Physician Assistant M.S.
The Next Chapter in Southeastern Wisconsin Healthcare
Pursuing your Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) is more than just earning a degree; it is your chance to step into a high-demand, incredibly rewarding profession and become a vital part of your community's health and well-being.
This rigorous, yet supportive, 27-month program is a natural extension of UW-Parkside's tradition of excellence in pre-health education. By leveraging our strategic location and established clinical connections, you will be perfectly positioned to become a compassionate, high-quality healthcare professional ready to meet the growing needs of our local communities.
Our Program Atmosphere
We believe the best learning happens in a warm, supportive, and collaborative environment. Our faculty and staff are committed to a truly student-centered experience, built on principles of:
- Kindness as the foundation for mutual respect and professionalism
- A warm and supportive faculty and staff
- A collaborative learning environment (not competitive)
- An innovative and open-minded approach
- A culture that is receptive and responsive to your needs
- A commitment to the Standard of Excellence
Cutting-Edge Medical Education
- Learning should be exciting and effective! We integrate cutting-edge medical education technology to enhance your experience, including:
- Augmented and Virtual Reality to bring lessons to life
- Artificial Intelligence platform integration
- Medical Simulators to build clinical skills and confidence
Preliminary Admissions Criteria
To prepare your strongest application, here are the core requirements:
| Requirement Category | Detail |
| Degree | Earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. (For information related to the accelerated 3+2 program for Parkside undergraduate students click here) |
| Minimum GPA | Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (Note: National average incoming PA student GPA is 3.5-3.6). |
| Minimum Science GPA | Applicant must have a minimum science GPA of 3.0 |
| Patient Care | At least 300 direct patient care hours. |
| Shadowing | At least 40 hours of PA shadowing. |
| Testing | No graduate examination scores (GRE or GMAT) requirement. |
Required Prerequisite Courses
Required Prerequisite Courses
Please ensure you plan to complete all the following prerequisite courses before matriculation:
- 2 semesters of General Biology with labs
- 1 semester of Genetics with or without lab
- 1 semester of Human Functional Anatomy with lab (or 2 semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology with labs)
- 1 semester of Physiology with lab (or 2 semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology with labs)
- 1 semester of Microbiology
- 1 semester of Biochemistry
- 2 semesters of General Chemistry with labs
- 2 semesters of Organic Chemistry with labs
- 1 semester of Physics
- 1 semester of Introductory Psychology
- 1 semester of Abnormal Psychology
- 1 semester of Statistics
Preferred additional courses:
1 semester of Genetics with or without lab
Second semester Organic Chemistry with Lab
1 Semester Abnormal Psychology
1 Semester of Calculus
Accreditation Status
The Physician Assistant Program in development at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has applied for Accreditation-Provisional status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside's Physician Assistant Program anticipates matriculating its first class in May 2028, pending achieving Accreditation-Provisional status at the October 2027 ARC-PA meeting.
Understanding Accreditation-Provisional
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards. This status allows a program to enroll its first class.
Note for Applicants: The UW-Parkside PA Program is not yet accredited and is a developing program seeking provisional accreditation from ARC-PA. Official application via CASPA is expected to open in April 2027. All admissions decisions are ultimately contingent upon the program successfully achieving Accreditation-Provisional status from the ARC-PA. As such, applicants and prospective students should be aware of the following implications if the program is not granted accreditation-provisional status:
- Students cannot matriculate into a program that is not accredited by the ARC-PA.
- CASPA application fees are non-refundable.
- Admission will not be granted until the program achieves provisional accreditation.
- Enrollment will not proceed unless provisional accreditation is received.
- The program does not guarantee placement into other PA programs should provisional accreditation not be granted.
- Should the program receive provisional accreditation, students that matriculate and graduate will be eligible to sit for the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination).
The program is committed to transparency and will continue to provide timely updates as the accreditation process progresses.
Addressing the Primary Care Shortage
You will graduate as part of the solution to the Wisconsin Primary Care Shortage. Our curriculum has a special focus on primary care, recognizing that Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee are all designated Health Provider Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Primary Care Focused Curriculum: Our didactic year includes clinical cases and problem-based learning centered on Primary Care.
Interprofessional Experiences (IPE): We plan to offer opportunities to collaborate with with Nursing and Clinical Mental Health Counseling students, mirroring the team-based care model.
Community Outreach: Engage with community health centers early and often with planned rotation opportunities.
Confidence and Longevity: This preparation is designed to reduce burnout and improve longevity in primary care settings.
Introducing the 3+2 Accelerated Pathway!
We are thrilled to be developing an accelerated pathway for our highly qualified undergraduate students. The 3+2 pathway allows you, as a current UW-Parkside Pre-PA freshman, to potentially start your MSPA program during your fourth year of college.
This unique opportunity means your first year of graduate coursework simultaneously completes your bachelor's degree requirements and your first year of your MSPA degree. This saves you valuable time and money on your journey to becoming a Physician Assistant.
Available for Current Pre-PA Freshmen: Because of the strong foundation provided by our existing Pre-PA curriculum, high-achieving freshmen like you are likely to be on track for eligibility and could potentially join our inaugural class starting in May 2028.
Important Note: This is a highly competitive pathway available to select students. Participation in the Pre-PA program does not guarantee selection for the 3+2 pathway. Furthermore, being selected for the 3+2 pathway guarantees you a formal interview for the MSPA program, but it does not guarantee final admission to the PA program itself.
PROGRAM CONTACT INFO
Tyler Carle, DPA, MS, PA-C | carlet@uwp.edu
