The Profession
Educational Program
General Information—PA Program
Program Application
Requirements for the Major
Courses
Health Sciences Learning Center, 750 Highland Avenue, Room 1278, Madison, WI 53705; 608/263-5620; www.physicianassistant.wisc.edu
Professor Beasely (medical director); Faculty Associate Girdley; Clinical Instructors Snyder (interim program director), Noack, Wendler; Lecturer Speece; Associate Faculty Associate Cotˆ® (clinical education director); Instructional Program Manager McCarthy Orth; Associate Programmer Analyst Huisheere
The UW-Madison Physician Assistant Program is committed to advancing the health of the people of Wisconsin and beyond by achieving excellence in physician assistant education. The program is a division of the Department of Family Medicine, and is an undergraduate program in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. It is accredited by ARC-PA, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Graduates of this program receive a B.S. degree, and become certified physician assistants upon successful completion of a national examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
The UW-Madison PA Program educates students to become primary health care providers who are committed to the delivery of comprehensive preventive and therapeutic health care in a compassionate and culturally sensitive manner. Program graduates have the knowledge and skills to perform the full range of professional duties and responsibilities as delegated by a supervising physician.
The program shares the university's philosophy that diversity of students, faculty, and staff has a positive influence on the educational process and contributes substantially to the quality of the program and graduates.
The physician assistant profession began in the mid-1960s in response to the need for primary care providers in medically underserved areas. While primary care continues to be the focus of the profession, physician assistants contribute to patient care in many medical and surgical specialties.
Essential qualities of an effective physician assistant include: the ability to complete a rigorous academic program; strong analytical and interpersonal skills; the capacity for good judgment; commitment to providing service; and desire to work as part of a health care team.
The four-year program leading to a bachelor of science in physician assistant consists of two years of pre-professional courses and two years of professional courses, including two required summer sessions. The program does not meet the guidelines for the university's four-year graduation contract. The minimum number of credits required for graduation is 130.
Entering freshmen and transfer students who meet admission requirements for the UW-Madison may declare pre-physician assistant (PPA) as a major on the application to the university. Students in the pre professional curriculum take a minimum of 54 credits in biological and physical sciences, humanities, social studies, and electives. All prerequisites must be completed with a minimum grade of C before the start of the professional program. Completion of prerequisite courses does not guarantee admission to the professional program. Further details regarding specific course requirements are outlined in the curriculum section below.
Many of the required pre-professional courses are available at other accredited colleges, universities, or technical institutions that offer college-transfer courses. Questions about course equivalencies from other institutions should be directed to the Student Services Office at 608/263-6800. That office reviews academic records for completion of prerequisite courses and determines eligibility for admission to the university. Students from UW System schools may consult the Transfer Information System for equivalency information (www.uwsa.edu/tis/).
Students from other institutions are strongly advised to request a review of transcripts before applying to the professional program by submitting a complete set of all transcripts and a written request to the Student Services Office. Such reviews are done as time permits and are not available during the annual professional application period. Students are not admitted to the professional program with course deficiencies and all college-level and high school transcripts must be submitted for review.
All prospective applicants should maintain contact with the program Web site, physicianassistant.wisc.edu, for current information about admission criteria, curricular changes, and application deadlines.
Admission to the professional program is a highly competitive process contingent upon admission to UW-Madison, completion of prerequisite courses, and selection by the program admissions committee. Please note that completion of prerequisite courses does not guarantee admission to the professional program. Thirty students are admitted to the professional program each year and are expected to carry the curriculum on a full-time basis. All applicants must be permanent U.S. residents.
The 24-month (four semesters and two summer sessions) professional program consists of didactic and clinical education. Further details about the professional curriculum are outlined in the curriculum section.
Students enrolled in the professional program should plan for a rigorous curriculum with significant time commitments. Employment while enrolled in the professional program is strongly discouraged.
Requests for additional University of Wisconsin-Madison information and an undergraduate application should be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 716 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53706; 608/262-3961.
General information sessions are held throughout the year to discuss the profession and program and answer questions. The schedule may be obtained by calling 608/263-5620. Program advisors are also available to assist students with questions not covered in the general information sessions. Students outside the Madison area may schedule phone advising appointments. All advising appointments are made by calling 608/263-5620.
The physician assistant program has developed technical standards that apply to all students entering the professional program. A copy of the technical standards can be obtained from the program office by calling 608/263-5620, or at www.physicianassistant.wisc.edu.
Entering pre-professional students will receive information about course scheduling during Student Orientation and Advising for Registration (SOAR) programs. Entering professional students will receive information about registration from the physician assistant program.
Pre-professional students should contact the Office of Student Financial Services, 432 North Murray Street, 608/262-3060, for information about financial aid.
Professional students who have prior degrees should also contact the Office of Student Financial Services for information about graduate-level loans with higher yearly and cumulative amounts. Scholarships and other loans for professional students may change annually. They are described in the PA Program Orientation Manual given to all entering professional students.
The program participates in the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). The program also requires a supplemental application. Please consult the program Web site for current information about the professional application process.
The program admissions committee reviews applications on the following criteria:
Following the committee's review of applicants on the above criteria, those who are considered to be the most competitive will be further evaluated by the following criteria:
The PA program reviews the progress, and makes decisions for promotion, for all professional students each semester. Advancement to the next level of training is dependent upon satisfactory academic and clinical progress, and professional conduct, as determined by the faculty. Students who do not earn a grade of C or better in all courses or do not meet other requirements and standards of the professional program may, at the discretion of the faculty, be placed on academic probation, required to complete additional requirements or course work, or be dismissed from the program.
Students who find it necessary to withdraw from the professional program and wish to request a leave of absence must submit a written request to the program director. Leaves may be granted at the discretion of the faculty within the following guidelines:
Academic requirements for this major are:
English and Mathematics requirements are determined by date of matriculation and placement examination as follows:
UW-Madison students and undergraduate transfer students, matriculating at a college or university before May 20, 1996, must satisfy the following English and mathematics prerequisites:
UW-Madison students, undergraduate transfer students, and second undergraduate degree candidates matriculating at any campus in summer 1996 or after must complete the following General Education Requirements for English and mathematics:
Part A: Literacy Proficiency. 2-3 credits at first-year level dedicated to reading, listening, discussion, with emphasis on writing. While most incoming freshman are required to complete course work to fulfill this requirement, students may be exempted from Part A by approved college course work while in high school, AP test scores, or placement testing.
Part B: Enhancing Literacy Proficiency. 2-3 credits of more advanced course work for students who have completed or been exempted from Part A. Students should consult with the appropriate undergraduate advisor about when this requirement should be completed. Courses that satisfy this requirement are offered in many fields of study; although a wide variety of courses fulfill this requirement, students are encouraged to select a course most in keeping with their interests or other requirements of their intended field(s) of study.
Part A: Quantitative Reasoning Proficiency. 3 credits of mathematics or formal logic. Students may be exempted from Part A by approved college work while in high school, AP test scores, or placement testing. Some students, however, may need to complete a prerequisite before enrolling in a Quantitative Reasoning Part A course.
Part B: Enhancing Quantitative Reasoning Proficiency. 3 credits of more advanced course work for students who have completed or been exempted from Part A. Courses that satisfy this requirement are offered in a variety of fields of study. Students are encouraged to select a course in keeping with their interests or other requirements of their intended field(s) of study.
Program requirements equal or exceed the general education requirements for natural science, humanities/literature/arts, ethnic studies, and social studies. All students must complete the following prerequisite courses:
Foreign Language: All students graduating from high school after December 1990 must have completed two years of the same foreign language in high school, or have taken two semesters of the same language at the university level before admission to UW-Madison.
Humanities: 6 credits
Social Studies: 9 credits. 6 credits plus Psychology 202
Ethnic Studies: 3 credits. May also fulfill 3 credits of Humanities or Social Studies
Transfer students who have fulfilled their humanities and social studies requirements before enrolling at UW-Madison are exempt from the ethnic studies requirement.
Science
Chem 103 (4 credits), 104 (5 credits)
Zool 101 (3 credits), 102 (2 credits). Students who take Zool 151 and 152 must complete both courses in order to satisfy the Zool 101 and 102 requirement.
Microbio 101 (3 credits), 102 (2 credits)
BMolChem 314 (3 credits)—Organic Chemistry is not a substitute for this requirement.
Anatomy 328 (3 credits)—Human Anatomy
Physiol 335 (5 credits)—Human Physiology with Lab. Must be taken within five years of entry into the professional program
Electives: Students must complete a sufficient number of elective credits to attain Junior standing (54 credits) before entering the professional program.
Anatomy 429 Human Anatomy Laboratory, 5 cr
Phy Asst 419 History and Physical Examination, 3 cr
Phmcol 401 Survey of Pharmacology, 3 cr
Phm Prac 440 Therapeutics—Physician Assistants and Adv Practice Nurses, Part 1, 1 cr
MM&I 504 Infectious Diseases of Human Beings, 3 cr
Phy Asst 348 Theories and Practice in Emergency Care, 1 cr
Phy Asst 400 Clinical Medicine for Physician Assistants, 5 cr
Phy Asst 420 Advanced Patient Evaluation in the Primary Care Setting I, 1 cr
Phy Asst 430 Obstetrics and Gynecology for Physician Assistants, 2 cr
Phm Prac 441 Therapeutics-Physician Assistants and Adv Practice Nurses, Part 2, 1 cr
Phy Asst 401 Clinical Medicine for Physician Assistants, 5 cr
Phy Asst 416 Issues in Professional Practice for Physician Assistants, 1 cr
Phy Asst 421 Advanced Patient Evaluation in the Primary Care Setting II, 2 cr
Phy Asst 440 Laboratory Medicine for Physician Assistants, 2 cr
Phy Asst 448 A Team Approach to Emergency Care, 4 cr
Phy Asst 402/403 Pediatrics for Physicians Assistants I/II, 2 cr
Phy Asst 422 Field Experience in Patient Assessment, 2 cr
Phy Asst 470 Surgical Principles and Procedures, 1 cr
The senior year of the Physician Assistant Program consists of four eight-week preceptorships, each worth 8 credits. Preceptorships are intensive clinical learning experiences under the direction of physician preceptors at a variety of off-campus clinical settings.
Each student must take one rotation each in PA 629 Surgery and PA 649 Internal Medicine and two rotations in PA 639 Primary Care. These rotations include a minimum four-week experience in a medically underserved or culturally diverse area. The major consideration while assigning students to preceptorship sites is to provide the best clinical learning experience. Preference for specific facilities and geographical locations cannot be guaranteed.
PA 516. Contemporary Professional Issues—Physician Assistant (1 cr). An elective course for senior physician assistant students.
Course requirements, application deadlines, and admission criteria may change.The most current program information is available on the program Web site (www.physicianassistant.wisc.edu); or please contact the program office or the Office of Student Services for the latest information.