PA · Clinton, Mississippi · private
Mississippi Christian University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What Mississippi Christian asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 10 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- General chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"General Chemistry, a complete sequence geared toward science majors/appropriate as a first-level course for a Chemistry major (including labs; 8 semester hours)." Both semesters, both labs, in person.
- Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
"Organic Chemistry (including labs; 4 semester hours)." One semester is required; "Organic Chemistry II with lab (completing sequence)" sits on the recommended list, not the required one.
- Biochemistryrecommendeddiffers
1 semester · 3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.
"Biochemistry with lab" is on the recommended list, not the required one. The required chemistry here is general chemistry plus one semester of organic.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
No English or writing course appears among the required or the recommended courses.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Statistics, including statistical tests and analysis (3 semester hours)." A survey course without hypothesis testing will not do. It is also the single exception to the in person rule: statistics may be taken online.
- Psychologyrecommendeddiffers
1 semester · 3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.
"Psychology (general, developmental, abnormal)" appears on the recommended list. Mississippi Christian does not require a psychology course.
- Geneticsrecommendedextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
Named on the recommended course list that strengthens an application, not required.
- Advanced biologyrecommendedextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"Immunology, Cell Biology, Virology" appear among the recommended courses for competitive applicants. Any of them answers this line; none is required.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Human Anatomy & Physiology, a complete sequence (including labs; 8 semester hours)." The complete sequence, both labs, and it must be taken in person: "Online or Hybrid courses are not accepted with the exception of the statistics course." Ten year recency window.
- Microbiologyrequired
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
"Microbiology, at the pre-med level/appropriate as a first-level requirement for a Microbiology major (including lab; 4 semester hours)." A non-majors or allied health survey course does not answer it, and it cannot be taken online.
- Medical terminologyrecommended
1 credits
Named first on the recommended course list for competitive applicants, but not required and no credit figure is given.
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers
1000+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.
Recommended, not a gate. The patient care page (https://www.mc.edu/academics/departments/pa/admissions/prerequisites/patient-care) says the program "recommends that all applicants complete the equivalent of at least six months (1000 hours) of direct ('hands-on') patient care experience before entering the School," and the prerequisites page lists "recommended clinical experience hours" among the selection factors. Drawing blood, taking vital signs, personal hygiene care and radiography count, and nurses, paramedics and respiratory therapists satisfy it through their practice. Paid or volunteer both count. Hospitals, clinics and physicians' private practices are the most favorable settings, while nursing home and home health aide work is viewed as limited exposure. The hours are due before matriculation rather than at application.
- Healthcare experiencerecommended
500+ hours
The program draws the line explicitly and publishes no number for this side of it. Front office clerical work, medical records clerical positions and laboratory research without patient contact are "Related Health Care Experience," not direct patient care, and none of it counts toward the 1000 hours.
- PA shadowingrecommended
20+ hours
Shadowing physician assistants counts as "Related Health Care Experience" and not toward the 1000 patient care hours. Recommended especially in primary care settings: family medicine, internal medicine or pediatrics. No hour figure is published.
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.
- Physician letterrequiredextra here
1 letter
"Three letters of reference should be requested by the applicant and sent to CASPA," and at minimum one must come from a healthcare provider who knows the applicant personally. The program says healthcare provider rather than physician, so a PA, NP or other provider who knows you satisfies it; it does not have to be an MD or DO.
- PA letternot required here
One of the three letters must come from a healthcare provider, but the program does not name a PA specifically. That requirement is recorded on the physician letter line instead.
- Supervisor letternot required here
Beyond the one healthcare provider letter, Mississippi Christian names no required writer for the remaining two references.
Also on the school’s page
A short required list, five courses, each quoted with its semester hours: "Human Anatomy & Physiology, a complete sequence (including labs; 8 semester hours)"; "Microbiology, at the pre-med level/appropriate as a first-level requirement for a Microbiology major (including lab; 4 semester hours)"; "General Chemistry, a complete sequence geared toward science majors/appropriate as a first-level course for a Chemistry major (including labs; 8 semester hours)"; "Organic Chemistry (including labs; 4 semester hours)"; and "Statistics, including statistical tests and analysis (3 semester hours)." Everything else the program names is recommended rather than required: "Medical terminology, Biochemistry with lab, Organic Chemistry II with lab (completing sequence), Genetics, Immunology, Cell Biology, Virology, Psychology (general, developmental, abnormal)." Recency: "All prerequisites must have been completed within the 10 years prior to the expected date of matriculation." Delivery: "Online or Hybrid courses are not accepted with the exception of the statistics course," which rules out the online A&P and microbiology routes many applicants use. Grades of C or better, a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 biology, chemistry and physics GPA. Exams: the GRE is required, not optional. "Applicants to the Mississippi Christian University Physician Assistant Program are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test," program code 0598, with minimums of 146 verbal, 141 quantitative and 2.5 analytical writing; 155, 150 and 4.0 are described as more competitive. "Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission." Neither the PA-CAT nor the MCAT is mentioned. Letters, experience and GRE details come from the sibling pages at /admissions/admission-checklist, /admissions/prerequisites/patient-care and /admissions/prerequisites/gre on the same domain. Also required: criminal background check and drug screening clearance, immunizations, technical standards compliance, and a TOEFL of 79 for international applicants.
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