South College Nashville Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

A full biology sequence beyond anatomy and physiology, which the baseline does not carry: "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)." A non majors survey course is not what the parenthetical describes.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

The two-semester sequence with lab. Around a fifth of programs want only one semester or skip general chemistry entirely and start at organic or biochemistry.

No published minimum

Organic chemistry sits in the strongly suggested block, not the prerequisite list, and only helps "if a letter grade of A or B is achieved." No credit hours or laboratory are specified because it is not required.

1 semester · 3 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.

Not a prerequisite at this program. Biochemistry appears only among the "Strongly Suggested Courses" alongside genetics, immunology and organic chemistry, and the program says taking them "will assist in competitiveness if a letter grade of A or B is achieved."

2 semesters · 6 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 6 credits and list it as recommended.

Required here rather than recommended as in the baseline: "English (minimum of 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hours)."

1 semester · 3 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.

Statistics is one of several ways to fill the six hour mathematics block, not a course the program names on its own: "Statistics, Algebra, Calculus, Finite Math, or other equivalent Advanced Mathematics." You can be admitted here without ever taking statistics.

2 semesters · 6 credits

Six hours of mathematics generally rather than statistics specifically: "Statistics, Algebra, Calculus, Finite Math, or other equivalent Advanced Mathematics (minimum of 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hours)." Two courses, and any combination from that list answers it.

1 semester · 3 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.

Psychology is not named anywhere on the prerequisite list. It counts toward the six hour "Humanities and/or Social Science" block, and so does any other social science or humanities course.

No published minimum

"Strongly Suggested Courses include Genetics, Immunology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry. Successful completion will assist in competitiveness if a letter grade of A or B is achieved." A C in these does nothing for the file by the program's own wording.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

The full A&P sequence with lab, the one course essentially every program names. Recency windows bite hardest here: several programs expire A&P specifically, one at three years, while leaving the rest of the list alone.

3 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.

"Microbiology (minimum of 3 semester hours or 4.5 quarter hours)." Three hours rather than the baseline four, and the program does not name a laboratory here even though it names one for anatomy and physiology, general chemistry and biology.

Medical terminology appears nowhere on this program's prerequisite list or in its strongly suggested block.

2 semesters · 6 credits

"Humanities and/or Social Science (minimum of 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hours)." The program names no specific discipline, so psychology, sociology, ethics, philosophy and history all count toward the same six hours.

500+ hours

Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.

No floor exists here: "It is preferred applicants obtain patient care experience/shadowing. No minimum required, but higher hours receive higher standing." The program does publish a mean of 2,726 patient care hours for its admitted students, which is a competitiveness marker rather than a cutoff, and it warns that "the successful applicant will generally exceed the minimum criteria for consideration for admission."

500+ hours

The program does not split patient care from broader healthcare work and attaches no number to either: applications are reviewed relative to "health care experience (military or civilian)," and "Additional consideration is given to applicants with military medical experience."

20+ hours

Shadowing is bundled with patient care rather than counted separately, and carries no number: "It is preferred applicants obtain patient care experience/shadowing. No minimum required, but higher hours receive higher standing."

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

No faculty letter is named. Three letters total, one of which must come from a PA, MD, DO or NP, and the remaining two may come from anyone.

1 letter

One of the four writers who can satisfy the mandatory clinician letter: "one letter must be from one of these specific Health Care Providers: Physician Assistant (PA), Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), or Nurse Practitioner (NP)." An MD or DO answers that line, so a physician letter is sufficient but not itself required.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

A PA letter satisfies the mandatory clinician letter but is not the only writer who can: "Three Letters of Recommendation, one letter must be from one of these specific Health Care Providers: Physician Assistant (PA), Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), or Nurse Practitioner (NP)." Applicants are considered more competitive with "Excellent" marks on the reference evaluations.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

The program constrains only one of its three letters, the health care provider letter. The other two writers are left entirely open, so a work supervisor is welcome but not required.