Pre-Physician Assistant Studies at Maine's Leading University for the Health Professions
Are you passionate about health care and excited to become a physician assistant? In the Pre-Physician Assistant track of the Medical Biology major, your curriculum is tailored to meet all academic requirements for admittance into a physician assistant graduate program, including our own Master of Science Physician Assistant (M.S.P.A.) at UNE — the only PA program in Maine. Get the education and experiences that will take you one step closer to making a difference in patients’ lives.
Why UNE for Medical Biology Pre-Physician Assistant Track
You will work side-by-side with faculty and graduate students in our medical, dental, and pharmacy schools as well as our many graduate health programs — just one of the benefits of attending a comprehensive health professions university.
- Up-close interaction with graduate health programs
- Research opportunities across the health care fields
- Early exposure to interdisciplinary, team-based care
- Exceptional faculty guidance and mentorship
- Study at Maine’s leading health professions and health sciences university
- Opportunities to study abroad while staying on track with pre-med prerequisites
- GradVantage program for streamlined acceptance to UNE’s PA or other graduate programs
Nicole Robitaille ’18
From a young age I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. I chose UNE because I knew both its undergraduate and graduate schools were well accredited in the health professions. The advisors, professors, and professional staff at UNE really helped prepare me for my future because they helped me to understand what it takes to get into Physician Assistant school.
By taking summer classes, I was able to get ahead, and I am currently on track to graduate a year early from undergrad with a Medical Biology/Pre-PA major and a Philosophy minor. I was also able to get a position as a Patient Care Assistant in Cardiopulmonary Rehab at Central Maine Medical Center to help me fulfill the necessary health care experience needed for PA school.
With a lot of hard work and help from the faculty and staff at UNE, I was recently accepted to the Physician Assistant Program at UNE and will begin school in May of 2018, right after graduation. Being a medical biology major is hard, but the small class sizes really let me get to know my professors. I quickly learned that the professors, both on the Biddeford and Portland campuses, genuinely cared about me and wanted me to succeed. When I got accepted to PA school, the professor for the program called me to congratulate me. Little things like that are the reason I chose to come to UNE in the first place and why I am proud and excited to continue my education on the Portland campus.
The advisors, professors, and professional staff at UNE really helped prepare me for my future.
What will you study? Medical Biology Degree Curriculum Overview
There are many ways you can navigate this major. UNE’s academic advising team will help you chart your course.
B.S. in Medical Biology Courses
The following are some examples of the courses that the Medical Biology major offers:
- Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology
- Genetics
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
We offer our GradVantage program for admission into our medical and dental colleges as well as our Physician Assistant and Physical Therapy programs.
Honors Program
We offer qualified students the option of graduating with Honors. This includes significant research, scholarship or creative activity under the direction of a faculty member. Interested students should consult with their major advisor.
Careers for Medical Biology Majors
With the knowledge you gain from your coursework, the critical thinking skills you develop through research, and the life skills you acquire from close working relationships with faculty and peers, you will be on track to excel in a physician assistant master’s degree program. And there are many other rewarding professions that you may wish to explore with your Medical Biology degree, including:
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Researcher
- Drug Development Scientist
- Genetic Counselor
- Medical Editor
- Instrument Technician
Career Advising for B.S. in Medical Biology Students
Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.
of first-time UNE candidates who passed the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam.
B.S. in Medical Biology Degree Facilities
In addition to the typical resources found on a college campus, we also offer extensive computer resources, laboratories, and classroom facilities.
Harold Alfond Center
Sitting at the center of campus, facilities within the Harold Alfond Center for the Health Sciences include numerous lecture halls and teaching labs used by all majors within the School of Biological Sciences.
It is also the primary hub for undergraduate research within the School, housing the majority of faculty research labs and our indoor-access greenhouse.
Take a virtual tour of the Alfond Center for the Health Sciences
Peter and Cécile Morgane Hall
Morgane Hall contains the administrative offices of the School of Biological Sciences and most of its faculty. There are two lecture classrooms, two multi-purpose biology labs, and a genetics and microbiology lab.
The building also houses chemistry and physics labs with models and computer simulators for in-depth study of both biological and physical science concepts.
Take a virtual tour of Biddeford Campus Labs and Learning Spaces
Experiential Learning in the Bachelor's Degree in Medical Biology Program
Internships and Shadowing for Pre-Physician Assistant Students
You will need to acquire a minimum of 500 patient contact hours through a wide array of enriching internship opportunities. In addition, you will need to spend at least 20 hours shadowing a working physician assistant.
Sites include:
- Southern Maine Health Care
- Maine Medical Center
- UNE Petts Health Center
Research for Medical Biology Majors
- Opportunities for undergraduates to participate in cutting-edge research across health care fields
- Mentorship from faculty at a university categorized as having “High Research Activity” by Carnegie Classification
- Paid research positions available
Research Opportunities
Travel Courses for Medical Biology Majors
UNE's travel courses allow you to stay on track with your lab sciences and College of Arts and Sciences core curriculum while gaining enriching international experience.
The below travel courses are taught by Biology faculty.
Costa Rica
Italy
To enroll in these courses, you must submit an application to the Global Education Program. You can also apply for a Global Education scholarship when applying to these courses.
Apply Today
Ready to begin your future as a student in UNE’s B.S. in Medical Biology degree program? Get started today.
