Pre-Physician Assistant Track

Each health sciences school sets its own requirements for admission. The list below is patterned after the requirements at Touro’s own School of Health Sciences in Manhattan. The requirements listed below are minimums only. Hours of health care fieldwork (including shadowing and direct patient healthcare experience) is mandatory. These courses do NOT satisfy the requirements to graduate from The Lander Colleges.

Pre-PA Preparatory Program

You will be guaranteed an interview at a Touro PA program if you meet all the pre-requisites for the program and you are part of the Pre-PA Preparatory Program. In can join the program once you declare you are pre-PA. As part of the program you will:

  1. Take the non-credit pre-PA course
  2. Work with faculty mentor to prepare your application

The PA Admissions Committee, as with other applicants, makes final decisions on admission.

Courses You'll Need to Apply to PA Programs

Required Science Courses (28 Credits)

BION 101 - Principles of Biology I (4 credits)

An introductory two-semester course that presents the basic principles and processes of biological science. The first semester includes genetics); biomolecules; and population genetics, the structure and function of the cell, cellular metabolism, cell reproduction, plant physiology, genetics and molecular biology. The second semester includes endocrinology, botany, invertebrate zoology immunology, animal development, and the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, excretory, reproductive and nervous systems. Laboratory exercises include microscopy, cellular reproduction, enzyme activity, DNA analysis transformation, comparative studies of animal and plant cells, and plant and animal diversity.

BION 102 - Principles of Biology II (4 credits)

An introductory two-semester course that presents the basic principles and processes of biological science. The first semester includes genetics); biomolecules; and population genetics, the structure and function of the cell, cellular metabolism, cell reproduction, plant physiology, genetics and molecular biology. The second semester includes endocrinology, botany, invertebrate zoology immunology, animal development, and the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, excretory, reproductive and nervous systems. Laboratory exercises include microscopy, cellular reproduction, enzyme activity, DNA analysis transformation, comparative studies of animal and plant cells, and plant and animal diversity.

BION 222 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)

A two-semester course that covers the structure and function of cells, tissues, organs and systems of the body. Emphasis is on the structural basis for function, and the coordinated functioning of all the organ systems for maintaining homeostasis. Recommended for students pursuing careers in allied health fields. (Lecture and laboratory course). Prerequisites: BION 101-102.

BION 223 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)

A two-semester course that covers the structure and function of cells, tissues, organs and systems of the body. Emphasis is on the structural basis for function, and the coordinated functioning of all the organ systems for maintaining homeostasis. Recommended for students pursuing careers in allied health fields. (Lecture and laboratory course). Prerequisites: BION 101-102.

CPCN 101 - General Chemistry I (4 credits)

Topics covered include nomenclature, stoichio-metric relationships, atomic structure, bonding and states of matter. In addition, topics treated include chemical equilibria, free energy and entropy, acid-base reactions, oxidation reduction and electro-chemistry, complexions, reaction rates, radioactivity, and elementary concepts of organic chemistry. Laboratory work entails experiments illustrating the principles taught in lecture and qualitative analysis. Prerequisite for CPCN 102: MATN 120.

CPCN 102 - General Chemistry II (4 credits)

Topics covered include nomenclature, stoichio-metric relationships, atomic structure, bonding and states of matter. In addition, topics treated include chemical equilibria, free energy and entropy, acid-base reactions, oxidation reduction and electro-chemistry, complexions, reaction rates, radioactivity, and elementary concepts of organic chemistry. Laboratory work entails experiments illustrating the principles taught in lecture and qualitative analysis. Prerequisite for CPCN 102: MATN 120.

CPCN 201 - Organic Chemistry I (4 credits)

Subjects covered include reactions, synthetic procedures, and methods for differentiation and identification. Mechanisms of reactions, stereochemistry and spectroscopy are emphasized. Details of the characteristics of aliphatic, and aromatic compounds with different functional groups are stressed. Laboratory work includes the methodology of synthetic and analytic procedures. (Lecture and laboratory course.) Prerequisites: CPCN 101-102.

Other Required Courses (24 Credits)

LLEN 101 - English Composition I (3 credits)

Extensive practice in the composition of clear, concise, and grammatically-correct sentences and paragraphs, with special emphasis on the five-paragraph essay and the research paper. (Admission by assignment following placement test.)

LLEN 102 - English Composition II (3 credits)

Extensive practice in the composition of clear, concise, and grammatically-correct sentences and paragraphs, with special emphasis on the five-paragraph essay and the research paper. (Admission by assignment following placement test.)

MATN 120 - Pre-calculus (or higher) (3 credits)

Functions, solution of equations; and systems of equations; the trigonometric functions and their graphs; addition theorems and identities; logarithmic and exponential functions; and elementary analytic geometry. Introduction to derivatives and calculus. Prerequisite: MATN 111 or placement by departmental examination.

MATN 261 - Statistics (3 credits)

Basic concepts in descriptive and inferential statistics, including measurement scales, frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and distribution, correlation coefficients, linear regression, probability theory, binomial distribution, and parametric and nonparametric tests of significant differences. Introduction to hypothesis testing. Prerequisite: MATN 111 or examination.

  • 6 credits in Psychology/Sociology
  • 6 Credits in Humanities (History, Literature, Art, Languages)

Additional electives to reach the 90 credit total (at least 9 in Liberal Arts)

BION 228 - Microbiology (4 credits)

This course covers the structure, reproduction, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, and identification of microorganisms. It includes a study of their relationship to each other and to other living organisms, their distribution in nature, and their beneficial and diseasecausing effects on humans. (Lecture and laboratory course). Prerequisites: BION 101-102.

BION 302 - Immunology (3 credits)

A study of the immune response, both humoral and cell mediated, including antigen-antibody structure and reactions, immunoglobulins and host-parasite interactions. Laboratory techniques will include current methods of immunology. Prerequisites: BION 101-102.

BION 320 - Genetics (3/4 credits)

Basic laws of heredity and their physical basis (classical genetics); the structure and functions of DNA and RNA as they relate to replication, transcription, translation, DNA packaging, DNA repair, RNA processing, regulation of these processes and recombinant DNA technology. Also covered are genetic mapping, HardyWeinberg equilibrium and population genetic principles. In the laboratory sessions students perform experiments using techniques commonly performed in research laboratories doing biotechnology and recombinant DNA experiments. These include gel electrophoresis, restriction mapping, PCR, recombinant DNA techniques and bacterial transformation. Prerequisites: BION 101-102.

CPCN 202 - Organic Chemistry II (4 credits)

Subjects covered include reactions, synthetic procedures, and methods for differentiation and identification. Mechanisms of reactions, stereochemistry and spectroscopy are emphasized. Details of the characteristics of aliphatic, and aromatic compounds with different functional groups are stressed. Laboratory work includes the methodology of synthetic and analytic procedures. (Lecture and laboratory course.) Prerequisites: CPCN 101-102.

CPPN 101 - General Physics I (4 credits)

This course, designed for the non-Physics major, covers classical mechanics, heat, electricity, magnetism, and light, and sound phenomena. The approach is generally quantitative, but does not require calculus. Laboratory experiments illustrate and test the fundamental laws and the reliability of results. (Lecture and laboratory course.) Prerequisite: MATN 120.

CPPN 102 - General Physics II (4 credits)

This course, designed for the non-Physics major, covers classical mechanics, heat, electricity, magnetism, and light, and sound phenomena. The approach is generally quantitative, but does not require calculus. Laboratory experiments illustrate and test the fundamental laws and the reliability of results. (Lecture and laboratory course.) Prerequisite: MATN 120.