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BS/MHS Bridge Program for Physician Assistant Option

Program

Drexel's undergraduate Health Sciences program and graduate Physician Assistant (PA) program have partnered to offer a BS/MHS Bridge Program for Physician Assistant Option available to high achieving students enrolled in the Health Sciences program.

The BS/MHS Bridge Program for Physician Assistant Option is a concentrated academic track that enables students to complete their Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Health Sciences, including sitting for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), in 5 ¼ years as opposed to the traditional 6 ¼ years. Students pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences during their first three years of study, and a Master of Health Science degree during the final 2 ¼ years of study.

The Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences is awarded following completion of year four (first year of graduate study), and the Master's degree is awarded following completion of the graduate Physician Assistant program.

MHS-PA-table 

A sample BS/MHS Bridge Program for Physician Assistant Option schedule would span five and one quarter years as follows:

  • Year One: Undergraduate courses taken Fall Winter and Spring quarters
  • Year Two: Undergraduate courses taken Fall Winter Spring and Summer quarters
  • Year Three: Two quarters on CO-OP, two quarters Undergraduate Courses
  • Year Four: MSH courses taken Fall Winter Spring and Summer quarters
  • Year Five: MSH courses taken Fall Winter Spring and Summer quarters
  • Year Six: Complete MSH courses in Fall Quarter

History

Drexel's highly regarded Physician Assistant program, founded at the former Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital, is the oldest program in Pennsylvania and one of the largest in the country. It is known for attracting a diverse student body, with more than a quarter of trainees coming from minority backgrounds and medically underserved areas.

Admissions

The BS/MHS Bridge Program for Physician Assistant Option allows highly qualified students the opportunity to complete an undergraduate degree in Health Sciences and Physician Assistant master's curriculum in 5 ¼ years as opposed to the traditional 6 ¼ years. Students meeting all BS/MHS Bridge Program track requirements are granted an interview with the Drexel Physician Assistant (PA) program in the fall of their junior year. BS/MHS Bridge Program students who have met all Health Science criteria and successfully complete the interview process enter the PA program in the fall of their senior year.

Beginning in the fall of 2022, incoming freshmen who are interested in the BS/MHS Bridge Program will have the opportunity to apply for admission into the BS/MHS Bridge Program following the winter term of their freshman year. Freshman Health Science students who have: a) secured a minimum of "B-" in all PA program prerequisites and b) secured documented shadowing of at least 1, preferably more, Physician Assistants qualify for the BS/MHS Bridge Program. BS/MHS Bridge Program: Shadowing Verification Form [PDF Download]

BS/MHS PA Option requirements: (once admitted)

  • Be enrolled in the Drexel Health Sciences Program as a freshman and complete a minimum of 135 quarter credits by the end of junior year.
  • Complete PA program prerequisite courses at Drexel University unless Advanced Placement (AP) credit is granted upon admission.
  • Earn a minimum of "B-" in all PA program prerequisite courses on the first attempt. Repeating courses to obtain a minimum grade is not feasible in the bridge Program track. Prerequisite grades of INC or W must be approved by the Health Sciences bridge Program track director and are only allowed for unforeseen extenuating circumstances.
    • Prerequisite courses: General Biology (BIO 131, 132, 133); Microbiology for Health Professionals (BIO 226); Anatomy and Physiology (HSCI 101, 102, 103); General Chemistry (CHEM 111 {if required}, CHEM 101, 102, 103); Medical Terminology (HSCI 125); Genetics (HSCI 337 or BIO 244); General Psychology (PSY 101).
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 and science GPA of 3.5. Minimum GPA requirements must be achieved by the PA program application deadline.
  • Complete all current PA program admission and application requirements found on the Drexel Physician Assistant Department website. Applications are submitted through CASPA and should include clinical contact hours, recommendation letters, a personal statement and any other requirements set by the PA program.
  • Complete a minimum of 500 hours of clearly documented volunteer or paid direct hands-on patient contact experience, accrued by the time of CASPA application submission and recorded as part of their official CASPA application.
  • Complete a successful admissions interview with the Drexel PA Program and be recommended for admission by PA Admissions Committee. BS/MHS bridge Program students who meet all of the above criteria will be granted an interview in the fall of their junior year for a seat in the Drexel PA program. The interview is a critical part of the PA program admission process and should not be considered lightly. Being granted an interview does not guarantee acceptance into the PA program.
  • Transfer students (internal or external) are not eligible for the BS/MHS Bridge Program for Physician Assistant Option.

Health Sciences BS/MHS Bridge Program students fulfilling all requirements begin the PA program in the fall of their senior year. Students receive a BS degree in Health Sciences (minimum 180 credits) after successful completion of all fall, winter, and spring term PA program courses. Students not continuing in the BS/MHS Bridge Program will continue their studies in the traditional Health Sciences 4-year co-op Degree Program and have the opportunity to apply to the Drexel PA program and other Physician Assistant programs the following year.

For Transferring Students

Transfer students (internal or external) are not eligible to apply.

Tuition and Fee Rates

Please visit the Tuition and Fee Rates page on Drexel Central

COMPLIANCE

The College of Nursing and Health Professions has a compliance process that may be required for every student. Some of these steps may take significant time to complete. Please plan accordingly.

Visit the Compliance pages for more information.

Accreditation

Drexel’s Physician Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA), and has been fully accredited since 1973. A program must be accredited by ARC-PA for its graduates to be eligible for certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Program Level Outcomes

At Drexel University we believe that a well-formulated set of Program Level Outcomes [PLO] that support and are consistent with the institutional mission and goals are the building blocks of an effective assessment program. 

Click here to view the College of Nursing and Health Professions Health Sciences Program Level Outcomes.