Physician Assistant
Prerequisites And Qualifications

A minimum 3.2 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale is required on
the overall prerequisite GPA and on the science prerequisite GPA. All
science prerequisites are recommended to be completed within seven (7)
years of the application date. A finished degree, professional studies,
health care certification, licensure or work experience, health care
shadowing, and community service are not required, but highly
recommended. AP and CLEP credit will not be accepted for any science or
social science prerequisite courses. There is no advanced placement,
transfer of credit or experiential learning credit within the TTUHSC PA
Program. The GRE or other entrance examinations are not required.

Applicants must have 66 semester hours of prerequisites to be considered
for admission into the TTUHSC PA Program. Applicants may have up to 9
hours of course work in progress during the spring semester prior to
entering the program, but must be completed before enrollment. Course
load for each applicant will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Applicants are required to own or have access to a laptop computer.
Laptops are suggested to have a minimum of 1 GB Shared DDR2 SDRAM, 60 GB
hard drive and have wireless capabilities.

The program will accept 48 students for 2008.

Prerequisites

English 6 hours
College Algebra 3 hours
Biology 8 hours
Microbiology 4 hours
Human Anatomy and Physiology 8 hours
General Chemistry 8 hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 9 hours
Human Nutrition 3 hours
Statistics 3 hours
Electives- Computer Literacy, Medical Terminology and Communication
Skills Recommended 14 hours
Genetics Highly Recommended
Total Prerequisites 66 hours

The selection of new PA students begins with the submission of a
completed application packet through the Central Application Service for
Physician Assistants (CASPA). After review of all applicants, the top
candidates are invited for interviews.

CASPA
Please send all application material, including updated fall
transcripts, through CASPA. Applicants should apply as early as possible
to be sure that TTUHSC receives the application in time for review.
Applicants must complete the secondary TTUHSC PA Supplemental
Application as well as the CASPA application. The deadline to submit the
Supplemental application is December 1st, 2007. The CASPA application
is accessed from CASPA's website. www.caspaonline.org

TTUHSC PA Supplemental Application
The TTUHSC PA Supplemental Application must be filled out along with the
CASPA Application. The deadline to submit the Supplemental application
is December 1st, 2007.

Technical Standards
A student admitted into the TTUHSC Physician Assistant Program must meet
basic and essential requirements that are necessary for obtaining
employment and performing as a Physician Assistant. The technical
standards each student must master include cognitive, physical and
behavioral characteristics that are identified in the following:

Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in the written
and verbal forms of English with supervising or consulting physicians,
program professors, colleagues, instructors, patients and other members
of the health care team.


Must possess physical and motor skills for use in areas such as
auscultation, palpation, percussion, medical procedures (i.e., suturing,
venipuncture, intravenous therapy, thoracentesis, endotracheal
intubation, etc.) and other diagnostic maneuvers.
Must possess and appropriately utilize sensory skills in areas such as
viewing demonstrations, obtaining a medical history directly from a
patient, observing a patient's medical condition and non-verbal
behavior.


Must have intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative
abilities necessary for problem solving and diagnosis.
Must be able to conduct activities that have an appropriate behavioral
and social context to include expressing professional responsibility and
compassion to patients, managing typical daily workloads and working in
an environment that is subject to rapid change.
Must have ethical and professional attitudes that are reflected in
appropriate professional conduct.