Prosthetics & Orthotics Degree (BS)
Eligibility Requirements

Enrollment in the Prosthetics & Orthotics Program is provisional upon candidates meeting the following eligibility requirements prior to entering the program:

• Prerequisite Courses
• Grade Point Requirements
• General Education Requirements
• Criminal History Background Check

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses may be taken at the University of Washington or at other institutions of higher learning. Students attending two-year colleges in Washington State can see their college counselor to verify transfer credits. University of Washington course equivalencies can by viewed in the UW Equivalency Guide to determine equivalencies. Others should compare the course descriptions in their college catalogs with the following descriptions to ensure approximate equivalencies.

To be considered for admission, students must complete by the end of autumn quarter of the year prior to expected admission, a minimum of 20 quarter credits of the 39 credits (with Microbiology) or 44 credits (with Biology) of the prerequisite courses, or their equivalent.

All students must submit a reasonable plan (page six of the program application form) for completing any remaining unsatisfied prerequisite courses prior to program entrance. The required prerequisite courses are:

• Introductory Biology 180, 200 (10 credits)
  For students intending to take advanced courses in the biological sciences on enroll in pre-professional programs. Topics covered in 180 include Medelian genetics, evolution, biodiversity of life forms, ecology, conservation biology. Topics covered in 200 include metabolism and energetics, structure and function of biomolecules, cell structure and function, animal development.
  -OR-
  General Microbiology 301 (3 credits), 302 (2 credits)
  Acquaints students with micro-organisms and their activities. Topics include microbial cell structure and function, metabolism, microbial genetics, and the role of microorganisms in disease immunity. 302 is the concurrent lab with 301.
• General Physics 114 (4 credits), 117 (1 credit)
  General Physics 115 (4 credits), 118 (1 credit)
  Basic principles of physics presented without use of college-level mathematics.
  114: mechanics and sound with concurrent lab (117)
  115: heat and electromagnetism with concurrent lab (118)
• Biological Structure 301 (4 credits)
• General anatomy
  Survey of systematic human anatomy including human skeletal, muscular, respiratory, nervous, circulatory, endocrine, urinary, digestive, and reproductive systems.
• Biology 118 (5 credits)
  Human physiology (formerly ZOOL 118)
• Psychology 101 (5 credits)
  Behavior from a social-science perspective. Emphasizes human social behavior and influence, personality, learning, behavior disorders and treatment. Related topics may include memory, cognition, state of consciousness, motivation and emotion, perception, development, and research methods.
• Chemistry 120 (5 credits)
  Atoms and molecules, including structure of atoms, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, phases of matter, solutions, equilibrium, and reaction states. Includes laboratory.
• Statistics 220 (5 credits)
  Basic statistics. Structure of data sets, histograms, means, and standard deviations. Correlation and regression. Probability, binomial and normal. Interpretation of estimates, confidence intervals, and significance tests.
• Recommended Electives:
  Sociology 110 (Survey of Sociology)
  Communication 201 (Introduction to Communication)
  Communication 220 (Introduction to Public Speaking)
  Psychology 203 (Introduction to Personality and Individual Differences)
  Psychology 306 (Developmental Psychology)
  Courses using computer applications

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Grade Point Requirements

Students must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 on all college work and a 2.7 on all prerequisites by the end of the quarter or semester prior to application in order to be considered for admission to the program. These grade point averages must be maintained during any remaining course work completed prior to the point of entry into the professional phase of the program.

In the past year, the top 12 applicants were offered admission. The following statistics relate to those applicants:

Average Prerequisite Grade Point Range: 2.91– 4.00
Average Cumulative Grade Point Range : 2.94– 3.94

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General Education Requirements

Student must complete courses which satisfy the following general education requirements by the end of Summer Quarter prior to entry into the program:

1. Proficiency Requirement (for students entering without a Baccalaureate Degree
• English Composition (5 credits with a 2.0 minimum grade)
• Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning (5 credits with a 2.0 minimum grade) Physics 114 meets this requirement
• Writing Course Requirement (10 credits with a 0.7 minimum grade)
  These are not English composition courses, but rather courses in which the student will practice the type of writing appropriate to a particular discipline. The courses require three or four short papers, or one long paper that you must submit for comments and then rewrite. Courses that apply to this requirement are designated "W" courses in the Time Schedule each quarter.
2. Areas of Knowledge (for all students)
   • Visual, Literary, and Performing Arts (20 credits)
     Courses in this Area focus on the history, interpretation, criticism, and practice of the arts. Examples of departments that offer such courses include art history, classics, dance, drama, literature, music, and foreign languages.
   • Individuals and Societies (20 credits)
     This Area includes a wide variety of options for the study of human beings and societies. Courses focus on the history, development, and dynamics of human behavior, as well as social and cultural institutions and practices. Examples of departments that offer such courses include American ethnic studies, anthropology, economics, history, international studies, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, and women studies.
   • The Natural World (20 credits)
     Courses in this Area focus on the disciplined, scientific study of the natural world. The Area can be divided into three broad categories: the mathematical sciences; the physical sciences; and the biological sciences. Examples of departments that offer such courses include astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, oceanography, and physics.

For further information, students not currently enrolled at the University of Washington should contact the Prosthetics & Orthotics Program. University of Washington students should contact the Undergraduate Advising Gateway Center.

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Criminal History Background Check

A Washington State Patrol Check is required of all students offered admission or alternate status to the University of Washington School of Medicine, Division of Prosthetics & Orthotics. The required form will be provided with the letter offering admission to the program, and must be returned immediately as the check may take up to three months to complete.

The State of Washington requires this background check to identify individuals who have been convicted of felonies against vulnerable populations. The hospitals and clinics that are used for training are not allowed to employ or train people with these backgrounds.

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To learn more about the Prosthetics & Orthotics Program at the University of Washington, please explore the links below:

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