PA · Springfield, Massachusetts · private

Springfield College Physician Assistant Studies Program prerequisites

What Springfield College 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 labs (eight credits)," with an upper level substitution available: an advanced biology course at the 200 level or higher may take the place of Biology II. C+ or higher, and this block carries no recency window.
General chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"General Chemistry I and II with labs (eight credits)." The full sequence, C+ or higher, with no recency window on this block.
Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
"Organic Chemistry I with lab (four credits)." One semester only, but it sits alongside biochemistry rather than instead of it. Inside the 10 year window and C+ or higher.
Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Biochemistry (three credits)," required in its own right and not an alternative to organic chemistry, which Springfield also requires. Within 10 years, C+ or higher.
English or writing-intensivenot required here
No English or writing course is listed. The written work Springfield asks for is the CASPA writing sample, not coursework.
Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Statistics (three credits)." Within 10 years, C+ or higher, and separate from the pre-calculus requirement.
College mathematicsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"Pre-Calculus (three credits) or higher level Math course," required in addition to statistics rather than as an alternative to it. No time limit on this one, C+ or higher.
Psychologynot required here
Psychology does not appear in either prerequisite block.
Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs (eight credits)." One of the five time-sensitive prerequisites: completed within the last 10 years and C+ or higher.
Microbiologyrequireddiffers
3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.
"Microbiology (three credits)," listed without a laboratory requirement, unlike the biology, chemistry and anatomy lines. Within 10 years, C+ or higher.
Medical terminologynot required here
Medical terminology is not a prerequisite here.

Experience hours

Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers
500+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.
No patient care minimum is published. Within the 500 hour healthcare experience requirement the program states a preference: experiences involving "meaningful interaction with patients as well as direct patient care are preferred." Read that as how to spend the 500 hours, not as a second threshold.
Healthcare experiencerequireddiffers
500+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as recommended.
Springfield sets its floor on healthcare experience rather than on patient care: "The Springfield College PA Program requires applicants to have completed a minimum of 500 hours of healthcare experience (HCE), at least 30 of these hours must be shadowing a PA." Paid or unpaid work both count, and the program does not publish a separate patient care number.
PA shadowingrequireddiffers
30+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours and list it as recommended.
A hard minimum and specific to the profession: "at least 30 of these hours must be shadowing a PA." The 30 hours count inside the 500 hour healthcare experience total rather than on top of it. Applicants are told not to shadow relatives, and a shadowing verification form is part of the application.

Letters

Science faculty letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
A faculty member is the first writer type Springfield names for its three evaluations, though it does not say the faculty member must be in a science.
PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
No PA letter is required. The three evaluations are described as preferably coming from a faculty member, supervisor or coach, and a PA is not named.
Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
The program page asks for three evaluations, "preferably from a faculty member, supervisor, or coach." A supervisor is one named preference among three rather than a requirement by title.

Also on the school’s page

Springfield splits its prerequisites into two blocks by age. Three courses carry no time limit, general chemistry I and II with labs, biology I and II with labs, and pre-calculus or a higher level math course. Five more "must have been successfully completed within the last 10 years, and hold a grade of C+ or higher": human anatomy and physiology I and II with labs, microbiology, organic chemistry I with lab, biochemistry and statistics. Every prerequisite, dated or not, needs "a grade of C+ or higher." Two GPA floors are published, "A overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.0" and "A prerequisite (science/math) GPA of at least 3.0." This is a heavier chemistry ask than most programs on this path: general chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry are all required rather than offered as alternatives. Neither the GRE nor the PA-CAT is mentioned anywhere on the prerequisite page. Beyond coursework the program page asks for a CASPA application, a writing sample submitted through CASPA to a set prompt, shadowing and healthcare experience verification forms, a resume covering college activities, leadership, work history and community service, three evaluations, official transcripts from every institution attended, and an interview for finalists. Applications for the January 2028 cohort open October 1, 2026 and close April 1, 2027.

School

springfield.edu/graduate-programs/physician-assistant-studies

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