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  • Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing

    Allied Health Program - Physician Assistant

    The Physician Assistant cooperative program between Saint Vincent College and Duquesne University School of Health Sciences is a six-year bachelor’s/master’s degree program with two options.

    Option 1: Upon successful completion of the fourth year, students who have not already earned a Bachelor’s degree will be awarded a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Liberal Arts from Saint Vincent College. Upon successful completion of the sixth year, students will be awarded a Master of Physician Assistant degree from Duquesne University.

    Option 2: Upon successful completion of the fourth year, students who have not already earned a Bachelor’s degree will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from
    Duquesne University.

    Upon successful completion of the program at Duquesne, students will be awarded a Master of Physician Assistant degree.  

    Typical First-Year Schedule

    Fall Semester
    BL 150 General Biology I - 3 credits
    BL 151 General Biology I Laboratory - 1 credit
    CH 101 General Chemistry I - 3 credits
    CH 103 General Chemistry I Laboratory - 1 credit
    TH 119 First Theology - 3 credits
    FL 203 Intermediate Language - 3 credits
    First-Year Seminar - 1 credit
    Total Fall 18

    Spring Semester
    BL 152 General Biology II - 3 credits
    BL 153 General Biology II Lab - 1 credit
    CH 102 General Chemistry II - 3 credits
    CH 104 General Chemistry II Lab - 1 credit
    EL 102 Language & Rhetoric - 3 credits
    FL 204 Intermediate Language - 3 credits
    HI— History (100 level) - 3 credits
    Total Spring 17

    Typical Sophomore Year Schedule

    Fall Semester
    BL 208 Cell Biology - credits
    BL 209 Cell Biology Laboratory - 1 credit
    CH 221 Organic Chemistry I - 3 credits
    CH 223 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory - 1 credit
    PY 100 Introduction to Psychology - 3 credits
    TH— Theology Elective - 3 credits
    PL 101 First Philosophy - 3 credits
    Total Fall 17

    Spring Semester
    BL 212 Microbiology - 3 credits
    BL 213 Microbiology Laboratory - 1 credit
    MA 109 Calculus I 4
    PY— Psychology Concentration - 3 credits
    EL 202 Intermediate Writing 3
    HI— History (200 level) - 3 credits
    Total Spring 17

    Typical Junior Year Schedule

    Fall Semester
    PL— Philosophy - 3 credits
    LA 200 Methods & Techniques - 3 credits
    PY 203 Statistics - 3 credits
    PY— Psychology Concentration - 3 credits
    TH 280 Catholic Bioethics 3
    PH 111 General Physics I - 3 credits
    PH 113 General Physics I Laboratory - 1 credit
    Total Fall 19

    Spring Semester
    AN 222 Cultural Anthropology - 3 credits
    LA 250 Junior Seminar - 3 credits
    PY— Psychology Concentration - 3 credits
    FA— Fine Arts - 3 credits
    EL— Literature Course - 3 credits
    BL 224 Mammalian Physiology - 3 credits
    Total Spring 18

    Summer Semester
    LA 350 Independent Study - 3 credits
    Senior Year (First Year at Duquesne)

    27 additional credits to satisfy requirements for the BA in Liberal Arts
    Four credits at Duquesne to satisfy requirements for Biology minor
    Three credits at Duquesne to satisfy requirements for Psychology Concentration.

    Typical First-Year Schedule

    Fall Semester
    BL 150 General Biology I - 3 credits
    BL 151 General Biology I Laboratory - 1 credit
    CH 101 General Chemistry I - 3 credits
    CH 103 General Chemistry I Laboratory - 1 credit
    TH 119 First Theology - 3 credits
    SO 101 Introduction to Sociology - 3 credits
    First-Year Seminar - 1 credit
    Total 15

    Spring Semester
    BL 152 General Biology II - 3 credits
    BL 153 General Biology II Lab - 1 credit
    CH 102 General Chemistry II - 3 credits
    CH 104 General Chemistry II Lab - 1 credit
    EL 102 Language & Rhetoric - 3 credits
    EL— Literature Elective - 3 credits
    MA 104 or 109Calculus I preferred 3 or 4
    Total 17 or 18

    Typical Sophomore Year Schedule

    Fall Semester
    PL 101 1st Philosophy - 3 credits
    PH 111 General Physics I - 3 credits
    PH 113 General Physics I Laboratory - 1 credit
    BA 350 or
    PY 203 Statistics I - 3 credits
    PY 100 Introduction To Psychology - 3 credits
    Global Diversity1 - 3 credits
    CH 221 Organic Chemistry I - 3 credits
    Total 19

    Spring Semester
    BL 212 Microbiology - 3 credits
    BL 213 Microbiology Laboratory - 1 credit
    Ethics2 - 3 credits
    Faith & Reasoning3 - 3 credits
    Fine Arts Elective - 3 credits
    CS 101 Survey of Computers - 3 credits
    Total 16

    All students transferring to Duquesne University must complete courses in the following core areas. Below is a list of core areas and the
    courses that fulfill the requirement:
    * Global Diversity includes one of the following: TH 380 World Religions, HI 108 Traditional East Asian Societies, HI 109 Modern East
    Asian Societies, HI 233 History of Latin America, HI 270 The Rise of Chinese Civilization, HI 280 Islamic Civilization I 3, HI 123 Global History I,
    or HI 102 Western Civilization I 
    ** Ethics includes ether PL 218 Bioethics, or TH 280 Catholic Bioethics 
    *** Communication: CA 120 or CA 140 Social Justice: SO 101 Introduction to Sociology

    The remaining three years are to be completed at Duquesne University.

    • Completion of High School Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Pre-Calculus. 
    • A Minimum of 1100 SAT score (Math & verbal reasoning).