Pre-Physician Assistant

Marshall University offers a Physician Assistant (PA) program through its Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. The program is designed to prepare students for a career as a physician assistant by providing:

• Training to be competent, compassionate, and well-rounded physician assistants, equipped to serve diverse patient populations.
• Coursework that fulfills courses to obtain a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS)
• A strong foundation in medical knowledge, clinical skills, and patient care
• Opportunities to rotate through a variety of clinical settings in West Virginia and surrounding areas providing exposure to rural and urban healthcare settings, offering a well-rounded clinical experience
• Dedicated pre-physician assistant advisors

Common required courses include:

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Microbiology
• General Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Statistics
• Psychology
• Medical Terminology

Refer to the Marshall University Undergraduate Catalog for accurate course offerings.

At Marshall University, there are several student organizations focused on pre-physician assistant and health professions. Some of these clubs include:

• Pre-Physician Assistant Club – Aims to connect prospective students and to provide different opportunities to become competitive applicants for Physician Assistant Programs.
• Health Science Club – A broader organization that supports students in various health-related fields, including pre-physician assistant.

Explore various student clubs and organizations related to pre-physician assistant on HerdLink

The Physician Assistant program at Marshall University is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

The PA program at Marshall University is a 24-month (approximately 2-year) program, divided into 2 phases.

The first phase focuses on classroom learning and laboratory instruction. Students study subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, clinical medicine, and medical ethics.

The second phase is focused on clinical rotations in various specialties, such as family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Students gain hands-on experience working with patients under the supervision of licensed providers.