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

General Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
UNIV NH101The Drexel Experience1.0
English Sequence
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
Biology Sequence
BIO 131
BIO 134
Cells and Biomolecules
and Cells and Biomolecules Lab
5.0
BIO 132
BIO 135
Genetics and Evolution
and Genetics and Evolution Lab
5.0
BIO 133
BIO 136
Physiology and Ecology
and Anatomy and Ecology Lab
5.0
BIO 226Microbiology for Health Professionals5.0
Chemistry Sequence
CHEM 101General Chemistry I3.5
CHEM 102General Chemistry II4.5
CHEM 103General Chemistry III4.5
Mathematics Sequence
MATH 101Introduction to Analysis I4.0
MATH 102Introduction to Analysis II4.0
Communication
COM 320 [WI] Science Writing3.0
Health Systems
HSCI 125Medical Terminology3.0
HSAD 210Health-Care Ethics I3.0
Select one of the following:3.0
Advanced Health-Care Ethics
Introduction to Health-Systems Administration
Ethics in Health Care Management
Psychology
PSY 101General Psychology I3.0
One Psychology (PSY) and/or Behavioral Health Counseling (BACS) course (minimum 3.0 credits)3.0
Sociology
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3.0
One Sociology (SOC) course (minimum 3.0 credits)4.0
Public Health
PBHL 101Public Health 1013.0
One Public Health (PBHL) course (minimum 3.0 credits)3.0
Anatomy & Physiology Courses
HSCI 206Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Sciences I5.0
HSCI 207Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Sciences II5.0
HSCI 208Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Sciences III5.0
Genetics
HSCI 337Genetics and Health4.5
Research Courses
HSCI 310Introduction to Research Methods4.0
HSCI 315Current Issues in Health Sciences4.0
or HSCI 450 Undergraduate Research Experience
Statistics and Assessment
HSCI 201Health Assessment through the Lifespan4.0
HSCI 345Statistics for Health Sciences4.5
Health Sciences Electives **19.0
Free electives6.0
Physician Assistant MHS Courses ***
PA 540Clinical Anatomy5.0
PA 542Patient Communication2.0
PA 543Ethical Issues in Physician Assistant Practice2.0
PA 544Clinical Assessment5.0
PA 545Physician Assistant Practice1.0
PA 546Health Policy for Physician Assistant Practice2.0
PA 547Evidence Based Medicine for Physician Assistants3.0
PA 548Principles of Medical Science I2.0
PA 549Principles of Medical Science II2.0
PA 550Principles of Medical Science III2.0
PA 551Pharmacology and Therapeutics I3.0
PA 552Pharmacology and Therapeutics II2.0
PA 553Pharmacology and Therapeutics III2.0
PA 554Biopsychosocial Issues in Patient Care5.0
PA 556Clinical Medicine I5.0
PA 557Clinical Medicine II5.0
PA 558Topics in Clinical Practice5.0
PA 561Clinical Skills III4.0
PA 562Clinical Skills Lab I1.0
PA 563Clinical Reasoning Lab I1.0
PA 564Clinical Skills Lab II1.0
PA 565Clinical Reasoning Lab II1.0
Competency Assessment 0.0-2.0
Clinical Assessment Competency
Competency for Clinical Training
Clinical Year Rotation Courses
PA 629Internal Medicine Rotation5.0
PA 630Pediatrics Rotation5.0
PA 631Women's Health Rotation5.0
PA 632Behavioral Medicine Rotation5.0
PA 633Surgery Rotation5.0
PA 634Emergency Medicine Rotation5.0
PA 639Family Medicine Rotation5.0
PA 644Flex Core Clinical Rotation5.0
Practicum
PA 635Primary Care Practicum I10.0
Capstone Experiences
PA 636Graduate Project I3.0
PA 638Graduate Project II3.0
Total Credits261.5-263.5
*

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.

**

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.

***

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

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

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

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 131
BIO 134
5.0BIO 132
BIO 135
5.0BIO 133
BIO 136
5.0VACATION
CHEM 1013.5CHEM 1024.5CHEM 1034.5 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
HSCI 1253.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0MATH 1024.0 
UNIV NH1011.0MATH 1014.0  
 15.5 17.5 16.5 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 2265.0COOP 101*1.0COM 3203.0SOC 1013.0
HSCI 2065.0HSCI 2075.0HSAD 2103.0Health Sciences elective3.0
HSCI 3104.0HSCI 3454.5HSCI 2085.0Psychology elective3.0
Health Sciences elective3.0PSY 1013.0HSCI 315 or 4504.0Sociology elective4.0
 Health Sciences elective4.0 Free elective3.0
 17 17.5 15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCEOne of the following:3.0HSCI 2014.0
  Health Sciences elective3.0
  Public Health elective3.0
  Free elective3.0
  HSCI 3374.5 
  PBHL 1013.0 
  Health Sciences electives6.0 
 0 0 16.5 13
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PA 5405.0PA 5473.0PA 5492.0PA 5462.0
PA 5422.0PA 5482.0PA 5522.0PA 5502.0
PA 5432.0PA 5513.0PA 5545.0PA 5532.0
PA 5445.0PA 5565.0PA 5575.0PA 5585.0
PA 5451.0PA 5621.0PA 5641.0PA 5614.0
 PA 5631.0PA 5651.0 
 15 15 16 15
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
Clinical Phase**Rotation III5.0Rotation V5.0PA 6383.0
Rotation I5.0Rotation IV5.0Rotation VI5.0Rotation VII5.0
Rotation II5.0PA 6363.0 Rotation VIII5.0
 10 13 10 13
Sixth Year
FallCredits   
PA 63510.0   
 10   
Total Credits 261.5
*

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.

Clinical Year Rotation Courses **
The sequencing of the eight clinical rotations will vary for individual students. Students must complete all eight rotations.
Internal Medicine Rotation
Pediatrics Rotation
Women's Health Rotation
Behavioral Medicine Rotation
Surgery Rotation
Emergency Medicine Rotation
Family Medicine Rotation
Flex Core Clinical Rotation

Spring-Summer Co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 131
BIO 134
5.0BIO 132
BIO 135
5.0BIO 133
BIO 136
5.0VACATION
CHEM 1013.5CHEM 1024.5CHEM 1034.5 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
HSCI 1253.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0MATH 1024.0 
UNIV NH1011.0MATH 1014.0  
 15.5 17.5 16.5 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 2265.0COOP 101*1.0COM 3203.0SOC 1013.0
HSCI 2065.0HSCI 2075.0HSAD 2103.0Free Elective3.0
HSCI 3104.0HSCI 3454.5HSCI 2085.0Health Sciences Elective3.0
Health Sciences Elective3.0PSY 1013.0HSCI 315 or 4504.0Psychology Elective3.0
 Health Sciences Elective4.0 Sociology Elective4.0
 17 17.5 15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
HSCI 3374.5HSCI 2014.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
PBHL 1013.0Free Elective3.0  
One of the following:3.0Health Sciences Elective3.0  
Public Health Elective3.0  
   
   
Health Sciences Elective6.0   
 16.5 13 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PA 5405.0PA 5473.0PA 5492.0PA 5462.0
PA 5422.0PA 5482.0PA 5522.0PA 5502.0
PA 5432.0PA 5513.0PA 5545.0PA 5532.0
PA 5445.0PA 5565.0PA 5575.0PA 5585.0
PA 5451.0PA 5621.0PA 5641.0PA 5614.0
 PA 5631.0PA 5651.0 
 15 15 16 15
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
Clinical Phase**PA 6363.0Rotation V5.0PA 6383.0
Rotation l5.0Rotation lll5.0Rotation VI5.0Rotation VII5.0
Rotation ll5.0Rotation IV5.0 Rotation VIII5.0
 10 13 10 13
Sixth Year
FallCredits   
PA 63510.0   
 10   
Total Credits 261.5
*

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.

Clinical Year Rotation Courses **
The sequencing of the eight clinical rotations will vary for individual students. Students must complete all eight rotations.
Internal Medicine Rotation
Pediatrics Rotation
Women's Health Rotation
Behavioral Medicine Rotation
Surgery Rotation
Emergency Medicine Rotation
Family Medicine Rotation
Flex Core Clinical Rotation