PA · Grand Junction, Colorado · public
Colorado Mesa University Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program prerequisites
What Colorado Mesa asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 13 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- Biology with labrequiredextra here
6 credits
Six semester credits of biological sciences, described as "Recommended biology courses designed for biology or physiology majors." The courses the program names for this block are general biology, advanced physiology, microbiology, gross anatomy and pharmacology, so the six credits can be assembled from several directions rather than being one fixed sequence. No lab is stated as required.
- General chemistry with labrequireddiffers
6 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
The chemistry requirement is a six semester credit block, described as a "Recommended course sequence designed for chemistry or biology majors" and drawn from general chemistry, biochemistry and organic chemistry. General chemistry specifically is not named as mandatory, and no lab is stated as required.
- Biochemistrynot required here
Biochemistry is not a requirement of its own. It appears only as one of the courses recommended inside the six credit chemistry block, next to general chemistry and organic chemistry, so six credits of general chemistry alone can answer that block.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
The prerequisite table carries no English, composition or writing requirement. The only writing the program asks for is the Maverick and personal essays in the application itself.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
Three semester or four quarter credits. "May be taken in any department. Calculus coursework will not be accepted." This is one of only two prerequisites where AP or IB credit is accepted.
- Psychologyrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
Three semester or four quarter credits. "Must be a course in general, introductory, abnormal or life span/developmental psychology." Wider than most programs allow, and the other prerequisite where AP or IB credit is accepted.
- Geneticsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"Course must cover animal genetics. A human-focused course and lab are recommended but not required." Three semester or four quarter credits, and it stands on its own: the genetics course cannot also be counted toward the six credit biological sciences total.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers
6 credits · lab
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
Two rows of three credits each, human anatomy and human physiology, with the lab required on the anatomy course. Both rows carry the same note: "A two-semester combined Human Anatomy and Physiology course is acceptable. Course(s) must cover all body systems." A combined A&P sequence therefore satisfies both, but a course that skips body systems does not.
- Microbiologyrecommendeddiffers
1 semester · 4 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab and list it as required.
Not a requirement of its own here. Microbiology appears only among the courses the program recommends toward its six credit biological sciences block, alongside general biology, advanced physiology, gross anatomy and pharmacology. It counts if you take it, but you can meet the block without it.
- Medical terminologynot required here
No medical terminology course appears anywhere in the prerequisite table.
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers
500+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.
Colorado Mesa does not split patient care experience from healthcare experience, and publishes no patient care minimum of its own. It does read the hours for how hands-on they were: "Hands-on, direct patient care experience may come from a variety of places," and "The extent to which an applicant is actually involved in patient care will be weighed based on the details provided by the applicant related to his/her duties during the hours of experience." Write the duties out; the 500 hour floor is answered on the healthcare experience line.
- Healthcare experiencerequireddiffers
500+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as recommended.
The program publishes one combined figure and calls it healthcare experience: "A minimum of 500 hours of paid health care experience is required at the time of application." The FAQ repeats the paid restriction, "Applicants must have at least 500 hours of healthcare experience at the time of application. Only paid hours will be considered," which rules out volunteer hours entirely. The number is recorded here rather than on patient care experience because that is the term the program uses.
- PA shadowingrecommended
20+ hours
No number published: "While not required, shadowing a medical provider, including a PA, is highly recommended."
Letters
- Science faculty letterrecommended
No published minimum
Only a handful of programs require a science faculty letter by name. An academic letter is welcome nearly everywhere and mandatory almost nowhere.
- Faculty letter (any discipline)recommendedextra here
1 letter
One of the three reference types the program describes: "Professor: A person who can attest to the applicant's academic preparedness for the program based on direct experience in a teacher-student relationship." No discipline is specified, so a non-science professor answers it.
- PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
A PA is one of four providers who can fill this slot: "Health care Professional (PA, NP, MD, DO): A medical provider who can speak to the applicant's skills and abilities related to patient care and working as a future medical professional." "Three references submitted on the official CASPA Reference Form are required," and this is one of the three types the program describes rather than a named requirement.
- Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Described, not mandated: "Supervisor: A person who can attest to the applicant's interpersonal attributes and interpersonal communication abilities based on direct observation as supervisor of the applicant's volunteer or work experience." Three references are required in total.
Also on the school’s page
Colorado Mesa splits its requirements across three pages: this one, the prerequisite table at https://coloradomesa.edu/kinesiology/graduate/pa-program/prerequisites.html and the FAQ at https://coloradomesa.edu/kinesiology/graduate/pa-program/faq.html. The GPA floors are "a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)" and a "Minimum Science and Prerequisite GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)," with "All prerequisites completed by the time of application must have a grade of 'C' or higher." The best news on the page is what is absent: asked whether prerequisite coursework expires, the FAQ answers "No, it does not expire. Coursework submissions from any previous date are eligible." That is unusual on this path, where seven and ten year windows are the norm, and it means an older science sequence stands. Prerequisites must be finished by October 1 before matriculation. AP and IB credit are accepted only narrowly: "The program will accept AP or IB credit towards the Statistics and Psychology prerequisite requirement with college transcripts that verify credits were given towards these courses. AP credit or IB credit will not be accepted to fulfill any science course prerequisite." On exams, "The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to the CMU PA Program," the PA-CAT is not mentioned on any of the three pages, and CASPer is required, with the exam "taken and score submitted to the program." Finally, place matters here: "When reviewing applications, our program gives preferential consideration to applicants with significant healthcare experience, strong academic performance, meaningful recommendations, compelling Maverick and personal essays, and established ties to Western Colorado."
Check your transcript against this list
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