Current-cycle decision support
Turn confirmed information into a first practice
Why the physician assistant profession?
Practise explaining why the PA role fits your experiences and goals. Review whether you distinguish the profession clearly, use specific evidence, and connect your motivation to patient care; then record again with a sharper answer.
Quick facts
- Degree: Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
- Length: 28 months
- Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Cohort: 75 students, with roughly 25 places targeted to Marquette undergraduates
- Start: summer; the current admissions pages do not name the entry year
- Admissions: CASPA, holistic review and personal interviews for selected applicants
- Accreditation: ARC-PA Accreditation-Continued; next validation review listed for July 2033
Marquette application · Curriculum · Accreditation
Admission requirements
Graduate applicants need a bachelor’s or equivalent degree, a minimum 3.0 CASPA cumulative GPA, three recommendations and at least 200 hours of paid or volunteer direct patient care completed in the United States by application submission. Shadowing does not count. The GRE is optional. A complete CASPA application and the $85 Marquette supplemental fee are both required for review.
Prerequisites include two biological-science courses, general chemistry with lab, microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, a social science, statistics and transcripted medical terminology. Courses require a C or higher. One science prerequisite may be planned or in progress at application, but all prerequisites must be complete by December 31 before matriculation. Marquette recommends recent, four-year-institution science work and prefers in-person science courses, although online courses are accepted. Graduate application requirements
Important dates
- August 1 each year: all electronic CASPA materials due
- After CASPA receipt: Marquette sends the link for the $85 supplemental fee; verified applications are not reviewed until it is paid
- December 31 before matriculation: all outstanding prerequisites complete
- Summer: first MPAS term begins
Marquette says applicants must apply to CASPA in the same year they seek admission and does not allow deferrals. The current pages do not publish a cycle-specific opening date, interview window, decision date, deposit deadline or named entry year. Confirm those details directly in CASPA and Marquette communications. Official application checklist · Graduate requirements · Curriculum
How selection works
Marquette describes a holistic review of academic foundation, healthcare experience, interpersonal skill, professional maturity and mission alignment. Published factors include cumulative and science GPAs, science quality points, motivation, maturity, ability to work with others, suitability for clinical practice, documented patient contact, knowledge of the PA role, recommendations and a personal interview.
The program also states preferences among academically strong applicants who are first-generation college students, come from disadvantaged backgrounds, have military experience, speak English as a second language or come from medically underserved or rural areas. Selected applicants receive interviews; Marquette does not publish the screening sequence, interview cutoff, scoring weights, decision order or wait-list process. Official application and selection factors
Interview details
Confirmed
Marquette states that personal interviews are part of selection and are offered to selected applicants. The published selection factors indicate that the program evaluates motivation, maturity, ability to work with people, suitability for clinical practice and knowledge of the PA profession alongside academic and healthcare evidence. Official application page · Graduate requirements
Not published
Marquette does not publish whether interviews are on campus or virtual, exact dates, duration, interviewer composition, question count, station or panel format, file-access policy, additional assessed activities, scoring weights or decision timing. Do not assume an MMI, panel or closed-file format.
Who this program may suit
Marquette may suit applicants who want a large, established 28-month MPAS in Milwaukee and can show academic strength, hands-on patient exposure, professional maturity and collaborative ability. Its Catholic, Jesuit framing emphasizes care for the whole person, diversity, service and mission-driven leadership; applicants should decide whether that environment fits their goals.
The program admits 75 students, including a substantial internal Marquette cohort, and begins with an intensive summer term. Graduate applicants should be ready to explain their knowledge of the PA role and connect specific patient-care evidence to their motivation. About Marquette PA · Official application page · Curriculum
Practice and next step
Record: Answer the featured “Why the physician assistant profession?” prompt aloud. Use one patient-care experience to show what you learned about the PA role, why the profession fits your strengths and how you would contribute to collaborative care.
Review: Check whether the example is specific, your knowledge of the profession is accurate and your motivation sounds earned rather than generic. Mark one weakness in evidence, structure or delivery.
Second attempt: Record the answer again with one deliberate adjustment, then compare both versions. Continue with the Physician Assistant Interview Essentials path to practise maturity, teamwork, service, ethics and program-fit answers.
Frequently asked questions
What is Marquette’s application deadline?
All electronic CASPA materials are due August 1 each year. The current page does not name the entry year. Official application checklist
How many patient-contact hours are required?
At least 200 paid or volunteer direct-patient-care hours completed in the United States must be documented when applying. Shadowing does not count. Graduate requirements
Is the GRE required?
No. The GRE is optional for graduate applicants and seniors. Official application page
What interview format does Marquette use?
Marquette confirms personal interviews for selected applicants but does not publish the format, location or dates. Graduate requirements
What is the accreditation status?
Marquette lists ARC-PA Accreditation-Continued with the next validation review in July 2033. Official accreditation page
Sources
- Marquette PA Application — deadline, CASPA checklist, supplemental fee, selection factors, cohort and interview confirmation; reviewed 2026-08-22.
- Marquette Graduate Application Information — degree, GPA, prerequisites, patient contact, references and interview eligibility; reviewed 2026-08-22.
- Marquette PA Curriculum — MPAS degree, 28-month length and summer-first sequence; reviewed 2026-08-22.
- Marquette PA Accreditation — Accreditation-Continued status and July 2033 next review; reviewed 2026-08-22.
- About Marquette PA — Jesuit mission and program setting; reviewed 2026-08-22.
Recommended preparation
Physician Assistant Interview Essentials
Build a credible PA interview foundation through four focused spoken responses: profession-specific motivation, interprofessional teamwork, fair clinical decision-making, and reflective use of feedback.
Page history
- Published