For Post Baccalaureate programs at other schools, click here.

Certificate in Pre-Health Professions Studies

The goal of the certificate program is to prepare students to be competitive applicants for medical, dental, veterinary, optometry, and pharmacy professional school. Students wishing to apply to other health professions may also be considered. The program provides the required and recommended course work for post-baccalaureate students from non-science majors. In addition we provide the facilities of an advising center with support for many issues related to the health professions and assistance with obtaining clinical experience. On-campus standardized test preparation courses may be available from commercial vendors at a discounted fee. The program is based on a cohort structure and is designated to be completed in 4 semesters plus one summer. The current cost of the program is $400 per unit but this will probably increase as budgets are finalized. Subsidized and unsubsidized loans may be available to students with documented financial need. The CSUF Health Professions Program currently has a linkage agreement with Western University/COMP for early acceptance into the Osteopathic Medical School (see here for more details).

New Application Deadlines

Applications for Fall 2010 will be accepted beginning on February 1, 2010 and the application window will close on April 9, 2010. Review of applications will start on March 1, 2010 and due to the rolling admissions process, we would strongly advise interested applicants to complete their application as soon as possible. The Spring application is available for viewing here. Please note that the Fall 2010 Cohort will be the only cohort accepted during the 2010-2011 academic year. We anticipate accepting 30 students for the Fall 2010-2012 cohort.

Admission

Admission is competitive and will be based on number of factors including (but not limited to) gpa, grades, in the required chemistry class and essays. Students who are economically and/or educationally disadvantaged should indicate this in their application.

  1. Applicants should have completed, an introductory chemistry course (such as Chem. 115) or obtained a passing grade on the Chemistry Placement Exam (http://www.fullerton.edu/testing/cpe.htm). Applicants who are in the process of taking the pre-requisite chemistry will be considered for a “conditional acceptance”. It is also recommended that applicants complete a pre-calculus course and an introductory biology class such as Bio 101 or equivalent prior to entering the program.
  2. Acceptable bachelor’s degree in a non science based discipline from an appropriately accredited institution
  3. Minimum grade point average of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester units attempted and applicant must be in good standing at last college attended
  4. The applicant will need to submit two applications to be considered for the Health Professions Post Baccalaureate Program: A program application and the CSU graduate application form. An application fee of $50 is also required along with submission of the required CSU $55 application fee.

Under no circumstances will any coursework be credited towards the Pre-Health Professions Studies certificate program requirements. Upon acceptance or conditional acceptance, the applicant will be required to submit a $500 non-refundable deposit to hold their seat in the program. The $500 fee will be credited towards the student's first semester fees upon entry into the program.

Study Plan

The Certificate in Pre-Health Professions Studies requires a minimum of 50 units of approved course work most of which will be required by the professional schools. The other courses required for this program are either highly recommended by professional schools or important for standardized test preparation. Each student in consultation with the Health Professions Coordinator will develop a program of study.

Certificate in Health Professions, Fall 2010-2012 Cohort

Fall
Chem 120A, Bio 172, Math 130, 120 or 338^              [13 or 14]
Spring
Chem 120B, Bio 273, Phy 211/211L                                    [14]
Summer
Chem 301A                                                                           [8]
Chem 301B              
Fall
Chem 421, Bio 302, Phy 212/212L, Chem 302                     [14]
Spring
MCAT  + 3 or more units from electives + Application            [>3]

*Electives
Chem/ Bio 495
Bio 303
Bio 309
Phil 314
Bio 361
Bio 362

^ If all math has been completed an alternative course will be substituted

New Success Through Out The Years

Since 1993, the Health Professions Advising Office has had over 184 Post Baccaluareate students, primarily science majors, successfully matriculate into medical school, 44 to dental school and another 46 to professions such as Optometry, Pharmacy and Physicians Assistant. Schools include UCSF, UCI, UCSD, UCLA, USC, Harvard, Loma Linda, University of Michigan and Boston U.

In 2004 we set into place a formal certificate program that would allow non-science postbaccalaureate students to have access to the courses they would need to fulfill pre-professional school requirements. The program was very small (4 students entered in 2004) and was not widely advertised. In 2009 the program was moved to University Extended Education and greatly expanded to accomodate a cohort structure. Since 2004 of the 27 students who were admitted under the Pre-professional certificate, 24 have been accepted to health professions (10 to MD, 7 to DDS, 4 to DO, 1 PharmD, 1 PA and 1 DVM). Schools attended by our program alumni include Albert Einstein, Columbia, UCSF, UCI, UCLA, UC Davis and St. Louis.

 

For more detailed information or advisement students should contact the Health Professions Advising Office at (657) 278-3980 or HPPostbac@fullerton.edu.