About the program
The Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science PA program is described in PAEA's published program data; full curriculum details, faculty, and admissions cycle specifics are maintained on the program's own website.
From the program's mission statement: "Prepare a diverse group of uniquely qualified physician assistants who provide excellent medical care with compassion while addressing health disparities, seeking social justice and improving the health of medically underserved communities."
Emphasis on matriculating historically underserved, disadvantaged students, cadaver lab, X-Ray & Ultrasound embedded anatomy curriculum, international rotation, international service learning experiences
Matriculant data
Actual stats for students who enrolled in the most recently reported cohort, sourced from PAEA's published program data.
Admission policies
Out-of-state applicants are accepted. International applicants: yes, with exceptions. please visit the program's website. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: No Requirement · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science offers an ARC-PA accredited 27-month program awarding a Master of Health Science degree, with the next cohort beginning August 2027. The program's mission is direct and specific: prepare a diverse group of physician assistants to deliver compassionate care while addressing health disparities, pursuing social justice, and serving medically underserved communities. This is not a general-purpose program, and applicants who are drawn to primary care in under-resourced settings or who themselves come from historically underserved or disadvantaged backgrounds will find the mission a genuine match rather than a talking point.
The program places a particular emphasis on matriculating students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the estimated incoming class size of 26 reflects an intentionally small, cohesive training environment. Curriculum delivery blends asynchronous, case-based, problem-based, systems-based, and team-based learning approaches. The anatomy sequence is notable for integrating X-ray and ultrasound imaging directly into cadaver lab instruction, giving students early exposure to diagnostic imaging in a hands-on context. International rotations and international service learning experiences are built into the program, consistent with its health equity focus.
The GPA floor sits at 3.00 across overall, science, and prerequisite coursework, with no time limit on when prerequisites were completed - a meaningful flexibility for non-traditional applicants. Up to two outstanding prerequisites are permitted at the time of application. Direct patient care experience is recommended but not required, as is general healthcare experience, which lowers the barrier for career changers or applicants earlier in their preparation. Required science prerequisites include two semesters each of general chemistry and general biology with labs, plus human anatomy, human physiology, and microbiology with labs, and a statistics course.
Total tuition is $133,000 with a $1,000 seat deposit; there are no separate tuition rates for in-state or out-of-state students, and the program accepts applicants from outside California as well as international applicants with certain exceptions. Admission is rolling on a first-come, first-served basis with an application deadline of September 1, 2026, which means early submission is a practical advantage, not merely conventional advice. Three letters of reference are required. Interviews are conducted in a Multiple Mini Interview format and must be completed on-site; there is no part-time or distance learning option.
An applicant deciding whether this program fits should honestly assess whether the mission of serving medically underserved communities is central to their career goals, not just compatible with them, since the curriculum, clinical experiences, and student population are all oriented around that purpose.