2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog
Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP AA-DTA) Course Map
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Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field and for transfer to a four-year institution. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career. The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. If you want to change a course on this map you must speak with an advisor to assure you meet all degree requirements. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time.
While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete an Associate in Arts - Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA) Degree, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements.
Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!
Important note about transfer: colleges and universities may change their requirements at any time, so this map is not a guarantee of transfer. You will need to check transfer requirements with your intended four-year school.
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Milestone:
Order JST and meet with success coach to determine any MOS related course credit and any changes in IPAP program requirements. This map was created with the prerequisites accurate as of May 2024.
1. Required College Success Course
2. Required Composition Course
- ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)
Course purpose: As a PA, you will be writing care plans, documentation of patient conditions, research, and technical writing. It is important to be able to clearly communication in written format to ensure good patient care.
3. Recommended Prep Courses (if needed)
Take as needed. Not sure if you need one of these prep courses? Meet with your advisor to review your educational plan.
- CHEM& 139 General Chemistry Prep (5 credits)
Course purpose: This course is for students who didn’t take high school chemistry and is designed to introduce the science major student to mathematical and chemical principles needed for success in more advanced science courses. Includes problem solving, graphs, calculator use, atomic structure, periodic properties, inorganic nomenclature, the mole, balancing equations and stoichiometry. - MATH 098 Intermediate Algebra for Precalculus (5 credits)
Course purpose: This course covers algebraic skills, concepts, and applications needed for precalculus, including quadratic, polynomial, rational, and radical expressions and equations, and systems of linear equations. Note: *If you need this course and don’t take any others in this category, you may need an additional 5 credits. Check with your success coach. - BTECM 150 Medical Terminology I (5 credits)
Course purpose: This course should be taken if the prep courses are not needed. PAs need a strong understanding of medical terminology for charting and diagnosis. Note: Within 5 years, can take on the Army Learning Management System (ALMS). Search for Basic Medical Technology.
4. Required Foundational Course
5. Required Math Course
- MATH& 141 Precalculus I (5 credits)
Course purpose: PAs need a strong foundation in algebraic thinking in order to understand the principals of diagnoses and treatments. Note: The math course taken must be college algebra or higher. Statistics will not count. Intro or Intermediate algebra will not count.
Milestone: SAT required within 5 years of application (must be taken within 5 years of 1 March of your application year.)
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Minimum score of 450 in reading and math
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Minimum cumulative score of 1000 is required in the reading and math sections.
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Take SAT prior to 1 January to allow 8 weeks for the College Board to grade your exam.
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Enter code “3994” on SAT test form.
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USAREC MUST receive your official scores for your packet to board.
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REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS REGARDLESS OF PREVIOUS DEGREE
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GRE, ACT, MCAT, etc WILL NOT COUNT
6. Required Medical Terminology Course
- BTECM 150 Medical Terminology I (5 credits)
Course purpose: If you needed a prep course in Step 3, take this course now. PAs need a strong understanding of medical terminology for charting and diagnosis. Note: Within 5 years, can take on the Army Learning Management System (ALMS). Search for Basic Medical Technology. - BTECM 151 Medical Terminology II (5 credits)
Course purpose: If you didn’t need a prep course and step 3, take this courses now. PAs need a strong understanding of medical terminology for charting and diagnosis.
7. Required Psychology Course
- PSYC& 100 General Psychology (5 credits)
Course purpose: PAs need to understand the basics of psychology and the human social experience and behavior with introduction to emotion, perception, neurological influences, learning and intelligence for patient communication and diagnoses.
8. Required Composition Course
9. Required General Chemistry Course
- CHEM& 161 General Chemistry w/Lab I (5 credits)
- CHEM& 141 General Chemistry I: Non-Lab (5 credits)
Course purpose: PAs need to understand measurements, significant figures, dimensional analysis, fundamentals of atomic structure, quantum theory, periodic properties stoichiometry, chemical reactions, gas laws, thermochemistry, and solutions. in order to understand physiology, pathology, diagnoses and treatments. Note: Must be taken within 10 years of starting school; recommended to be taken within 5 years. Lab is not required, but highly recommended.
10. Required General Chemistry Course
- CHEM& 162 General Chemistry w/Lab ll (5 credits)
- CHEM& 142 General Chemistry II: Non-Lab (5 credits)
Course purpose: PAs need to understand bonding theory, molecular structures, states of matter, atomic structure, intermolecular forces, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, and slightly soluble salts in order to understand physiology, pathology, diagnoses and treatments. Note: Must be taken within 10 years of starting school; recommend within 5 years. Lab is not required but highly recommended.
11. Recommended Humanities Course
Choose one.
12. Recommended Social Science Course
Choose one.
- SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology (5 credits)
Course purpose: PAs should possess a general knowledge of societal norms/structures/human relationships and social phenomena in order to promote effective patient communication. - SOC& 201 Social Problems (5 credits)
Course purpose: PAs would benefit from exploring social problems including cultural and historical social patterns and the effects on society in order to promote effective patient communication. - SOC 212 Death, Dying and Bereavement (5 credits)
Course purpose: PAs regularly deal with death and dying on a daily basis. Exploring all aspects of the death experience and understanding of the impact of death on family, society, and the healthcare system is a practical skill in the treatment of the patient. - SOC 235 Race and Ethnicity (5 credits)
Course purpose: PAs will be interacting with a broad spectrum of the population and having an understanding of the dynamics of racism (power and inequality; prejudice and discrimination; racial and ethnic identity; stratification; segregation; and patterns of racial/ethnic relations) will be helpful in the treatment of the patient. Note: Another Social Science course not listed here may fulfill this requirement.
13. Required A&P Course
- BIOL& 241 Human A & P 1 (6 credits)
Course purpose: PAs need this course to understand the anatomy and physiology of the human body. This is essential in being able to understand the physiology and patho-physiology of disease process. Note: Must be taken within 10 years of starting school; recommended to be taken within 5 years. Lab is not required, but highly recommended.
Milestone: Meet with Success Coach to check GPA and apply for graduation
GPA Requirements
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A Minimum Science GPA of 3.0 is required in all sciences
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The Science Courses included in the Science GPA will be those completed within 10 years of the start of IPAP.
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A Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.5
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Applicants must meet GPA requirements by application deadline 1 March each year. Coursework completed after 1 March of the application year will NOT count toward the GPA.
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There is no waiver available for GPA requirements.
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There is NO grade replacement for applicants.
14. Required A&P Course
- BIOL& 242 Human A & P 2 (6 credits)
Course purpose: PAs need this course to understand the anatomy and physiology of the human body. This is essential in being able to understand the physiology and patho-physiology of disease process. Note: Must be taken within 10 years of starting school; recommended to be taken within 5 years. Lab is not required, but highly recommended.
15. Recommended Humanities Course
Choose one.
16. Recommended Social Science Course
Choose one.
- GEOG 200 Human Geography (5 credits)
Course purpose: A basic knowledge of concepts in human geography relating to economic activities, landscapes, languages, migrations, nations, regions, and religions increases the ability of the PA to understand and serve patients. - HIST& 158 History of US III (5 credits)
Course purpose: A basic understanding of the economic, social, political and diplomatic history of the United States from 1900 to present increases the ability of the PA to understand and serve patients. - PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology (5 credits)
Course purpose: PAs will be working with patients across their lifespans. A broad understanding of the human life cycle through contributions of psychology, anthropology, sociology, biology, and medicine increases the ability of the PA to understand and serve patients. - SOC 212 Death, Dying and Bereavement (5 credits)
Course purpose: If not taken in step 12, this course could be taken here. PAs regularly deal with death and dying. Exploring all aspects of the death experience and understanding of the impact of death on family, society, and the healthcare system increases the ability of the PA to understand and serve patients.
17. Recommended Humanities Course
Choose one.
18. Recommended Biochemistry Course
- BIOL 275 Elements of Biological Chemistry: Non-Lab (5 credits)
Course purpose: PAs need to understand the structure and function of the molecules comprising biological systems, including the structure and function of organic molecules and functional groups, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. They also need to understand biochemical processes involved at the cellular and molecular level of metabolism (catabolism and anabolism) with a focus on topics such as cellular respiration, nutrition, body fluids and pH homeostasis. Note: Must be taken within 10 years of starting school; recommended to be taken within 5 years. Lab is not required, but highly recommended.
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