Old Dominion University offers a Master of Health Sciences with a concentration in Pathologists' Assisting. The mission of the Pathologists' Assistant program is to educate and train individuals to become academically qualified and highly competent allied health professionals as pathologists' assistants that provide surgical, autopsy and forensic pathology professional services under the guidance of a board certified pathologist.
Pathologists' assistants study the nature of human disease. A career as a pathologists' assistant might be right for you if you enjoy:
- Grossing of specimens
- Processing and examining surgical samples
- Performing investigative work in autopsy cases
- Working in a laboratory setting
Program Highlights
-
Examine specialized cases in autopsy, forensics, pediatrics and neuropathology in courses built for PathA students.
-
Earn certifications in Pathology Informatics and Lab Management before you graduate, giving you the essentials for success in managerial roles.
-
Have the opportunity to investigate and report on a case study that could merit publication. Beaker and goggles State-of-the-art facilities Gain technical knowledge and hands-on training in our laboratories, clinical clerkships and CAP-accredited biorepository.
-
Gain technical knowledge and hands-on training in our laboratories, clinical clerkships and CAP-accredited biorepository.
Featured Courses
Requirements
-
Candidates must have completed all undergraduate degree requirements and have been issued a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculating as a student. If the bachelor’s degree was issued by a U.S. college or university, as a general rule it should be from a regionally accredited institution. Official transcripts from the awarding institution must specify the date upon which the degree was issued.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a weighted undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher (on a 4-point scale) and must have completed the following:
-
- Required science courses
- 2 semesters of General Biology with lab or equivalent
- 2 semesters of General Chemistry with lab
- 2 semesters of Organic Chemistry with lab or 1 semester of Organic Chemistry with lab and 1 semester of Biochemistry
- 1 semester of Mathematics
- 1 semester of Physics
- Recommended science courses (if a deficiency is apparent with low GPA on prerequisite course work)
- 1 semester of Microbiology
- 1 semester of combined Anatomy & Physiology
- Neuroanatomy and Histology courses
- Required Shadowing Experience
- The Pathologists’ Assistant program requires applicants to have shadowing experience. In many instances, 30 to 40 hours of shadowing can be sufficient to fulfill this requirement. The shadowing experience should include observing the dissection and dictation of a variety of complex specimens, exposure to the frozen section technique, and, if feasible, autopsy cases (medical or forensic). We encourage candidates to obtain as much shadowing experience as is possible prior to the interview process.
- Official transcripts must be sent in an unopened envelope directly to GradCAS
- Submit three letters of recommendation from faculty (in the prerequisite courses) who are familiar with the student's ability to be successful in a graduate program. Letters from employers may be submitted and will be considered as supplemental letters but will not serve in lieu of the three required from faculty.
- Letter of intent/personal essay outlining the applicant’s academic and professional goals and their particular interest in the Pathologists’ Assistant career.
- Resume/CV with health-related experience listed (including shadowing experience)
- GRE GMAT or MCAT scores will be relevant for five (5) years. Older scores will need to be retaken.
- An interview with Pathologists' Assistant Admissions Committee
- Complete and submit online application (including $125 nonrefundable application fee). Application will not be deemed complete until the application fee has been paid.EV
- Required science courses
Licensure Information
Virginia Licensure
** You do not need three years of educational experience to apply to this program. However, to be eligible for an Administration and Supervision preK-12 license in the Commonwealth of Virginia, you must have completed three years of successful, full-time experiences in a public or accredited nonpublic school in an instructional personnel position with licensure as a teacher or school counselor. ODU's MSEd concentration in educational administration and supervision is approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
All Other Locations
If you're seeking teacher licensure or endorsement in another state, we encourage you to check your state's requirements before you apply.
Clinical clerkships
With 28 affiliations in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. EVMS School of Health Professions has one of the largest collections of clerkships for a program of its kind in the country. In clerkship rotations, students handle a high volume of complex cases, gaining approximately 1,500 clinical hours at sites including the National Institutes of Health. We also offer elective internship opportunities throughout the country.
Cost of Attendance
Tuition and fees are established annually in June and may change without notice. For questions about charges on student accounts, please contact Financial Services. Program-specific tuition and fee information is available on each program’s website.
Next Steps
Contact
