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PA · Scranton, Pennsylvania · private

Marywood University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

What Marywood 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.

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Coursework

  • Biology with labrequiredextra here

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    "General Biology I with Lab" and "General Biology II with Lab," science major level, within the last seven years. Credit count inferred from two semesters; the page names courses, not credits.

  • General chemistry with labrequired

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    "General Chemistry I with Lab" and "General Chemistry II with Lab." Credit count inferred from two semesters.

  • Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    The full sequence: "Organic Chemistry I with Lab" and "Organic Chemistry II with Lab." Biochemistry is not a substitute here; it is not on the list. Credit count inferred from two semesters.

  • Biochemistrynot required here

    Not on Marywood's list; the chemistry ask is the full organic sequence with lab.

  • English or writing-intensivenot required here

    Not on Marywood's prerequisite list.

  • Statisticsnot required here

    Not on Marywood's prerequisite list.

  • Psychologynot required here

    Not on Marywood's prerequisite list.

  • Advanced biologyrequiredextra here

    1 semester · 3 credits · lab

    "Immunology with Lab preferred, but if not available, another 300 or 400 level science course can be substituted at the discretion of the admissions committee."

  • Anatomy and physiologyrequired

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    Listed as separate courses, "Anatomy with Lab" and "Physiology with Lab." "If taking Anatomy & Physiology as a combined course, two semesters with lab components must be completed." Within the last seven years.

  • Microbiologyrequired

    1 semester · 4 credits · lab

    "Microbiology with Lab," science major level, within the last seven years. No credit count stated.

  • Medical terminologyrequireddiffers

    1 credits

    Most PA programmes ask for 1 credits and list it as recommended.

    "Applicants must also successfully complete a Medical Terminology course from an accredited institution within the last seven years prior to matriculation." A course, not work experience; no credit count stated.

Experience hours

  • Patient care experiencerequired

    500+ hours

    "All applicants must complete a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient contact experience by the time of matriculation." Examples given: certified athletic trainer, cardiovascular perfusionist, caregiver, dietician, ED technician, EMT/paramedic, exercise physiologist, home healthcare aide, medical assistant/technologist, medical scribe, midwife, nurse, nursing assistant/CNA, orthopedics technician, pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, physical therapist/assistant, radiologic technologist, respiratory therapist, surgical technician. "Marywood University does not accept lifeguarding, babysitting, or personal trainer hours." Hours need not be complete at interview but a plan to finish by matriculation is expected; more than 500 earns interview points. Class of 2027 averaged 2,199.

  • 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

    50+ hours

    Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours and list it as recommended.

    "Applicants must complete a minimum of 50 hours of shadowing with a nationally certified and state licensed PA (PA-C) during direct patient care activities." Scribing with a PA-C may count as shadowing. "These 50 shadowing hours count toward the overall requirement of 500 direct patient care hours."

Letters

  • Science faculty letternot required here

    The non-PA forms may come from "college professors" of any discipline; recorded on the any-discipline faculty line.

  • Faculty letter (any discipline)recommendedextra here

    1 letter

    Beyond the required PA-C form, "The remaining recommendation forms may be written by college professors, work supervisors, and/or other medical professionals who have first-hand knowledge of your skills, strengths, and weaknesses." No science restriction. "Recommendation forms from friends, family members, and Marywood PA faculty members are not appropriate and will not be accepted."

  • PA letterrequireddiffers

    1 letter

    Most PA programmes publish no minimum and list it as recommended.

    "One recommendation form must be from a nationally certified and state licensed Physician Assistant (PA-C) with whom the applicant shadowed/worked during actual patient-care activities." Three forms total, submitted at application; interviews are not scheduled until they arrive.

  • Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers

    1 letter

    Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

    Work supervisors are one of the named options for the two remaining forms, not a separate requirement.

Also on the school’s page

Marywood publishes its prerequisites as named courses without credit counts: "All prerequisite courses must be 'Science Major Level' and must have been completed within the last seven years." The list is General Biology I and II with Lab, General Chemistry I and II with Lab, Anatomy with Lab, Physiology with Lab, Organic Chemistry I and II with Lab, Microbiology with Lab, and Immunology with Lab (preferred, substitutable), plus Medical Terminology "from an accredited institution within the last seven years prior to matriculation." "All prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to matriculation into the PA Program, which begins in May. Applicants may apply with courses in progress or planned." GPA: "Overall (Baccalaureate) GPA of 3.0 or better on a scale of 4.0" and "Prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or better on a scale of 4.0"; "Applicants must achieve a minimum of C on all prerequisite courses. Any grades of C- or lower will not be accepted." No advanced placement or credit for experiential learning. Testing: "All candidates for the 2026 Admissions cycle must take the GRE" (the page's wording as of the 2027 start cycle), official scores to Marywood at application, GRE code 2407; "MCAT scores are not accepted in place of GRE scores"; "Marywood University does not require a specific score for acceptance into the program, but points are awarded during the interview for applicants scoring a combined GRE (verbal and math score) of 291 and above." No PA-CAT or CASPer is mentioned. Experience: "All applicants must complete a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient contact experience by the time of matriculation," and the 50 required PA shadowing hours count inside that 500. Class of 2027 profile: average overall GPA 3.61, prerequisite GPA 3.55, GRE 300, patient care hours 2,199. Three recommendation forms are required, one from a PA-C. The May 2027 start application cycle closes January 31, 2027 (the program overview page separately says January 15, 2027; the apply page date is recorded here).

School

marywood.edu/physician-assistant-masters-degree

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