Pre-Physician Assistant

Our pre-physician assistant program prepares you for a more specialized focus in advanced physician assistant programs. Following a biology or chemistry degree track, the program offers the kind of well-rounded undergraduate education preferred by most professional physician assistant programs. 

With a degree that offers a pre-physician assistant education, you can continue on to a professional physician assistant program or pursue graduate studies in one of many natural science disciplines. You may take on careers in the field of physician assisting or prepare for job opportunities across the natural sciences, such as careers as certified physician assistants, biology or science teachers, or natural sciences managers.  

We think so! Earning a degree with a pre-physician assistant focus builds the foundational understanding needed to be successful as you advance your education into graduate studies. Ultimately, it’s the first step on the road to a fulfilling and rewarding career as a PA – or a career in a related field. Benefits of pursuing your pre-physician assistant major at University of the Cumberlands include having expanded career opportunities, working with dedicated advisors, and meeting graduate school requirements early. In addition, Cumberlands has two graduate PA programs – one in Williamsburg and one in Northern Kentucky – into which all your undergraduate credits would seamlessly transfer. 

Besides a focus on sciences – including physics, chemistry and biology – this pre-physician assistant program explores English, mathematics, social sciences, and the humanities. It covers a broad range of essential skills for physician assistants so that you’re more prepared to pursue a master’s program after you graduate! 

Absolutely. A pre-physician assistant program can help you meet certain academic requirements for entry into an MSPAS program, medical school, pharmacy school, and more.