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
- GradVantage program for streamlined acceptance to UNE’s PA or other graduate programs
Valerie Pendleton ’18
Why UNE
I knew I wanted to go to med school, so that was part of the reason why I [came] to UNE [for undergrad]. I wanted to have better resources to get to that point.
I picked the medical biology major because of the way it was set up. It includes all of the premed classes that you need to apply to any medical school, but it also has other topics in it that are super relevant. My favorite class was Anatomy and Physiology, and that has pretty much been my entire first-year of medical school. It was really nice to go from taking that Anatomy class and getting excited about it then to go on to finishing my first year of medical school. I really enjoyed how well prepared I was.
Hands-on Learning
One of the most influential parts of my education was on the rural health immersion trip that I did with the Care for the Underserved Pathways (CUP) Scholars Program. Having the hands-on experience of working with all of these different people from different professions was very interprofessional, and that's not something I realized was an opportunity until I got to my first week of COM.
Then I got an email saying that UNE was bringing a few students from CUP to Greece, so I signed up to go. That was one of the best hands-on experiences I've had. We brought aid over and worked with the refugee, homeless, and asylum-seeking population there who otherwise had no aid. They had nothing. We distributed diapers, and we did a lot of food distribution.
It’s something that I don't think I would've gotten elsewhere. I'm not sure of what other medical schools have as far as programs like this. While in Greece, I got to do a medical component where we set up a health hygiene clinic. We were able to teach pertinent skills like handwashing, female hygiene, and oral hygiene. It was a super interesting hands-on experience, and it was also very interprofessional. I highly recommend it to anybody who wants to go.
Welcoming Community
[The UNE community is] really inclusive. We have an awesome program where we're not ranked, so we're not competitive. We’re all trying to make sure that we are all succeeding. Your neighbors, your classmates, whoever you’re next to — their wellness and their overall mental health is always getting checked on. We make sure we are all supported.
I remember during the first week at orientation, all the orientation leaders who were part of the second-year class were like, “You’re going to be family.” It’s true. If someone's struggling, someone else in our program is reaching out to them. The faculty members keep up with us too. We have a lot of phenomenal faculty members who are huge advocates for us as students and who want to check in on us.
The courses that I’ve take at UNE, in combination with support from my professors, have taught me the critical thinking skills crucial to become a well-rounded healthcare professional.
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.
Curriculum
| CAS Core Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 42 |
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 105/105L – Biology I: Ecology/Evolution w/Lab | Credits Fulfilled by Core Requirements |
| BIO 106/106L – Biology II: Cellular/Molecular w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 214/214L – Genetics w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 232/232L – Microbiology w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 245/245L – Gen Prin Anat/Phys/Pathophys I w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 345/345L – Gen Prin Anat/Phys/PathophysII w/Lab | 5 |
| BIO 370 – Cell and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| CHE 110/110L – General Chemistry I w/Lab or CHE 150/150L – University General Chemistry I w/Lab | 4 |
| CHE 111/111L – General Chemistry II w/Lab or CHE 151/151L – University General Chemistry II w/Lab | 4 |
| CHE 210/210L/210S – Organic Chemistry I w/Lab and LabLecture or CHE 250/250L/250S – University Organic Chemistry I w/Lab and LabLecture | 5 |
| CHE 310/310L – Fundamentals of Biochemistry w/Lab | 4–5 |
| MAT 150 – Statistics for Life Sciences | Credits Fulfilled by Core Requirements |
| MAT 190 – Calculus I | 4 |
| PHY 110 – Physics I or PHY 210 – University Physics I | 4 |
| PHY 111 – Physics II or PHY 211 – University Physics II | 4 |
| BIO 400-level or higher capstone course* | 3–4 |
| Total Credits | 56–58 |
| Open Elective Courses (as needed to reach 120 credits) | Variable |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 120 |
|---|
Additional Guidelines
*Not satisfied by BIO 410, BIO 495, Internship courses, Research courses, or Speaker Series
Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee
The Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee (PHPAC) consists of professional staff and faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences. The major function of this committee is to draft letters of evaluation for students applying to health professions programs such as Medical, Dental, and Veterinary schools. Interested students should view our web page for information regarding the protocol for obtaining a PHPAC letter of evaluation.
Graduation Requirements
A minimum grade of C- must be achieved in all science and mathematics courses used toward graduation in any of the School of Biological Sciences programs. A 2.00 cumulative average in sciences is a requirement for graduation in any of the School of Biological Sciences programs.
Students in this major can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.
To learn more about the program visit the Academic Catalog.
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.
All first-and second-year students are assigned a professional academic advisor. Academic advising gives you the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of:
- Major specific and core required courses
- Course selection, registration, and academic plans
- Adjusting to the academic transition to college
- Minors or secondary majors
- Building internships and study abroad into your academic plan
- On-campus resources available at UNE
You are encouraged to schedule appointments to meet with your advisor on a regular basis and not just in the weeks preceding the registration process.
During your first two years, a member of the Biology faculty will serve as your secondary advisor. After the conclusion of your first two years, a faculty advisor will take over as your primary advisor for the remainder of your undergraduate studies. Faculty advisors are a great resource for information on curriculum-specific questions, research opportunities, and to provide insight into graduate programs or career options in your field of interest.
As a student in a Biology program, you are required to attend mandatory pre-registration advising appointments* with your primary advisor in the fall and spring. You will be given an alternate pin number to use at the time of registration and will receive an email with details on how to sign up for these meetings. Until you attend a mandatory advising meeting, you will not have access to register for classes in the following semester.
Pre-registration advising meetings must be completed during mid-October through mid-November of your fall semester and mid-March through mid-April of your spring semester.
*A drop-in appointment, faculty advisor meeting, or an appointment with a peer advisor will NOT complete this requirement.
Assistant Director of Pre-Health Advising James Gaffney works with all students interested in applying to a graduate school in the health professions.
You are expected to perform successfully on admissions tests specific to your graduate program. For information regarding test prep options and when to take these exams, contact James Gaffney.
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
Labs dedicated to cellular and molecular research include:
- Kristin Burkholder, Ph.D., Microbiology Lab
- Studies the interaction of bacterial pathogens with their environment and host cells by employing techniques of classical microbiology, molecular biology, cell culture and microscopy.
- Geoff Ganter, Ph.D., Drosophila Neurogenetics Lab
- Employs genetic, microscopic, and behavior analysis approaches to identify targets for future pain medications.
- Jenn Garcia, Ph.D., Molecular Genetics Lab
- Uses techniques such as northern blotting, next-generation sequencing, immunoblotting, molecular cloning, quantitative PCR, microscopy, and yeast genetics to understand mechanisms that regulate gene expression in response to stress.
- Lei Lei, Ph. D., Molecular Biology Lab
- Studies developmental neurobiology and molecular evolution using molecular and bioinformatic tools
Labs dedicated to ecology and evolutionary biology research include:
- Ursula Roese, Ph.D., Chemical Ecology Lab
- Investigates chemical interactions between plants, insects, and microorganisms as well as applications that involve testing of plant compounds against human pathogens - using extractions and head space collections, as well as instrumentation to analyze organic compounds, including Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
Labs dedicated to medical biology research include:
- David Sandmire, M.D., Physiology Lab
- Contains software and hardware equipment to measure beat-to-beat heart rate variability (HRV) as a gauge of sympathetic nervous system activity to objectively estimate anxiety level in response to art making
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
BIO 290/290L or BIO 451 Tropical Forests and Global Change
This is a spring semester course that includes travel to Costa Rica for nine days during spring break, where you will explore the biodiversity of both tropical rainforests and dry forests. You will conduct fieldwork examining how human-induced changes in the environment — such as defaunation, invasive species, and global warming — impact these two forest types.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to zipline through the forest canopy, spend time at the beach, and enjoy the sights and sounds of tropical forests. Upon return, you will spend the rest of the semester drawing upon your travel experience to help you identify strategies to protect these natural systems from further human disturbance.
This course can be taken at either the 200- or 400-level, with students enrolling at the 400 level having greater expectations in terms of both depth of study and workload, and serving as research team leaders on group projects before, during, and after travel to Costa Rica.
Italy
BIO 241/241L: ANATOMY AND ART IN ITALY
This is a semester-long seminar examining the importance of anatomical study as represented in the art of ancient Rome, and its re-emergence and elaboration during the Italian Renaissance.
The highlight of the course is a trip to Italy in May during which you will tour historic sites in Rome, Siena, Pisa, Florence, and Bologna, representing the birthplace of modern anatomical science in some of Europe’s oldest universities. You will discover the many varied connections between anatomical study and art, especially in Renaissance Italy.
An individual research project with a multimedia presentation will be required.
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.
