Physician Assistant Studies - Master of Science
The rigor of this training program and the skills and responsibility necessary for clinical practice as a physician assistant (PA) require the program to seek applicants with a strong academic background, along with refined interpersonal skills and maturity. Prior healthcare experience is also an indicator of a career commitment to clinical practice.
While academic preparation is the primary criterion used in the admissions review process, nonacademic factors may contribute to the strength of an application. These may include qualities such as demonstrated leadership, involvement, and/or adding a diverse dimension to our campus community. Diversity is essential to our university and profession. Individuals from underrepresented, disadvantaged, or marginalized communities, and military veterans, are encouraged to apply.
The program's admission process will consider each applicant's strengths and select for admission those applicants best qualified to meet the program's mission: "In collaboration with nationally renowned partners, we develop exemplary PAs, in an inclusive culture, who equitably optimize the health of our region." To align with this mission, current employees of Gundersen Health System, Mayo Clinic, Marshfield Clinic, or UW-L who are interested in advancing their career as a PA are encouraged to apply.
Admission
Application process
To be considered for admission applicants must have all of the following completed:
- An application with the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) including three letters of reference. CASPA is a national application service that collects and verifies application materials and calculates various GPAs before forwarding the applicants file to the programs selected by the applicant. For details, visit CASPA.
- A UWL - Gundersen - Mayo - Marshfield PA Program Supplemental Application.
- Submission of the program application fee.
- International applicants have additional requirements.
To be considered for an interview, all references, transcripts, and GRE scores must be received by CASPA by August 1. The program application fee must be submitted to UWL by August 1 as well. CASPA stops accepting materials after the deadline passes. For details, visit CASPA.
Admission requirements
- An earned bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- A minimum cumulative GPA (as calculated by CASPA) of 3.00 calculated on a 4-point scale.
- A minimum science (as defined and calculated by CASPA) GPA of 3.00 on a 4-point scale.
- Submission of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores is required with scores forwarded to UWL and the PA program. GRE scores are used as another measure of academic aptitude along with GPA. Thus, there is no minimum required score.
Interview selection factors
An interview is required for admission to the program. Factors considered in the interview selection include the following:
- Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA), as calculated by CASPA
- Science GPA, as calculated by CASPA
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores
- Current employment at Gundersen Health System, Mayo Clinic, or Marshfield Clinic (minimum employment of at least 12 months at the time of application submission)
- UWL students currently enrolled at least part-time (> 6 credits) and on track to earn a bachelor’s degree prior to the program start or those who have graduated from UWL within 12 months of application submission
Final admission selection
- Written application including references
- Background predictive of potential for future practice in the service areas of the program's partner institutions
- Knowledge of the PA profession and the profession's role in the healthcare system
- Interpersonal skills
- Quality and extent of healthcare related experience
- Rigor of undergraduate education
Strong GPA and GRE scores are necessary to gain an interview, and ultimately, admission.
Any offer of admission will be contingent on acceptance of the candidate by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Office of Admissions, and successful completion of all degrees and current coursework, including prerequisites.
Program prerequisites
Applicants must have the following coursework completed prior to beginning the PAS program. Students may apply with outstanding prerequisite courses so long as they demonstrate a plan to complete those courses before matriculating in the program.
Biology: At least 11 semester hours of biology in the following areas including at least two lab courses:
- Anatomy and Physiology: One semester of human anatomy AND one semester of human physiology; OR a two-semester sequence of combined human anatomy which must be at the 200/sophomore level or above. Though vertebrate and mammalian anatomy and physiology are acceptable, human anatomy and physiology is strongly preferred.
- Microbiology: One semester at the 200/sophomore level or above.
- Chemistry: A minimum of 11 semester hours of chemistry including the following courses, at least two of which must include a laboratory:
- General Chemistry: One semester of general or introductory chemistry.
- Organic Chemistry: One semester at the 200/sophomore level or above.
- Biochemistry: One semester at the 300/junior level or above. Molecular or cellular at the 300 level or above is an acceptable alternative.
Mathematics: A minimum of two semesters of mathematics including:
- Pre-calculus/Calculus: One semester of college algebra with trigonometry or pre-calculus or calculus.
- Statistics: One semester of statistics.
Psychology: A minimum of one semester of general, introductory, developmental, or abnormal psychology.
Health Care Experience: Prior direct patient care health experience is expected but not required. Such experience provides evidence of a career commitment to healthcare as a PA. In the program's competitive admission process, the length and depth of healthcare experience is a selection factor.
Technical Standards of Performance: Applicants must also meet the program's technical standards of performance in the areas of observation, communication, motor function, intellectual/conceptual, integrative and quantitative ability, and behavioral and social attributes. The Physician Assistant Program has posted these standards online. Applicants may have accommodations to meet these standards.
Applicable UWL courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | ||
| BIO 312 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO 103 or BIO 105 and CHM 103 are prereqs) | 4 |
| BIO 313 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| Microbiology | ||
| MIC 230 | Fundamentals of Microbiology (BIO 103 or BIO 105 and CHM 103 are prereqs) | 4 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CHM 103 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHM 104 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| Organic chemistry | ||
| Select either: | ||
| CHM 300 | Fundamental Organic Chemistry | 4 |
OR | ||
| CHM 303 & CHM 304 | Organic Chemistry Theory I and Organic Chemistry Theory II | 6 |
| Biochemistry | ||
| Select either: | ||
| CHM 325 | Fundamental Biochemistry 1 | 4 |
OR | ||
| CHM 417 & CHM 418 | Biochemistry I: Macromolecules and Biochemistry II: Metabolism and Genetic Information | 7 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MTH 151 | Precalculus | 4-5 |
| or MTH 207 | Calculus I | |
| Statistics | ||
| STAT 145 | Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| or STAT 405 | Statistical Methods | |
| Psychology | ||
| Select one from: | ||
| PSY 100 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 212 | Lifespan Development | 3 |
| PSY 204 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 356 | Infancy and Childhood | 3 |
| PSY 357 | Adolescence | 3 |
| PSY 358 | Adulthood | 3 |
Professional PAS curriculum
The PA Program curriculum includes a total of 108 required credits including 64 credits of didactic and professional development and 44 credits of supervised clinical experiences. Matriculating students are enrolled full-time as a cohort and pre-clinical courses are offered once per year. Students must successfully complete the pre-clinical year to advance to the clinical year.
The clinical year is also full-time and composed of required (PAS 720-732) and specialty rotations (PAS 734) as well as a professional development seminar series. The rotations do not need to be completed in a specific order and sequence is subject to availability of clinical sites.
Pre-clinical year courses (listed in order of enrollment)
59 credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 509 | Human Gross Anatomy | 3 |
| PAS 510 | Applied Human Gross Anatomy | 3 |
| PAS 626 | Physiology for the Medical Professional | 4 |
| PAS 640 | Introduction to the Physician Assistant Profession | 1 |
| PAS 680 | Pathology | 1 |
| PAS 630 | Clinical Pharmacology I | 3 |
| PAS 642 | Medical History and Physical Exam | 3 |
| PAS 643 | Applied Medical History and Physical Exam | 1 |
| PAS 654 | Evidence Based Practice for PAs | 2 |
| PAS 681 | Medical Diagnostics | 1 |
| PAS 682 | Internal Medicine: Cardiology | 3 |
| PAS 683 | Gastroenterology | 2 |
| PAS 685 | Pulmonology | 2 |
| PAS 703 | Endocrinology | 1 |
| PAS 707 | Hematology | 1 |
| PAS 711 | Clinical Neuroscience I | 2 |
| PAS 800 | Clinical Assessment I | 1 |
| PAS 637 | Clinical Practice Skills I | 1 |
| PAS 649 | Health Care Administration, Law, and Ethics | 1 |
| PAS 717 | Rheumatology | 1 |
| PAS 628 | Infectious Diseases | 2 |
| PAS 631 | Clinical Pharmacology II | 2 |
| PAS 647 | Applied Clinical Practice Skills | 2 |
| PAS 652 | Clinical Procedures (one credit repeated twice) | 2 |
| PAS 701 | Nephrology | 1 |
| PAS 709 | Emergency Medicine | 1 |
| PAS 712 | Clinical Neuroscience II | 2 |
| PAS 760 | Obstetrics - Maternal/Fetal Care | 1 |
| PAS 762 | Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine | 1 |
| PAS 763 | Genitourinary Medicine | 1 |
| PAS 764 | Applied Genitourinary Medicine | 1 |
| PAS 770 | Principles of Surgical Medicine | 1 |
| PAS 771 | Orthopedics | 1 |
| PAS 772 | Principles of Surgical Medicine III: Surgical Subspecialties of Otorhinolaryngology and Opthalmology | 1 |
| PAS 773 | Dermatology | 1 |
| PAS 801 | Clinical Assessment II | 1 |
| PAS 700 | Society and Population Health | 1 |
| Total Credits | 59 | |
Clinical rotations
44 credits
Completion of required rotations (PAS 720-732) and specialty rotations (PAS 734) do not need to be completed in a specific order. Sequence is subject to availability of specific sites.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required clinical rotations | ||
| PAS 720 | Family Medicine Rotation | 4 |
| PAS 722 | Internal Medicine Rotation | 4 |
| PAS 724 | General Surgery Rotation | 4 |
| PAS 726 | Women's Health Rotation | 4 |
| PAS 728 | Pediatric Rotation | 4 |
| PAS 730 | Behavioral Health Rotation | 4 |
| PAS 732 | Emergency Medicine Rotation | 4 |
| Specialty clinical rotations | ||
| PAS 734 | Specialty Medicine Rotation (four credits repeated four times) | 16 |
| Total Credits | 44 | |
Professional Development
5 credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 790 | PA Professional Development I Seminar | 1 |
| PAS 792 | PA Professional Development II Seminar | 2 |
| PAS 794 | PA Professional Development III Seminar | 1 |
| PAS 802 | Summative Assessment | 1 |
| Total Credits | 5 | |
University graduate degree requirements
After being admitted to the program of one's choice, candidates for a graduate degree must:
- Complete any preliminary course work and deficiencies.
- Complete all courses and other program requirements, including residence requirements prescribed for the degree desired in the respective school or college within a seven-year period from the date of initial enrollment, with the exception of students enrolled in the Student Affairs Administration and Leadership Ed.D. (SAA Ed.D.) graduate program. SAA Ed.D. students must complete all degree requirements within ten years from the time of initial enrollment in the graduate program.
- Earn a minimum of 30 credits for a master's degree; 54 credits for a doctorate or post-master's degree. Earn at least one-half of the minimum number of credits required in the program in graduate-only level courses (700, 800, 900, and non-slash 600 level courses). Some UWL graduate programs require more than 30 graduate credits. Please review the individual program requirements listed in the catalog for the exact number of credits required.
- Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00.
- Satisfy dissertation, thesis, seminar paper, terminal/graduate projects and internships, or comprehensive examination, where applicable. A dissertation or thesis approved by the committee must be submitted to Graduate & Extended Learning for editorial review and approval by the Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning. The recommended initial submission date for review is two weeks before commencement. Ordinarily, a seminar paper or project report does not have to be approved by the Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning. However, if the seminar paper or project report is to be archived in Murphy Library, the student must follow the same rules as they apply to the dissertation/thesis requiring approval from the Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning. For further research/dissertation/thesis guidelines, see Graduate & Extended Learning.
- File a completed "Intent to Graduate" form online via the WINGS Student Center immediately following registration for the final semester or summer term in residence. December graduates and winter intersession should file by May 1. May and summer graduates should file by December 1.
- Pay the graduation fee and remove all other indebtedness to the university. Payment of graduation fees does not imply readiness for graduation and does not take the place of applying for graduation.
- Complete all requirements within 30 days after the official ending date of a term in order for a degree to be awarded for that term. (See #5 above for separate deadline for written capstone experience.)
Course schedule by semester:
| Pre-Clinical Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Credits | Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PAS 509 | 3 | PAS 630 | 3 | PAS 649 | 1 | PAS 628 | 2 |
| PAS 510 | 3 | PAS 642 | 3 | PAS 637 | 1 | PAS 631 | 2 |
| PAS 626 | 4 | PAS 643 | 1 | PAS 717 | 1 | PAS 647 | 2 |
| PAS 640 | 1 | PAS 654 | 2 | PAS 701 | 1 | ||
| PAS 680 | 1 | PAS 681 | 1 | PAS 709 | 1 | ||
| PAS 682 | 3 | PAS 712 | 2 | ||||
| PAS 683 | 2 | PAS 760 | 1 | ||||
| PAS 685 | 2 | PAS 762 | 1 | ||||
| PAS 703 | 1 | PAS 763 | 1 | ||||
| PAS 707 | 1 | PAS 764 | 1 | ||||
| PAS 711 | 2 | PAS 770 | 1 | ||||
| PAS 800 | 1 | PAS 771 | 1 | ||||
| PAS 772 | 1 | ||||||
| PAS 773 | 1 | ||||||
| PAS 801 | 1 | ||||||
| 12 | 22 | 3 | 19 | ||||
| Clinical Year | |||||||
| Summer | Credits | Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | ||
| PAS 652 (2)1 | 1 | Clinical rotations, four 4-week rotations. Select four of the following: | 16 | Winter Intersession and Spring Semester | |||
| Clinical rotations, three 4-week rotations. Select three of the following: | 12 | PAS 720 | 4 | Clinical rotations, four 4-week rotations. Select four of the following: | 16 | ||
| PAS 720 | 4 | PAS 722 | 4 | PAS 720 | 4 | ||
| PAS 722 | 4 | PAS 724 | 4 | PAS 722 | 4 | ||
| PAS 724 | 4 | PAS 726 | 4 | PAS 724 | 4 | ||
| PAS 726 | 4 | PAS 728 | 4 | PAS 726 | 4 | ||
| PAS 728 | 4 | PAS 730 | 4 | PAS 728 | 4 | ||
| PAS 730 | 4 | PAS 732 | 4 | PAS 730 | 4 | ||
| PAS 732 | 4 | PAS 734 | 4 | PAS 732 | 4 | ||
| PAS 734 | 4 | PAS 792 | 2 | PAS 734 | 4 | ||
| PAS 700 | 1 | PAS 794 | 1 | ||||
| PAS 790 | 1 | PAS 802 | 1 | ||||
| 15 | 18 | 18 | |||||
| Total Credits: 107 | |||||||
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PAS 652 will be taken in the Summer after Pre-Clinical Spring semester for a total of two credits.