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Physician Associate Studies Admission Information

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TCU Physician Associate Studies seeks applicants who demonstrate academic excellence, strong interpersonal skills, knowledge of the healthcare system—gained through shadowing or relevant work experiences—and personal maturity, all of which are significant factors in the admissions decision.

To be considered for admission to the Department of Physician Associate Studies at Texas Christian University, applicants must complete and submit the following before the published deadline:

  • CASPA application, including:
    • Official transcripts
    • Three letters of recommendation; with at least one letter of recommendation from a Physician Associate (PA), Medical Doctor (MD), or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
    • A personal statement expressing interest in becoming a Physician Associate 
    • A life experiences essay explaining how your life’s events and/or perspectives could contribute to the PA profession 

Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university before matriculation is required.  Applicants from all academic disciplines are welcome to apply, provided they complete the required prerequisites. 

Additionally, all prerequisite coursework must be completed by September prior to January matriculation. Details of prerequisite courses and specific notes about such courses are listed below.

GPA minimums are based on a 4.0 scale

Overall GPA Minimum: 3.0 

All course grades from undergraduate and graduate courses are used in GPA calculations.

Science GPA Minimum: 3.0 

All science course grades from undergraduate and graduate courses are used in the science GPA calculations.

 

Minimum Credit Hours Course TCU Equivalent
3 English Composition* ENGL10803 Intro Comp/ENGL20803 Intermediate Comp 
3 College Algebra or higher* MATH10033 Topics in Mathematics
3 Biology I BIOL10503 The Unity of Life: Molecules to Cells 
4 Biology II with Lab BIOL10513 The Diversity of Life: Organisms to Ecosystems & BIOL10523 Intro to Biological Invest (Lab) 
4 Microbiology with Lab BIOL30304 Microbiology w/ Lab 
3 Biochemistry BIOL40513 Fundamentals of  Biochemistry
3 Genetics BIOL40123 Genetics 
4 Chemistry I with Lab CHEM10113 Gen Chem I 
4 Chemistry II with Lab CHEM10123 & CHEM10122 Lab 
4 Organic Chemistry I with Lab CHEM30123 &30121 Organ Chem I & Lab 
4 Human Anatomy with Lab** BIOL 20204/20214*** A&P I&II (BIOL30414 Human Anat w/ Lab) 
4 Human Physiology with Lab** BIOL 20204/20214*** A&P I&II (BIOL40403 Mammalian Physiology) 
3 Psychology PSYC10213 Intro to Psychology 
3 Statistics MATH10043 Elementary Statistics 
4 Physics with Lab PHYS10154 Gen Physics I w/ Lab 
1 Medical Terminology NTDT30331 Medical Terminology 

*Advanced Placement is accepted for Math and English prerequisites. 

**If Anatomy/Physiology is a combined course, you must complete the required credit hours.

***These courses are intended for science majors that require Anatomy and Physiology as a prerequisite for application to graduate or professional school, as well as Nursing, Nutrition, Health and Fitness, and athletic training majors. They may not adequately prepare students for the rigors of PA school and are not accepted for pre-med majors. Instead, it is recommended that pre-PA students take BIOL 30414 Human Anatomy w/lab and BIOL 40403 Mammalian Physiology. Beginning with the admissions cycle for the class matriculating in January 2030, BIOL 20204, BIOL 20214,  will not fulfill the prerequisite requirements. 

 

Additional notes regarding prerequisite courses:

  • Prerequisites must be completed by September prior to January matriculation.
  • Prerequisites are effective for the class matriculating in January 2027.
  • Prerequisite courses must be passed with a letter grade of "C" or better.
  • Prerequisites may be taken at any accredited college or university.
  • TCU Physician Associate Studies program does not consider most nutritional science courses as adequate prerequisites. 
  • If Anatomy/Physiology is a combined course, you must complete the required credit hours.
  • Classes taken at a community college must be at the general level, not at the introductory level.
  • Advanced Placement, credit by exam, or pass/fail courses do not meet the prerequisite requirements, except for math and English requirements.
  • Prior learning experiences, courses at another PA program, courses at another healthcare career program, graduate course work, continuing education, foreign credits, and/or workforce credits will not be accepted or applied toward required prerequisite courses.
  • Math and English Prerequisites are not subject to a time limit, while all science must be completed within seven years of admission. 
  • All science courses must be designated for "science majors".
  • Applicant must be in good standing with the college or university last attended or currently enrolled.

Highly qualified candidates generally will have enrolled in 2-3 upper-level Biological and/or Chemical Science courses each semester during their junior and senior years, completed most of their upper-level Biological and Chemical Science courses at a four-year institution, and taken few, if any, courses through an online program.

TCU Physician Associate Studies does not offer or accept advanced standing credit for any course offered within the program. Students are required to complete all courses during their academic career in the program.

Patient care experience is preferred to ensure that applicants recognize the physical and psychological demands of the PA profession and appreciate the challenges and rewards of being a health care professional.

  • While no minimum requirement exists, applicants with health-related experience, patient care experience, shadowing, and volunteer service will receive additional consideration.
  • Online shadowing will not be accepted. 

To be considered for admission, applicants must be invited to participate in a formal interview. Applicants are selected for an interview based on their academic performance.

Our admissions interviews are designed to get a holistic view of applicants. We look for evidence of professionalism, communication skills, self-reflection, leadership and service, and the ability to work collaboratively with others. Applicants may be asked to reflect on personal experiences, ethical decision-making, and problem-solving in team or clinical settings. In addition, materials submitted through CASPA, such as the personal statement and letters of recommendation, are considered alongside interview performance. 

Due to the competitive nature of the TCU Physician Associate Studies Program, the completion of admission requirements and prerequisites does not guarantee an applicant will be awarded an interview.

Interviews are held in person on the TCU campus or by Zoom.

• To be considered for admission to Texas Christian University Physician Associate Studies, a completed application must be submitted through CASPA.
• Applications for January 2027 matriculation open October 1, 2025.
• The online application and all supporting documentation must be submitted to CASPA by April 1, 2026.
• A completed CASPA application includes: 
o Three letters of reference
o Personal statement
o Life experiences essay
o Official transcripts from all schools attended

The Admissions Committee reviews each application individually on its own merit. Admission decisions are based on the evaluation of an applicant's academic record, personal statements, previous healthcare/hands-on patient care experience, and formal interview. Only applicants who have undergone a formal interview will be considered for admission. The Admissions Committee will assess applicants using a weighted holistic admissions rubric based on the qualities considered essential, including:

    • Strong Academics
    • Knowledge of the TCU PA Studies Program Mission and Goals
    • Maturity
    • Professionalism
    • Self-awareness
    • Empathy
    • Community Service
    • Interpersonal Skills
    • Team-oriented mindset
    • Flexibility
    • Resilience

Applicants are encouraged to highlight experiences that demonstrate readiness for the academic and clinical rigor of PA education as well as the challenges of a PA career.

Although not required, health-related experience, patient care experience, shadowing, and volunteer service are regarded favorably in the admissions process.

The Admissions Committee utilizes a rolling admissions process and issues decisions of acceptance or denial. A waitlist will also be established, with applicant rankings remaining confidential.

TCU Physician Associate Studies follows a rolling admissions process. Admission offers are contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the following requirements:

  • Satisfactory completion of prerequisites by September prior to matriculation
  • Submission of official transcripts from all previous institutions
  • Background Check
  • Drug Screen
  • Immunizations

A $1000 non-refundable tuition deposit is due upon your acceptance of an offer of admission is required to secure your enrollment.

Important Dates

Applications for the TCU Physician Associate Studies Class of 2028 (matriculating January 2027) are available through CASPA beginning October 1, 2025. The CASPA application portal can be reached at this web address https://caspa.cas.myliaison.com/

All materials required for consideration of admission must be submitted through the CASPA portal for verification. No supporting materials should be sent directly to TCU Physician Associate Studies.

CASPA Application Deadline: April 1, 2026

To qualify for TCU Physician Associate Studies Class of 2028, the online application and all supporting documentation must be submitted to CASPA by 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 1, 2026. A completed CASPA application includes:

  • Three letters of reference
  • Personal statement
  • Life Experiences Essay  
  • Official transcripts sent directly from all schools attended to CASPA
  • Medical and non-medical experiences
  • Application fee as required by CASPA

After submitting the online application, applicants should check the CASPA Applicant Portal frequently to verify that supporting materials, including letters of reference, personal statements, and transcripts, have been received. 

The CASPA application must be completed by 12:00 am EST on April 1, 2026, for an applicant to be considered for admission to Texas Christian University Physician Associate Studies.  We encourage applicants to check the online application checklist thoroughly to confirm that all application components have been received by this deadline. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all requirements are submitted to CASPA before the April 1st deadline.

For questions about completing the CASPA application, contact CaspaInfo@caspaonline.org or call 617-612-2080. 

If, after reviewing the admissions information for the TCU Physician Associate Studies, you have any questions, please contact the Director of PAS Admissions at 817-257-1435 or TCUPhysicianAssociateStudies@tcu.edu. We are here to help and support you as you pursue a career in the health sciences.