Pre-Physician Assistant

About the Program
Kentucky Wesleyan College offers pre-professional preparation for students seeking admission to a Physician Assistant (PA) program. KWC’s pre-physican assistant curriculum includes a minimum of five semesters of both chemistry and biology, two semesters of physics and one semester of calculus. The remainder of the curriculum includes coursework necessary to fulfill KWC or physician assistant school requirements.

Students typically major in chemistry or biology and apply to PA programs in the fall semester of their fourth year.


Degree Options

At KWC, you have two options to gain acceptance into PA programs:

The first option is to complete three years (minimum 90 hours) of study at KWC, fulfilling all requirements, before applying for admission to a PA program.

The second option is to complete a B.S. or B.A. degree (typically in biology, chemistry or both) at KWC, and then apply to a PA program. Most PA programs require a college degree for admission.


PA School Preparation

Most physician assistant programs have a common core of undergraduate courses required for admission. After KWC Pre-PA students select two or three programs of interest, a faculty advisor will provide guidance in determining appropriate curriculum, deciding when to apply to PA school, preparing to take the MCAT or GRE, and furnishing letters of recommendation.

Most PA programs require extensive volunteer and/or work experience in the health field before granting admission. KWC partners with Owensboro Medical Health System to provide volunteer and shadowing hours for our pre-health professions majors.


Scholarships/Assistantships

Most chemistry and biology majors at Kentucky Wesleyan receive academic scholarships. Many also serve as assistants in science laboratories, classrooms and offices. Assistantships provide valuable learning experiences for students. We encourage all pre-physician assistant students to participate in this program.

Summer Research
The faculty encourages students to take part in health science summer research programs in university and governmental laboratories. KWC students have recently participated in programs at the Universities of Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Tennessee and New Mexico, as well as Vanderbilt University, Oak Ridge National Laboratories and the OMHS Cancer Research Center.

 


Dr. Kayla Keller
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
kayla.keller@kwc.edu
270-852-3132

Kentucky Wesleyan College
3000 Frederica Street
Owensboro, KY 42301
270-926-3111