PA · Springfield, Missouri · private
Drury University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What Drury asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 8 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- General chemistry with labrequireddiffers
6 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
"General Chemistry I and II (preferred with labs), minimum 3 credits each," so 6 credits across the two-semester sequence. Labs are preferred, not required.
- Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry, minimum 3 credits." Either one satisfies this line; Drury does not require both, and does not require organic chemistry separately.
- English or writing-intensiverecommended
2 semesters · 6 credits
English composition, usually two semesters where it is asked for at all.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Statistics, minimum 3 credits," C or better, counting toward the 3.0 prerequisite GPA.
- Psychologyrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Psychology, minimum 3 credits." Drury does not narrow the course beyond that.
- Geneticsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"Genetics, minimum 3 credits." A named prerequisite here, which is uncommon on this path. No lab mentioned.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers
6 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
Two lines, 6 credits together rather than the baseline's 8: "Anatomy (Human Anatomy preferred and with laboratory), minimum 3 credits" and "Physiology (Human Physiology preferred), minimum 3 credits." Human versions and the lab are preferences, not requirements. A combined sequence is allowed: "Human physiology may be taken in conjunction with anatomy. This course must cover the major body systems and meet our credit hour requirements (minimum 6 credits) if combined with human anatomy."
- Microbiologyrequireddiffers
3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.
"Microbiology (preferred with laboratory), minimum 3 credits." Lab preferred, not required.
- Medical terminologyrequireddiffers
1 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 credits and list it as recommended.
Required rather than recommended, and the one prerequisite below 3 credits: "Medical Terminology, minimum 1 credit."
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerequired
500+ hours
"Record healthcare hours in the appropriate section of the CASPA application (Experiences) indicating a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care completed." The hours must be complete, not planned, and Drury does not publish a list of qualifying roles.
- Healthcare experiencerecommended
500+ hours
Many programs publish one combined healthcare figure instead of splitting patient care from healthcare exposure; where they do, the number lands here. Median published minimum is 500 hours.
- PA shadowingrequireddiffers
16+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours and list it as recommended.
Required with a number, which is unusual: "All applicants must have a minimum of 16 hours shadowing a physician assistant." It must be a PA, not a physician.
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.
- PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Three letters are required but Drury does not require any of them to come from a PA. One does count for more: letters are "scored based on levels of recommendation, suitability for PA profession, and if a letter is received from a PA." A PA letter is scored preference, not a requirement.
- Supervisor letternot required here
Drury asks for "Three letters of recommendation" through CASPA without naming a writer or a relationship, so a patient care supervisor letter is a choice here rather than a requirement.
Also on the school’s page
Two pages carry these terms: the prerequisites page above and the program's How to Apply page at https://www.drury.edu/graduate/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies/how-to-apply/. Nine prerequisites, each a minimum of 3 credits except medical terminology at 1: general chemistry I and II, organic chemistry or biochemistry, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, psychology, genetics, statistics, medical terminology. Labs are preferred rather than required, phrased course by course as "preferred with labs" or "preferred with laboratory." Grades: "You must complete all prerequisite coursework with a grade of 2.0 (C) or higher. A grade of C- will not be accepted," and "Prerequisite courses must have a combined cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above." Recency is a preference, not a rule: "For the strongest preparation, prerequisite courses should be completed within the past 7 years," so nothing is time-barred. Timing: "At the time of application, a candidate may only have a maximum of two outstanding prerequisite courses," all coursework done by June 1 of the matriculation year with transcripts to the program by July 1. "CLEP (College Level Examination Program), AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), ACE Credit (American Council on Education), and AICE (Advanced International Certificate of Education) course credit may not be used or substituted to meet prerequisite requirements." Testing: "Standardized tests (GRE or PA-CAT) are not required." Three letters of recommendation through CASPA. Applications are reviewed in the order they are verified and interviews run until the class is full, so applying early matters here. Additional consideration goes to active-duty military and veterans, first-generation college students from Missouri, Drury alumni and current students, demonstrated leadership including intercollegiate athletics, and demonstrated volunteer service.
Check your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Drury still needs from you.
See it for PA schoolAlso in Missouri
- Logan University Physician Assistant ProgramChesterfield
- Missouri State University Physician Assistant ProgramSpringfield
- Saint Louis University Physician Assistant ProgramSt. Louis
- Stephens College Physician Assistant ProgramColumbia
- University of Missouri Kansas City Physician Assistant ProgramKansas City