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Apply | Master of Medical Sciences in Physician Assistant Studies in Glendale

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Physician Assistant Program Admission

The Midwestern University PA Program considers applicants who possess the academic and professional promise necessary for the development as competent, caring members of the health care community. The admissions environment is highly selective with approximately 2,000 applications received each year. The application deadline is October 1st; however, applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Competitive Admissions

Completed applications received on or before the application deadline are reviewed to determine applicant eligibility for interviews. Interviews are typically held between August and March. The PA Program conducts rolling admissions and admissions decisions are generally made within two weeks following an interview. Candidates are notified of their status shortly thereafter. Cumulative and science grade point averages (GPAs),  letters of recommendation, health care experience, knowledge of the profession, and motivation for a PA career will all be considered when reviewing applicant files.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the PA Program must submit the following documented evidence:

  1. All applicants must apply through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) and meet the published admission criteria.
  2. Minimum cumulative science and overall GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
  3. Completion of prerequisite courses as listed below from regionally accredited colleges or universities. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C, or better. Life experience credits do not count toward fulfillment of any prerequisite courses. Courses in which "credit" or grades of "pass" are earned will be counted only when applicants can provide verification that the earned grades were equivalent to grades of C or better (grades of C- are not acceptable).
  4. Completion of prerequisite courses prior to matriculation.
  5. Applicants must determine which prerequisites are missing and which courses must be taken to fulfill any outstanding prerequisites.
  6. Completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university before matriculation.
  7. Motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by paid direct patient care hours, volunteer, work, shadowing, or other life experiences.
  8. Demonstration of service and leadership through community service or extracurricular activities.
  9. Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.
  10. Satisfactory Midwestern University criminal background check.
  11. Commitment to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
  12. Successful completion of all required immunizations prior to matriculation.
  13. The applicant must meet the technical standards prior to matriculation.

Prerequisite Courses

Course Sem Hrs Qtr Hrs
Biology with lab* (must include at least 4 hours of Anatomy) 8 12
General Chemistry with lab* 8 12
Organic Chemistry with lab* 4 6
Math (college algebra or above) 3 4
English Composition 6 9
Social and Behavioral Sciences (sociology, psychology, anthropology, etc.) 6 9
Statistics 3 4
Biochemistry (not required but strongly recommended) 4 6

*All science prerequisites must be courses designed for science majors. No survey courses will count to fulfill science prerequisites. No online labs will be accepted.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

International applicants must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or from a recognized post secondary Canadian institution that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation. Of the 30 semester hours, 15 hours must be in the sciences, six hours in non-remedial English composition, and three hours in speech/public speaking.

Applicants who wish to receive transfer credit for prerequisite coursework completed outside the US or at a Canadian institution that does not use English as its primary language of instruction and documentation must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation obtained from one of the following evaluation services:

  • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE): 414/289-3400 or Fax 414/289-3411 or visit www.ece.org
  • World Education Services (WES): 212/966-6311 or Fax 212/739-6100 or visit www.wes.org
  • Josef Silny & Associates International Education Consultants: 305/273-1616 or Fax 305/273-1338 or visit www.jsilny.com

International applicants who do not provide documentation of acceptable US or Canadian course/degree equivalency will not receive credit, and will be required to complete all prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university in the United States, or at a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation.

For clarification about recognized post-secondary institutions in Canada that use English as a primary language of instruction and documentation, international applicants should contact the Midwestern University Office of Admissions.

Click here for more information on International Student Financial Services

Technical Standards for Admission

The technical standards set forth the nonacademic abilities considered essential for students to achieve the level of competence required by the faculty to obtain the academic degree awarded by the college.

A candidate must be able to perform the following abilities and skills:

1. Observation: The candidate must be able to accurately make observations at a distance and close at hand, including those on a computer screen or electronic device. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and sense of touch and is enhanced by the functional use of all of the other senses. The candidate must be able to accurately auscultate lung/breath, heart and bowel sounds to complete the curricular requirement to individually complete physical examination of a patient/client.

2. Communication: The candidate must be able to communicate in English, proficiently and sensitively, in verbal and written form, and be able to perceive nonverbal communication.

3. Motor: Candidates must be able to coordinate both gross and fine muscular movements, maintain equilibrium and have functional use of the senses of touch and vision. The candidate must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination to perform profession-specific skills and tasks. Candidates must be able to lift 20 lbs.

4. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: The candidate must be able to problem solve, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, record, and synthesize large amounts of information in a timely manner. The candidate must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand spatial relationships.

5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: The candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment and the consistent, prompt completion of all responsibilities and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. The candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, willingness and ability to function as an effective team player, interest and motivation to learn are all personal qualities required during the educational process. The candidate must agree to participate in touching/palpated on the skin by individuals regardless of gender in all academic settings, including dental head, neck exams, including intra- and extra-oral examinations. These activities will take place in large and small group settings as directed in the College's curicular requirements.

Candidates are required to verify that they understand and meet these Technical Standards at least 4 weeks prior to matriculation (or if admitted later, within 1 week of deposit). Candidates who may only meet Technical Standards with accommodation, must contact the Office of Student Services to make formal request for accommodation. The Dean of Students, in consultation with the College Dean/Program Director, will determine what reasonable accommodations can be provided. The College is not able to grant accommodations that alter the educational standards of the curriculum.

Students must meet the Technical Standards for the duration of enrollment at the college. After matriculation, if a student fails to continue to meet the Technical Standards during subsequent enrollment, the student may apply for accommodation by contacting the Office of Student Services. If the accommodation needed to meet the Technical Standards alters the educational standards of the curriculum, the student's ability to satisfactorily progress in the curriculum will be evaluated by the appropriate College's Student Graduation and Promotion Committee.

Apply Online at CASPA

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Application Process and Deadlines

1. CASPA Application

Completed applications with all required materials must be submitted to the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) by October 1st. Please refer to the CASPA application instructions for specific details about completing the application, required documents, and processing time. CASPA applications are typically available beginning mid-April of the academic year preceding the year in which the applicant plans to matriculate. Due to the large number of applications and the limited number of seats available, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their CASPA applications early in the cycle. Applications are reviewed continuously throughout the admissions cycle.

2. Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation from professionals to CASPA. The Office of Admissions will only accept letters of recommendation received directly from CASPA. It is preferred that one letter be written by a science professor who has actually taught the student or a pre-health advisory committee. The second letter can be written by any one of the following: pre-health advisory committee, pre-health advisor, college professor, or healthcare professional (preferably a PA) who knows the applicant well, personal references are discouraged. Please refer to the CASPA application instructions for specific guidelines and requirements for submitting letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation must be received by the Office of Admissions no later than November 1st.

3. Completed Applications

The Office of Admissions will send letters verifying receipt of the CASPA application to all applicants who meet the minimum cumulative science and overall GPA requirement of 3.00. Letters will also include instructions on tracking application status online. Applicants are responsible for tracking the receipt of their application materials to ensure the submission of all required documents. Applicants will only be considered for entrance into the Program when the Office of Admissions has received all required application materials which must be submitted no later than November 1st. In-progress prerequisite courses must be completed prior to matriculation.

NOTE: Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address or e-mail address. All requests for application withdrawal must be done in writing via e-mail, fax, or letter to the Office of Admissions:

Midwestern University
Office of Admissions
19555 N. 59th Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85308
888/247-9277; 623/572-3215
admissaz@midwestern.edu

Interview and Selection Process

After the Office of Admissions receives CASPA application reports, applicant files are reviewed to determine whether applicants merit an interview. The following criteria are used to select the most qualified candidates for interview invitations: GPA, GRE general test scores, letters of recommendation, health care experience, knowledge of the profession, and motivation for a PA career. Evaluation of completed applications will begin in July and continue until all seats in the class are filled. Eligible candidates are typically invited to interview during the months of August, September, October, November, December, January and February. Applicant files may also be placed on an interview wait list pending possible openings toward the end of the interview cycle. Applicants selected to interview will be notified by letter or telephone of available dates and asked to contact the Office of Admissions to confirm one of the dates offered. Letters of confirmation will be sent to applicants that include travel information for visiting the MWU campus (i.e., directions to campus and local lodging information).

A typical day on campus involves participation in the following activities, which are coordinated by the Office of Admissions: a presentation by the PA Program Director or Chair of the PA Admissions Committee, interaction with faculty members, meetings with current Midwestern University students, a campus tour, and meetings with an admissions counselor and financial aid representative. During each interview session, prospective students may be asked about their academic, personal, and professional aspirations and preparedness for admission to the Program. Prospective students will be rated on a standardized evaluation form, which is included with applicant's file and forwarded to the PA Admissions Committee for review.

The PA Admissions Committee meets within one to two weeks after interviews have concluded. The Committee reviews complete application files for all applicants who were interviewed and formulates recommendations. The CHS Dean, via the Office of Admissions, notifies applicants in writing of their admissions status. Applicants may be offered seats following their interviews and subsequent Admissions Committee meetings, until the class is filled up until the time of matriculation.

Matriculation Process

The matriculation process begins after students receive notification of their acceptance. To complete the matriculation process students must:

  1. Submit the matriculation agreement and required deposit monies by the date designated in the matriculation agreement. Deposits are applied toward the first quarter's tuition.
  2. Submit official final transcripts from all colleges attended post-high school by the deadline of two weeks (14 calendar days) prior to the first day of classes. Students who are accepted to MWU less than one month prior to the first day of classes will have 30 calendar days from the date of their acceptance to submit all official transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Any special circumstances or requests for exceptions to this policy must be sent to and approved by the Office of the Dean of the College. Students who fail to submit all official final transcripts by the stated deadline may jeopardize their acceptance or continued enrollment in the College.
  3. Submit completed medical files documenting completion of a physical exam, immunizations, tuberculosis and titer blood testing as instructed by the Office of Student Services and detailed in the Student Handbook.
  4. Meet the Technical Standards for the Program.
  5. Submit proof of medical and disability insurance coverage. Students may select either a plan offered by an MWU-approved carrier or a comparable plan offered by an outside carrier of their choice, as determined by the Office of Student Services. Insurance must be maintained throughout the entire period of enrollment.
  6. Submit additional documents as required by the Office of Admissions or college
  7. Students who are requesting an I-20 visa or who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must prepay tuition and in some cases other mandatory program fees for the entire length of their program at Midwestern University.
  8. Submit a signed Credit Policy Statement
  9. Authorize and pass the MWU criminal background check and/or fingerprinting background check as required by the specific college/school/program.
  10. Submit a signed MWU Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy Statement.

Students who either fail to satisfy the above matriculation requirements or omit or falsify information required on official admissions documents automatically forfeit their seats in the Program. Any individual accepted for admission to the college/program who does not comply with stated time lines for submission of all required materials receives no further notification from the college regarding forfeiture of their seat.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition rates are subject to change each academic year for all enrolled students. Click here for the current Glendale Tuition and Fees.

Reapplication Process

After receiving either denial or an end-of-cycle letters, prospective students may reapply for the following year's admissions cycle. Before reapplying, however, applicants are encouraged to seek input on strengthening their application from a counselor in the Office of Admissions after the admissions cycle is officially over. To initiate the reapplication process, prospective students must complete and submit new applications and proceed through the standard application procedures.

Related Links

CASPA Application

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