PA · Knoxville, Tennessee · private

South College Knoxville Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

What South College Knoxville 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
"Biology I and II with laboratory (Mammalian, Cell, Molecular, or Human Biology). Upper Level Mammalian, Cell, Molecular, or Human Biology may be substituted for Biology II (minimum of 8 Semester or 12 quarter hours)."
General chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"General Chemistry I and II with laboratory (minimum of 8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours)." Seven year recency applies.
Biochemistryrecommendeddiffers
1 semester · 3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.
Not required, but it earns points twice over. "Strongly suggested courses include: Genetics, immunology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and other advanced biology or chemistry courses," and the screening rubric awards points for up to five such courses "[must achieve a letter grade of A or B]."
English or writing-intensiverequireddiffers
2 semesters · 6 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 6 credits and list it as recommended.
Required here rather than recommended: "English (minimum of 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hours)."
Statisticsnot required here
Statistics is not required by name. It is one of several courses that can fill the 6 semester hour mathematics block, alongside algebra, calculus, finite math, or other equivalent advanced mathematics.
College mathematicsrequiredextra here
2 semesters · 6 credits
A two course math block rather than a statistics requirement: "Statistics, Algebra, Calculus, Finite Math, or other equivalent Advanced Mathematics (minimum of 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hours)." Statistics counts toward it, but so does any of the others.
Psychologynot required here
No psychology course is required by name. Psychology can count toward the 6 semester hour humanities and social science block.
Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with laboratory (minimum of 8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours)." As a science prerequisite it falls inside the seven year window before planned matriculation.
Microbiologyrequireddiffers
3 credits · lab
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.
"Microbiology with laboratory (minimum of 3 Semester or 4.5 quarter hours)." Three semester hours rather than four, laboratory still required.
Medical terminologynot required here
Not listed among South College's prerequisite courses.
Social sciences and humanitiesrequiredextra here
2 semesters · 6 credits
"Humanities and/or Social Science (minimum of 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hour)." The program names no specific discipline, so psychology, sociology, ethics, and similar coursework all answer it.

Experience hours

Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers
500+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.
No minimum is published, and the wording is encouragement rather than a threshold: "Applicants are encouraged to obtain patient care experience and shadowing hours sufficient to recognize the physical and psychological demands of dealing with patients and to appreciate the challenges and rewards of being a health care professional." The hours still carry weight in the rubric: "points are awarded based on the type of experience, shadowing, and hours earned." The baseline's 1000 hour floor is not this program's rule.
Healthcare experiencerecommended
500+ hours
South College does not split patient care from healthcare experience with separate numbers, and publishes no minimum for either: "Healthcare experiences should give the applicant knowledge and/or orientation to the signs and symptoms of various conditions or injured patients. Healthcare experiences will be evaluated on an individual basis, with an emphasis on direct patient contact." Military healthcare experience counts and is given additional consideration.
PA shadowingrecommended
20+ hours
Encouraged with no number: applicants are "encouraged to obtain patient care experience and shadowing hours sufficient to recognize the physical and psychological demands of dealing with patients." Shadowing is scored in the admissions rubric alongside experience type and hours earned.

Letters

Science faculty letternot required here
Not named. Of the three letters, only the healthcare provider letter has a specified writer.
PA letterrequireddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum and list it as recommended.
"3 letters of recommendation, one letter must be from one of these specific Healthcare Providers: (Physician Assistant (PA), Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), or Nurse Practitioner (NP)." A PA satisfies this line, but an MD, DO, or NP does equally. Letters go to CASPA.
Supervisor letternot required here
Not named. Three letters are required and only one has a specified writer, the PA, MD, DO, or NP healthcare provider letter.

Also on the school’s page

South College runs a points based screen and is one of the few programs left that requires an admission test. "Completion of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Physician Assistant College Admission Test (PA-CAT) are required for your application to be processed," points are awarded for the strength of that score, the Knoxville GRE code is 1635, scores are not acknowledged until CASPA marks them official, and "we do not accept MCAT scores as a substitute." Academic floors: "Overall Cumulative GPA (as calculated by CASPA) with a minimum of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, and a minimum of a 2.75 Science GPA on a 4.0 scale," with no recalculations once the application is verified. Extra points, up to five courses, go to "genetics, immunology, physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and other advanced biology or chemistry courses [must achieve a letter grade of A or B]." Science prerequisites carry a seven year window: "All science prerequisite courses must be completed within 7 years of planned matriculation." The program warns that "selection for the Physician Assistant program is very competitive. It is anticipated that the successful applicant will generally exceed the minimum criteria." Mechanics: CASPA opens April 30, 2026 for the class starting fall 2027 with a March 1, 2027 deadline, and a separate supplemental application with a $95 fee is required for every campus applied to. Veterans are given preference, "with additional preference to those with military healthcare training and experience," and South College undergraduates who meet the prerequisites are granted one interview. Current American Heart Association BLS certification is required at matriculation, with no substitutions. The program does not recognize international medical experience or transfer credit from another PA program or medical school.

School

south.edu/program/master-of-health-science-physician-assistant-studies-knoxville

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