Health Studies and Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree in six years. You’ll work closely with faculty mentors who have years of expertise in both teaching and advising pre-health professions students. And after an intensive study of the basic behavioral and medical sciences, you’ll have in-depth exposure to a wide variety of patients in a range of clinical clerkships. All to prepare you to begin your career with confidence.

Freshman applicants can view their admission requirements on the Undergraduate Applicants page.

Our agreements with partnering institutions require that students complete all of their coursework at MCPHS. For that reason, we are unable to accept transfer students into this pathway program. 

Please consider applying to the following programs, which you can transfer in to: 

Physician Assistant Studies (BS/MPAS with MCPHS-Boston or Worcester)

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

Year I-Fall

BIO 150L Biology I Laboratory 1
BIO 151 Biology I: Cell and Molecular Biology 3
CHE 131 Chemical Principles I (w/ lab) 4
FYS 101 Introduction to the Major 1
LIB 111 Expository Writing I 3
MAT 151 Calculus I 3
TOTAL 15

Year I-Spring

BIO 152 Biology II: Biology of Organisms (w/ lab) 4
CHE 132 Chemical Principles II (w/ lab) 4
LIB 112 Expository Writing II 3
LIB 120 OR LIB 133 Introduction to Psychology OR American Culture,
Identity, and Public Life 		3
MAT 152 Calculus II 3
TOTAL 17
If LIB 120 is completed in Year I Spring, then you will have the following Year II schedule.

Year II-Fall

CHE 231 Organic Chemistry I (w/ lab) 4
Behavioral Sciences elective I* 3
LIB 133 American Culture, Identity, and Public Life 3
LIB 205 Health Professions Orientation Seminar 1
MAT 261 Statistics 3
Humanities elective 3
TOTAL 17

Year II-Spring
BIO 255 Medical Microbiology (w/ lab) 4
CHE 232 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHE 234L Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
SSC 230 Cultural Anthropology 3
LIB 220 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
for Health Professionals 		3
TOTAL 14
If LIB 133 is completed in Year I spring, then you will have the following Year II schedule.

Year II-Fall
CHE 231 Organic Chemistry I (w/ lab) 4
LIB 120 Introduction to Psychology 3
LIB 205 Health Professions Orientation Seminar 1
MAT 261 Statistics 3
SSC 230 Cultural Anthropology 3
TOTAL 14

Year II-Spring
Behavioral Sciences elective I 3
BIO 255 Medical Microbiology (w/ lab) 4
CHE 232 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHE 234L Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
Humanities elective 3
LIB 220 Interpersonal Communication for Health Professionals 3
TOTAL 17

Year III-Fall
BIO 351 Adv. Anatomy & Physiology I (w/ lab) 4
PHY 270 Foundations of Physics I 3
PHY 272L Foundations of Physics I Lab 1
BIO 360 Cellular Biochemistry 4
Behavioral Sciences elective II* 3
TOTAL 15
*Two BEH electives are required and must be chosen from a specific list.

Year III-Spring
BIO 352 Adv. Anatomy & Physiology II (w/ lab) 4
LIB 512 Healthcare Ethics 3
PHY 274 Foundations of Physics II (w/ lab) 4
SSC 495 Evolution of the Health Professions 3
Liberal Arts elective** 3
TOTAL 17
**The Liberal Arts elective can be any 3 semester hour course in the following areas: BEH, SSC, HUM, language or communication.

BEH elective choices include:
BEH 250 Health Psychology
BEH 405 Mind/Body Medicine
BEH 260 Behavioral Health
BEH 341 Biological Psychology
BEH 454 Stress & Illness
BEH 351 Social Psychology
BEH 352 Human Development Through the Life Cycle

For students moving on after their third undergraduate year to the professional phase of this pathway, fourth year undergraduate courses are replaced by successful completion of first year professional courses as follows:

  • The HUM elective is replaced by PAS 514 (Ethics and Professional Issues in PA Practice) and PAS 416 (Primary Care Psychiatry)
  • LIB 480 is replaced by PAS 529 and PAS 539 (Research Methods for PAs I and II)
  • Successful completion of the remainder of the first year MPAS Boston curriculum will fulfill the fourth year undergraduate general elective requirements.
 

Finding the perfect pathway

Alessandro Cavaliere, Premed/PA ‘20

Alessandro Cavaliere, Premed/PA ‘20 shares how the Premedical and Health Studies program started him on a pathway to his dream career.

Discover