Health Sciences BS and Physician Assistant MHS Bridge Program

Major: Health Sciences and Physician Assistant
Degrees Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Health Science (MHS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 261.5
Co-op Options: One Co-op
BS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.1199
BS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-9111
MHS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.0912
MHS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1071

About the Program

Drexel’s undergraduate Health Sciences program and graduate Physician Assistant (PA) program have partnered to offer a BS/MHS Bridge program option available to high-achieving students enrolled in the Health Sciences program. The BS/MHS PA Bridge program option is a linked 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 5.25 years as opposed to the traditional 6.25 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 2.25 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 Physician Assistant program.

Additional Information

For more information, please visit the Health Sciences Department.

Degree Requirements

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Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

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Health Sciences electives include HSCI or NFS courses at the 100-499 level. Up to two science courses (BIO 200-499, CHEM 200-499, PHYS 100-499) may be used as Health Sciences electives with advisor permission. All 100-Level freshman course requirements in BIO, CHEM, ENGL, and MATH must be completed by the time a student reaches 135.0 credits.

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Students receive their BS degree in Health Sciences after successful completion of the Fall, Winter, and Spring term courses in the first year of the PA-MHS curriculum and fulfilling the undergraduate degree requirements.

Progression to graduate level PA program coursework is contingent upon successful completion of all accelerated track requirements and a successful admission interview

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PA 570 and PA 571- These courses are provisional courses for students who need to assess skills upon return from a leave of absence.

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The sequencing of the eight clinical rotations will vary for individual students. Students must complete all eight rotations.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

Fall-Winter Co-op

*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Spring-Summer Co-op

*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.