Prerequisite Coursework
Biology
At least 14 semester hours of biology in the following areas, including at least two lab courses:
Human Anatomy and Human Physiology:
1 sem. of human anatomy
AND 1 sem. of human physiology; OR a 2 sem. sequence of combined human
anatomy & physiology which must be at the 200 (sophomore) level
or above.
Though vertebrate and mammalian anatomy & physiology
are acceptable, human anatomy and physiology is strongly preferred.
UW-L course: BIO 312 & 313
Microbiology:
1 sem. of microbiology at the 200 (sophomore) level
or above.
UW-L course: MIC 230
Health Related Upper Division Biological Science:
1 sem. of any of the following at the 300 (junior) level or above: Genetics (BIO 306 or 466), immunology (MIC 406), vertebrate/mammalian embryology (BIO 408), endocrinology (BIO 424), histology, pathophysiology (BIO 443), neuroscience (BIO 465), parasitology (BIO 406), mycology (BIO 413), or biology of cancer (BIO 432).
Chemistry
At least 11 semester hours of chemistry in the following areas, including at least two lab courses:
General Chemistry:
1 sem. of General or Introductory
Chemistry
UW-L course: CHM 103 or 104
Organic Chemistry:
1 sem. of Organic Chemistry
at the 200 (sophomore) level or above.
UW-L course: CHM 300 or CHM 303 & 304
Biochemistry:
1 sem. of Biochemistry at the 300 (junior) level or above.
Molecular or cellular biology at the 300 level or above
are acceptable alternatives.
UW-L course: CHM 325 or CHM 417 & 418 or BIO 435 or BIO
315
Mathematics
A minimum of two semesters of Mathematics, including at least one semester in each of the following:
Precalculus:
1 sem. of Precalculus or Calculus.
College Algebra with Trigonometry may
serve as an acceptable alternative, however, this often requires
two semesters of study rather than one.
UW-L course: MTH 151 or MTH 207
Statistics:
1 sem. of Statistics
UW-L course: MTH 145, 205 or 305
Psychology
Psychology:
A minimum of one semester
of general, introductory, developmental or abnormal psychology
UW-L course: PSY 100, 210, 212, 304, 310, 311, or 312
If you would like to know whether a particular course will satisfy one of our prereq course requirements please email Pete Amann at pamann@uwlax.edu. Please include the school where the course was taken, course number, and course description in your message. You may also email pamann@uwlax.edu for transcript reviews. Please include a copy of your unofficial transcript as an attachment.
Common satisfactory prereq courses
from other Wisconsin and Minnesota schools:
UW System institutions (4 year schools) PDF Table
Wisconsin Private Colleges (4 year schools) PDF Table
UW Colleges (Frosh/Soph Campuses) PDF Table
Wisconsin Technical Colleges (2 year schools) PDF Table
University of Minnesota System institutions (4 year schools) PDF Table
(MnSCU) Minnesota State Colleges & Universities System (4 year
schools) PDF Table
Minnesota Private Colleges (4 year schools) PDF Table
Minnesota Community & Technical Colleges (2 year schools) - a
selected collection PDF Table
Illinois Institutions PDF Table
Iowa Institutions PDF Table
Michigan Institutions PDF Table
North Dakota Institutions PDF table
South Dakota Institutions PDF table
Students may apply to the program with some outstanding prerequisites if they have a plan to complete these courses prior to starting classes in the program. While filling out the Prerequisite Courses table on the first page of the Supplemental Application, courses that you are currently taking should be listed as CE (current enrollment) in the Letter Grade column, while courses that you are not currently enrolled in, but plan to take before starting the program, should be listed as PE (Planned Enrolment) in said column. Listing these courses on your application represents a commitment on your part to take and successfully complete these courses should you be admitted to the program. Once completed, applicants must forward an official transcript documenting successful completion of these courses and their degree.
The program does not have a "statute of
limitations" on prerequisite courses. Applicants will be
considered to have met the prerequisites even if they were taken
many years ago, however, with the program's academic rigor the
applicant's current academic aptitude is considered. One means
to demonstrate current academic aptitude is the applicant's
performance in courses taken over the past four years. Thus, it
may be advantageous to have completed some courses, potentially
including prerequisites in the past four years.
The program will accept mammalian or vertebrate anatomy and physiology when human anatomy and physiology is not available. It is helpful if there is an emphasis on the human species in the course. Recognize that the admission process is competitive, and the program's professional curriculum includes human anatomy and physiology taught at the graduate level. If an applicant has a question regarding the acceptability of a course they intend to take, they should forward a copy of the course description and syllabus to the PA Program Office for review.
Specific courses at a junior/community college may meet the
requirements for certain prereq courses. Biochemistry and
an upper division biology elective must be completed at 4-year
institutions. Also, given the rigor of the program's curriculum
and the competitive nature of the admission process, it is to
the applicant's advantage to complete many, if not all,
prerequisites at a baccalaureate institution rather than a
community college.