Bachelor in Physician Assistant Studies
Greenville, USA
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
9 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 36,364 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* additional fees apply for international students: services fee $1000 | medical insurance $1600
Key Summary
Thiel College Physician Assistant Program
The Physician Assistant program at Thiel College features two distinct paths to earning a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies:
- Pathway 1 - Highly motivated high school seniors can enroll in our accelerated five-year program. Students will earn a traditional four-year bachelor’s degree in Health Systems and continue at Thiel for a fifth year to complete the master’s degree program. Please refer to the Health systems major for additional information regarding the undergraduate degree.
- Pathway 2 – Students who have already completed a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree and wish to attain a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Thiel College should explore our 27-month post-baccalaureate program.
The Thiel College Student Learning outcomes are based on the Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession document published by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
SLO 1: Medical Knowledge
Medical knowledge includes the synthesis of pathophysiology, patient presentation, differential diagnosis, patient management, surgical principles, health promotion, and disease prevention. Physician assistant students must demonstrate core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care in their area of practice. In Addition, physician assistant students are expected to demonstrate an investigative and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations.
SLO 2: Interpersonal & Communications Skills
Interpersonal and communication skills encompass the verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic exchange of information. Physician assistant students must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, patients' families, physicians, professional associates, and other individuals within the healthcare system.
SLO 3: Patient Care
Patient care includes patient- and setting-specific assessment, evaluation, and management. Physician Assistant students must demonstrate care that is effective, safe, high quality, and equitable. Physician Assistant students must obtain a relevant medical history, adequately perform physical examinations, and implement treatment plans for patients of all age groups, appropriate to the patient’s condition. In addition, Physician Assistant students must demonstrate proficiency in technical procedures and health care that is effective, patient-centered, safe, compassionate, and culturally appropriate for the treatment of medical problems and the promotion of health.
SLO 4: Professionalism
Professionalism is the expression of positive values and ideals as care is delivered. Foremost, it involves prioritizing the interests of those being served above one’s own. Physician Assistant students must acknowledge their professional and personal limitations. Professionalism also requires that PAs practice without impairment from substance abuse, cognitive deficiency, or mental illness. Physician Assistant students must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population, and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.
SLO 5: Practice-based Learning & Improvement
Practice-based learning and improvement include the processes through which Physician Assistants engage in critical analysis of their own practice experience, the medical literature, and other information resources for the purposes of self- and practice improvement. Physician Assistant students must be able to assess, evaluate, and improve their patient care practices.
SLO 6: Systems-based Practice
The systems-based practice encompasses the societal, organizational, and economic environments in which healthcare is delivered. Physician Assistant students must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care to provide patient care that balances quality and cost while maintaining the primacy of the individual patient. PAs should work to improve the health care system of which their practices are a part.
Fall Semester 1
- MATH 142 Pre-Calculus 3
- *BIO 145 Foundations of Biology 4
- *CHEM 140 General Chemistry I 4
- SEMS 110 Intro Seminar Series (DHI: HONS 109) 3
- *ENGL 101 College Writing (DHI: HONS 113) 3
Total Credits: 17
Spring Semester 1
- *BIO 212 Microbiology 4
- Humanities Course (DHI: HONS 114) 3
- *CHEM 160 General Chemistry II 4
- INDS 101 Presentational Literacy (DHI: HONS 128) 3
- * 117 Medical Terminology 3
Total Credits: 17
Fall Semester 2
- *BIO 284 Human Anatomy 4
- *CHEM 200 Organic Chemistry I 4
- *BIO 290 Cell Biology 4
- Creative Core (DHI: HONS 126) 3
- *PSY General Psychology (DHI: HONS 250) 3
Total Credits: 18
Spring Semester 2
- *BIO 294 Human Physiology 4
- *CHEM 210 Organic Chemistry II 4
- REL 12X Religion Course (DHI: PSY 150) 3
- SEMS 250 World Cultures (DHI: HONS 330) 3
- *NSCI 202 Intro to Neuroscience 3
Total Credits: 17
Fall Semester 3
- *CHEM 345 Biochemistry I 4
- *BIO 350 Principles of Immunology 3
- *PSY 215 or SOC 233 Stats for the Social Sciences 3
- AH 105 Taking Care of Your Health 2
- NSCI 3xx Neuroscience Course OR Elective (if taking NSCI 3xx in Spring Year 3) 3
- SPAN 150 Intro to Spanish Communication I (or ELECTIVE if lang. requirement met) 3
Total Credits: 18
Spring Semester 3
- PSY 241 Abnormal Behavior 3
- PSY 255 Lifespan Development 3
- SEMS 400 Global Issues (DHI: HONS 340) 3
- *PHIL 387 Medical Ethics 3
- NSCI 3x0 Neuroscience Course or ELECTIVE (if taking NSCI 3xx in Fall Year 3) 3
- SPAN 151 Intro to Spanish Communication II (or ELECTIVE if lang. requirement met) 3
Total Credits: 18