Pre-Pathologists' Assistant
At WVU School of Medicine Health Professions, we offer pre-health undergraduate degrees for every interest, that will help you graduate prepared for your future in healthcare. If you want to attend graduate school to become a pathologists' assistant, here's how we support you.
Madisen Miles
Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics
“My experience has been nothing short of fulfilling and thought provoking. The School of Medicine faculty have pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and have allowed me to gain confidence in my abilities when I eventually enter the workforce.”
What undergraduate major should I choose?
Pre-pathologists' assistant students in the WVU School of Medicine typically major in Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics (BLD), Exercise Physiology (EXPH), or Immunology and Medical Microbiology (IMMB). As part of West Virginia's only comprehensive academic health sciences center, you'll enjoy unique opportunities - for example, participating in interprofessional education (IPE) experiences alongside your peers across undergraduate and graduate health sciences programs.
Each major builds a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and other key sciences, covering many pathologists' assistant prerequisites, with room (if needed) for extra electives.
- Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics: Hands-on experience performing diagnostic tests on human samples sharpens BLD students' clinical reasoning. During the final year, students integrate learning through research (in capstone course PALM 475: Medical Relevance) and clinical rotations.
- Exercise Physiology: Core EXPH coursework focuses on human body systems/function and medical terminology. EXPH students can elect to take upper-division electives like EXPH 441: Gross Anatomy Laboratory (human cadaver dissection) and EXPH 460: Pathophysiology (causes of disease), while all EXPH students complete a clinical internship or research experience.
- Immunology and Medical Microbiology (IMMB) offers an in-depth study of the immune system and disease response with an emphasis on hands-on lab work from year one. Students can pursue paid, multi-year research with grant-funded faculty and complement core IMMB coursework with electives like IMMB 327: Parasitology, IMMB 480: Vaccinology, and a study-abroad trip to Italy exploring the roots of Western medicine.
What other opportunities are there to strengthen my application to pathologist's assistant programs?
Stand out with a minor in areas like rural health, healthcare data analytics, and molecular medicine. EXPH students can also pursue the Health Professions area of emphasis to align with key graduate school prerequisites.
How soon should I start preparing for pathologist's assistant school?
Choosing a WVU School of Medicine major is a strong first step towards pathologists' assistant school. Check out the WVU Pathologists' Assistant admissions page for important information on timelines for application!
Your next steps
Take the first steps to apply to Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics (BLD), Exercise Physiology (EXPH), or Immunology and Medical Microbiology (IMMB).