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PA · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · private

Saint Joseph's University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

What Saint Joseph's PA asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 9 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.

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Coursework

  • Biology with labrequiredextra here

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    "Two Biology courses with lab (8 credits)." "Neither of the Biology course requirements can be fulfilled by another prerequisite course (e.g. Microbiology)."

  • General chemistry with labrequired

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    "Two Chemistry with lab (8 credits)." "Neither of the Chemistry course requirements can be fulfilled by another prerequisite course (e.g. Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry)."

  • Biochemistryrequireddiffers

    4 credits · lab

    Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits.

    SJU's advanced chemistry line: "Organic Chemistry with lab or Biochemistry with lab (4 credits)." Either course answers it, but the lab is required whichever you choose, which is unusual for biochemistry.

  • English or writing-intensivenot required here

    No English or writing course is on SJU's prerequisite list.

  • Statisticsrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    "Statistics (3 credits)." "An introductory statistics course (3-credits) is preferred. However, a biostatistics course is also acceptable."

  • Psychologyrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    "Psychology (3 credits)." "An abnormal psychology or developmental psychology course (3-credits) is acceptable for the general psychology prerequisite."

  • Anatomy and physiologyrequired

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    "Human Anatomy and Physiology I + II with lab (8 credits)." "An upper-level Human Anatomy course with lab (4-credits) and separate Physiology course with lab (4-credits) is acceptable." Must be within 10 years of matriculation.

  • Microbiologyrequired

    1 semester · 4 credits · lab

    "Microbiology with lab (4 credits)." It cannot double as one of the two biology courses.

  • Medical terminologyrequireddiffers

    1 credits

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

    Required here: "Medical Terminology (1 credit)." A course is what is listed; no experience substitute is offered on the page.

Experience hours

  • Patient care experiencerequireddiffers

    350+ hours

    Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.

    "A minimum of 350 hours of volunteer or paid direct, hands-on patient contact hours must be documented as part of the CASPA application," and "Healthcare experience hours should be completed by the time of application submission." Qualifying roles listed include athletic trainer, behavioral care technician, CNA, clinical research assistant with direct in-person patient contact, dental assistant or hygienist, ED technician, EKG technician, EMT, paramedic, home healthcare aide, medical assistant, medical corpsman or military medic, medical scribe with direct patient contact, nurse, OT or PT aide, orthopedic technician, phlebotomist, radiologic technologist, respiratory therapist, surgical technician and ultrasound technician. Direct patient healthcare experience is also weighed in the faculty screening beyond the minimum.

  • Healthcare experiencerecommended

    500+ hours

    SJU publishes no separate healthcare experience number; the 350-hour requirement is for direct, hands-on patient contact only. Roles without direct patient contact do not count toward it.

  • PA shadowingrecommendeddiffers

    100+ hours

    Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours.

    Not required, but the pre-screen "includes highlighting whether or not the applicant has a graduate degree, whether or not applicants have at least 100 hours of shadowing and science GPA. None of these screening components are required but are utilized in the subsequent holistic review." 100 hours is the flagged threshold, not a minimum.

Letters

  • Science faculty letterrequireddiffers

    1 letter

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

    Required here: "One letter from a science professor." The third of the three letters is "from someone of the applicant's choice."

  • PA letternot required here

    No PA letter is named. The three letters are a science professor, a supervisor or manager, and one of the applicant's choice; a PA could write the third.

  • Supervisor letterrequireddiffers

    1 letter

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

    "One letter from a supervisor or manager." The page does not restrict this to healthcare employment.

Also on the school’s page

Saint Joseph's publishes an eight-line prerequisite list in credits: two Biology courses with lab (8), two Chemistry with lab (8), Organic Chemistry with lab or Biochemistry with lab (4), Microbiology with lab (4), Statistics (3), Psychology (3), Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab (8), and Medical Terminology (1). "Neither of the Biology course requirements can be fulfilled by another prerequisite course (e.g. Microbiology)" and "Neither of the Chemistry course requirements can be fulfilled by another prerequisite course (e.g. Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry)." Every prerequisite needs "a final grade of a C or better." Recency: "Prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years of matriculation. All prerequisite coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university. Online courses and labs will be accepted, but in-person labs are preferred." Prerequisites and the bachelor's degree may be in progress at application but must be finished before matriculation; "if you have 3 or more prerequisites incomplete or outstanding at the time of your application, it is recommended that you apply in the next year's admission cycle." Academic floors: "Minimum 3.20 overall GPA" and "Minimum 3.20 overall prerequisite GPA," plus a bachelor's degree. Testing: "while the GRE is not required, the committee is not blinded to submitted scores." The PA-CAT is not mentioned. Three CASPA letters: one from a science professor, one from a supervisor or manager, one of the applicant's choice. Applications for the Fall 2027 cohort run through CASPA from April 2026 to October 1, 2026, on a rolling basis. Not required but weighed in holistic review: a graduate degree, shadowing (pre-screening flags "at least 100 hours of shadowing"), community service, military or veteran status and Peace Corps experience. SJU undergraduate Pre-PA students who complete the Pre-PA phase are guaranteed an interview.

School

sju.edu/departments/physician-assistant

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