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Archived
November 21, 2014

 

Pre-Health Professions

 

College of Extended Learning

 

College of Science and Engineering

Dean: Sheldon Axler

 

Health Professions Advising Committee

HH 219
415-338-2410
Web Site: http://online.sfsu.edu/~brothman
E-mail: hpac@sfsu.edu
Committee Chair: Barry Rothman
Certificate Program Coordinator: Barry Rothman

 

Programs

Certificate in Pre-Health Professions

 

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Program Scope

The goal of the Pre-Health Professions certificate is to guide participants through the entire preparation and application process so that they will be competitive applicants to graduate health profession schools. This program is designed for students who: 1) have already earned a BA/BS/BFA degree, 2) lack most or all pre-requisite course work, or need to improve their undergraduate GPA in order to become a competitive applicant to graduate school 3) plan to apply to allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, physical therapy or veterinary medicine schools.

 

In this certificate program, cohorts of about 60 students take prerequisite biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics course work, as well as auxiliary course work in the form of discussion sections, a Health Professions Colloquium, and a year long clinical exposure activity. Elective course work is available for those needing preliminary and/or more advanced courses. The program has two components: A Career Changer Track (CCT) for those concentrating on prerequisite courses and an Academic Enhancer Track (AET) for those concentrating on upper-division science electives. The CCT is a 2 year, 6 semester (summer 1, fall 1, spring 1, summer 2, fall 2, spring 2) continuous program that begins in early June. CCT course work consists mainly of major’s level, introductory science lectures, labs and discussion sections; these classes are prerequisites for admission to graduate health profession schools. Most CCTs take a few major level, upper-division Biology electives as well. The AET is a continuous 1 – 6 semester program that accepts 15 – 25 students each semester (summer, fall and spring). AET course work consists mainly of major’s level, upper-division Biology lectures. The program is supervised by a director; a faculty committee writes a letter of evaluation that may be submitted with the student's health profession school application.

 

Pre-Health Professions Certificate

Admission Requirements and Application Procedure

Applicants must have graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning with a baccalaureate or higher degree. Applicants are required to have a GPA of at least 2.5 for their Bachelor’s degree or for their last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of course work. Students whose primary language is not English must earn a minimum score of 550 on the paper version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based version or a minimum score of 70 on the internet-based version. However, because higher TOEFL scores are needed to succeed in the program, students with low qualifying scores may be referred to San Francisco State University’s American Language Institute for preliminary course work.

 

Applicants must complete and submit an online application, which can be accessed at: http://online.sfsu.edu/~brothman/PHPCP.htm. The application should be submitted with the supporting documents, which include unofficial transcripts, a personal statement, a current résumé or curriculum vitae, and two letters of reference. Students who consider themselves economically and/or educationally disadvantaged should indicate this in the application. Official transcripts from all universities at which course work was taken must be submitted. A non-refundable $55 fee is charged for processing the application.

 

Fees are $550 per unit of course work. The entire 57 unit program costs $31,350. Optional course work taken at SF State during participation in the certificate program will be charged at the same rate. Tuition is due by the beginning of each semester. Financial aid can be arranged through our Financial Aid Office.

 

A small number of transfer students in the CCT are accepted for entry in the first fall semester. Such transfers must have already completed General Chemistry I and Calculus with a grade of B or above. Fall entry is particularly suitable for those graduating in mid-June from universities using the quarter system.

 

Pre-Health Professions Certificate — 57 - 65 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

 

Post-Baccalaureate and Undergraduate Study in Pre-Health Professions

The undergraduate pre-health professional programs are not academic majors, and they do not by themselves lead to a certificate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree. However, these programs may be included as part of a recognized academic major. Official requirements of all majors and programs are published in this Bulletin.

 

Minimum preparation for health professional school includes course work in biology, chemistry, and physics. Although most undergraduates who intend to apply to a health professional school major in Biology or Chemistry, majors in the social sciences, behavioral sciences, and humanities have also been successful in gaining admission provided that these applicants have completed the prescribed course requirements (see below). It is recommended that the final choice of the undergraduate major reflect the true academic interests of the student. Academic majors with significant overlap with pre-health professional requirements include: Biology (concentrations in Cell and Molecular Biology Physiology or Microbiology and Biochemistry and Chemistry (concentration in Biochemistry). The Biochemistry major is particularly well suited for those intending to apply to pharmacy schools.

 

Minimal Science Requirements for Post-Baccalaureate Study and Undergraduates

The program listed below is recommended for admission to allopathic and osteopathic medical schools and dental schools. Pharmacy, optometry, physical therapy, physician's assistant, nursing, and veterinary medicine schools may have somewhat different requirements.

 

Post-Baccalaureate and Undergraduate Study in Pre-Health Professions — 46 - 49 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

Note: Biochemistry has become a required course for application to many medical schools.

 

Additional Science Courses for Undergraduates

Beyond the above minimal requirements it is recommended that the student select other science courses in consultation with an adviser. Many health profession schools prefer more extensive preparation in biology, chemistry, and/or mathematics.

 

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

Health profession schools prefer that students take advanced courses. Advanced science courses beyond those listed above may be considered in consultation with an advisor.