Cyclios

PA · West Hartford, Connecticut · private

University of Saint Joseph Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

What Saint Joseph CT asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 8 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.

Read from the school’s pageCheck it with the school

Coursework

  • Biology with labrequiredextra here

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    Eight credits of biology with lab, listed separately from the eight credits of anatomy and physiology, so A&P cannot be counted twice. The PA baseline does not carry a general biology line at all.

  • General chemistry with labrequired

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    Eight credits of chemistry with lab, the full sequence, and separate from the organic or biochemistry line below it.

  • Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here

    1 semester · 4 credits · lab

    One of the two ways to answer a single line, and the two options differ: organic chemistry is four credits and must include the lab, while the biochemistry alternative is three credits with no lab stated.

  • Biochemistryrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    The three credit alternative to the four credit organic chemistry with lab option. Either one closes the line.

  • English or writing-intensivenot required here

    No English, composition or writing credits appear in the published prerequisite table.

  • Statisticsrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Three credits of statistics, with a "Grade of 'C' or better" like every other prerequisite here.

  • Psychologyrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Three credits of psychology; no second psychology course is asked for.

  • Anatomy and physiologyrequired

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    Eight credits of human anatomy and physiology with lab, a "Grade of 'C' or better," and inside the seven year window measured to enrollment.

  • Microbiologyrequired

    1 semester · 4 credits · lab

    Four credits of microbiology with lab.

  • Medical terminologynot required here

    Not among the prerequisite courses in USJ's published table.

Experience hours

  • Patient care experiencerequireddiffers

    1000+ hours

    Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.

    A stated minimum with a recency clock of its own: "Documentation at time of application of a minimum of 1,000 Direct Patient Care experience hours within the last 5 years." Hours earned more than five years before you apply do not count, and the documentation is due at application rather than at acceptance.

  • Healthcare experiencerecommended

    500+ hours

    Many programs publish one combined healthcare figure instead of splitting patient care from healthcare exposure; where they do, the number lands here. Median published minimum is 500 hours.

  • PA shadowingrecommendeddiffers

    6+ hours

    Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours.

    Published as a competitiveness marker rather than a floor: "Competitive applicants also earn a minimum of 6 PA shadowing experience hours. PA shadowing must take place in-person. Virtual shadowing is not accepted." Six hours is a low bar, so treat it as the minimum worth doing rather than a target.

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.

  • PA letternot required here

    USJ asks for "3 professional letters of recommendation" through CASPA and does not say who they must come from, so no PA letter is required.

  • Supervisor letternot required here

    Same line. Three professional letters are required, but the program specifies no relationship the writers must have to you.

Also on the school’s page

USJ publishes a prerequisite table in credits: biology with lab 8, chemistry with lab 8, human anatomy and physiology with lab 8, organic chemistry with lab (4) or biochemistry (3), microbiology with lab 4, statistics 3 and psychology 3, each needing a "Grade of 'C' or better." Both GPA floors sit at 3.0, "Cumulative prerequisite 3.0 GPA at the time of application" and "Cumulative overall 3.0 GPA at the time of application." The recency window is seven years and is measured against enrollment rather than application: "All coursework must have been completed within 7 years of enrollment (Waivers may be granted after faculty consideration, on a case by case basis.)" Note the second clock on experience, which many applicants miss: the patient care hours themselves must be recent, "within the last 5 years." On exams, neither the GRE nor the PA-CAT is mentioned on the admissions page. Applications run through CASPA alongside a USJ supplemental application carrying a $50 fee.

School

usj.edu/academics/sppas/physician-assistant-studies

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