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

First-Time Freshman Entry

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

Transfer Student Entry

Students with 12 or more college credits may transfer into the first or second year of the program. Courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade of C or better for transfer. Math and science courses taken more than ten years prior to the anticipated date of matriculation to MCPHS will not be accepted.

While there are no specific required courses for entry into the first year of our program, the admission committee will look for success in any math and science courses you have already taken. If you complete any of the courses listed below, you may receive transfer credit and your first year course load may be lighter. However, due to the block registration nature of MCPHS programs, entering the first year of the program with transfer credits will not change the total length of your program. Courses, other than elective courses, may not be moved forward in your schedule.

Required Courses For Entry to Year II:

• General Biology I & II with lab (8 credits)
• General Chemistry I & II with lab (8 credits)
• Calculus I & II (8 credits)
• Expository Writing I & II (6 credits)
• American Culture, Identity, and Public Life (3 credits) (Acceptable substitutions include American History, U.S. History, U.S. Government, Western Civilization)

Additional Courses Accepted for Transfer Credit:

• General Elective (3 credits) (Acceptable courses include History, English, Fine Arts, Philosophy, Government, Ethics, Foreign Language, Psychology, Religious Studies, Anthropology, Communications, and Economics)
• Social Science elective (3 credits) (Acceptable courses include History, Political Science/Government, Anthropology, Upper-level Sociology, American Studies, Women Studies, Ethnic Studies, Geography, Economics)

Progressing Into the the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program

First-time freshman and transfer students are required to submit an admission application for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program during the third year of the Premedical and Health Studies Pathway program. All students who meet the minimum GPA requirement will be guaranteed an interview for admission. For additional information on the admission requirements for progression, please visit the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program page. 

Year IV

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 (Principles of Professional 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.