Graduate Application Information
Applicants who will have a completed Bachelor's degree at the fall start of the Physician Assistant Program which includes current seniors
We value the richness of educational experience that is gained from a diversity of educational backgrounds and work-related experience within a given admitted class. The application process is competitive, and most accepted graduate applicants have a degree in the basic or biomedical sciences. As such, applicants holding bachelor degrees or advanced degrees may also apply to the physician assistant program. These applicants must realize that if admitted they will be required to complete the physician assistant curriculum in its entirety. The exception is if a candidate holds a bachelors or higher degree in a core basic science course he/she will not be required to take that basic science course in the PA curriculum (example: a biochemisty degree holder would not be required to take the biochemistry course).
Requirements include:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0.
- GRE scores (Designated Institution code 5872) - Must be completed by September 1st. *Scores must be received by the program by Oct. 1st.
- Completion of the following prerequisite coursework.
It is highly recommended that the pre-requisite coursework is completed within the last 5 years and taken at a 4 year accredited institution. Science pre-requisite coursework must be completed with an earned grade of C or better. This includes courses in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry or biochemistry. Pending prerequisites must be listed on the application along with the semester you plan to take them.
***UPDATE: Applicants applying Fall of 2013, who would start the PA program in Fall of 2014 must have the below listed pre-requisites. The science prerequisites (biology, chemistry, organic chemistry/biochemistry) must be completed by the time of application submission for the start of Fall of 2014.- 2 semesters of biological sciences
- 1 semester (minimum of 4 credits) of inorganic (General) chemistry
- 1 semester of biochemistry or organic chemistry
- 1 semester of social science (psychology recommended)
- 1 semester of statistics
- 1 course in medical terminology
- Marquette University's College of Health Sciences will offer a medical terminolgy course in all semesters beginning Spring 2014
- Minimum of 200 hours of volunteer and/or paid health care experience.
- The hours can be either volunteer or paid direct patient care. The minimum 200 hours must be completed at the time your application is submitted with a contact number of a supervisor or volunteer office for verification. Hours may include (but are not limited to): nursing assistant, EMT, volunteer patient care within a nursing home or hospital, radiology tech, phlebotomist.
- 3 letters of recommendation are required (No form is provided). Although there are no requirements as to the format of content of the three reference letters we require, we do have some suggestions as to whom these references might come from.
- Someone who knows you academically. This would ideally be someone whose course you have taken and can comment on your preparation for the rigors of an intense professional academic program.
- Someone who knows your work ethic. This would ideally be from someone in the healthcare field with whom you have worked with, or worked for, and can comment on your work ethic, passion for healthcare, etc.
- Someone who knows you personally. This would ideally be from someone in the community who can comment on your character, your goals, etc.
- An interview will be offered to select applicants.
***UPDATE: Applicants applying for the Fall 2014 cycle, to begin the PA program Fall 2015, will need the prerequisites listed below to be completed at the time of application submission:
- 2 semesters of biological sciences
- 1 semester (minimum of 4 credits) of inorganic (General) chemistry
- 1 semester of biochemistry
- must be at least 3 credits upper division or intermediate level course. Marquette University's College of Health Sciences offers BISC 3213 Biochemistry (4 credits) Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Please click here for the Marquette University undergraduate bulletin. If not taking the biochemistry PA pre-requisite course at Marquette, the course should contain similar content as BISC 3213 Biochemistry
- 1 semester of social science (psychology recommended)
- 1 semester of statistics
- 1 course in medical terminology
- Marquette University's College of Health Sciences will offer a medical terminolgy course in all semesters beginning Spring 2014
* Graduates from Marquette University are also required to take the GRE. This requirement applies to all applicants with Senior standing and those that will have a bachelor degree prior to beginning the program, regardless of where the degree was obtained.
