Skip to Main Content
Physician Associate Program
Support the PA Program
YSM Home

INFORMATION FOR

Academic Prerequisites

The Yale Physician Associate Program, from which students graduate with a Masters of Medical Science degree, is a graduate-level program within the Yale School of Medicine. Each applicant must have completed a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation.

The Admissions Committee closely examines an applicant's record for evidence that the individual is capable of successfully completing graduate-level work. While a degree in a premedical science major is not required, due to the intense rigor of graduate study, a minimum cumulative science GPA of 3.0 is required. This calculation is derived automatically from the CASPA application.

Due to COVID-19 we recognize some applicants may have science coursework (including prerequisites) that are now pass/fail. Although we strongly encourage applicants to complete a course and earn a traditional grade, we will accept pass/fail coursework for classes completed from 2020 - 2022. This policy only applies to applicants studying at an institution requiring students to complete coursework as pass/fail. Please keep in mind pass/fail coursework does not factor into the science GPA or prerequisite GPA calculation.

For more information please email: pa.program@yale.edu.

The following undergraduate/graduate math and science courses are required to be considered for admission to the Yale Program.

Statistics or Calculus

A statistics course that provides the student with foundational knowledge in the following areas:
  1. Probability;
  2. Variables/distribution;
  3. Confidence intervals;
  4. Group comparisons;
  5. Regression; and
  6. ANOVA and chi-square.
A calculus course that provides the student with foundational knowledge in the following areas:
  1. Limits and continuity;
  2. Differentiation;
  3. Applications of differentiation; and
  4. Integration.
This course can be met with a statistics course in psychology, biology, or mathematics departments.

Duration: one semester or 3-5 credits.

Human Anatomy*

A gross human anatomy course that provides students with a detailed examination of all structural aspects of the human body with a special emphasis on the anatomy and anatomical relationships. Clinical correlation is desired but not required. A laboratory is strongly recommended but not required. The course should cover all aspects of the human body including:
  1. Upper limb;
  2. Lower limb;
  3. Head & neck; and
  4. Thorax, abdomen & pelvis.
This requirement CANNOT be satisfied with a single neuroanatomy course, histology, or animal/mammalian anatomy.

Duration: One semester or 3-5 credits.

*Please note: Anatomy and Physiology requirements can also be met with a combined two-semester course (6-10 credits) in Anatomy & Physiology I & II.

Human or Animal Physiology*

A physiology course that provides student with an introduction to physiology that emphasizes the concepts that will be important for professional studies. The concepts covered should include homeostasis, cell structure, cardiac, respiratory, renal and endocrine physiology. Other areas to be covered include digestion and energy utilization and reproduction. This requirement can be met with a course in animal or mammalian physiology. A laboratory component is not required. This requirement CANNOT be satisfied with a course in pathophysiology or cell biology.

Duration: One semester or 3-5 credits.

*Please note: Anatomy and Physiology requirements can also be met with a combined two-semester course (6-10 credits) in Anatomy & Physiology I & II.

Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry

An organic chemistry course that provides the student with foundational knowledge in the following areas:
  1. Chemical bonding;
  2. Alcohols, esters, phenols, aldehydes, and ketones;
  3. Proteins;
  4. Enzymes;
  5. Carbohydrates and energy production; and
  6. Fats and lipids.
A biochemistry course that provides the student with foundational knowledge in the following areas:
  1. Enzymology;
  2. Cellular communication;
  3. DNA and RNA structure and synthesis;
  4. Energy and carbohydrate metabolism;
  5. Amino acid and protein synthesis; and
  6. Digestion and hormonal control of metabolism.

Duration: one semester of biochemistry or organic chemistry (3-5 credits) or a combined organic/biochemistry semester course (3-5 credits).

Microbiology

A microbiology course that provides the student with foundation needed for professional studies. Topics covered should include microbial morphology and physiology, bacterial metabolism, microbial genetics, and the classification of the microorganisms (bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic). A laboratory component is not required. This requirement CANNOT be satisfied by a single course in bacteriology.

Duration: One semester or 3-5 credits.

Undergraduate/graduate science coursework guidelines

  • A maximum of one prerequisite course may be "in progress" at the time the CASPA application is submitted. The "in progress" course must be completed by December 31st with a grade of "B" or better. Once the course is completed, applicants must request an official transcript be sent directly to the Yale PA Admissions Office.
  • Prerequisite coursework may be completed at multiple accredited institutions, including community/junior colleges and institutions from which the applicant has not received a degree.
  • The program does not accept audited courses as prerequisites.
  • Courses that may have been taken at any period of time in the past are considered and do not "expire."
  • On-line courses from regionally accredited institutions are acceptable.