Official Certificate Program in Pre-Health Studies
A Pre-Health Professional Advisory Committee is available to assist students interested in preparing for careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry and related fields in the health sciences for which undergraduate training is required prior to admission to other institutions. The Pre-Health Professional Advisory Committee consists of faculty members from the departments of Biology, Biomolecular Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Physics, and Psychology.
Students interested in pre-health Professional Programs should consult Dr. Peter Osei, program coordinator for the health professions, Department of Biology, NC 339 (860-832-2657), and Dr. Cheryl Watson, chair of the Pre-Health Professional Advisory Committee, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, NC 344 (860-832-2649). Additional information is available at http://www.prehealth.ccsu.edu.
Program Overview
This non-degree certificate program is designed for college graduates whose undergraduate background does not meet the requirements for admission to professional schools of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, etc. This rigorous program provides post-baccalaureate students a formal option to matriculate into a program with the foundation courses and the advisement they need to prepare for applying to professional training schools.
Admission Requirements
Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree to participate in the program. Potential students should contact the Graduate Admissions Office to request an application packet. The application requires that official transcripts be sent from all colleges and universities attended and an essay describing why the student is interested in the program. Completed applications should be sent through the Graduate Admissions Office. The Pre-PAC chair will schedule an interview with the applicant, during which an advisory committee (including the Chief Health Professions Advisor) will work with the candidate to develop an individualized planned program of study in keeping with his or her academic background and professional goals.
Applications must be received by the priority deadline of November 1 but no later than December 1 for students wishing both to begin classes in the spring and continue into the summer to be considered for financial aid as matriculated students. However, students may begin the program in any semester and applications will be accepted throughout the year within the graduate admission deadlines of July 1 and December 1. Post-baccalaureate certificate students are classified as graduate students; they may be either part-time or full-time and may qualify for financial aid. Only students matriculated as full-time may take nine or more credits a semester. Part-time and nonmatriculated students are limited to less than nine credits/semester.
Program Requirements
While each student’s academic program will be tailored to meet the individual’s specific academic needs and professional goals, a model program that would be appropriate for a student with a minimal science background is shown below. This model program also illustrates the 45-credit upper limit for this certificate program. Smaller academic programs may be possible for students with some science background, with a lower limit of 26 credits. All individual programs must be designed and approved in consultation with the Pre-PAC advisory committee at the admission interview. A maximum of 9 credits in the planned program may be transferred to CCSU.
Model Program
Life Science (21 credits), including:
| BIO 122 | General Biology II | 4 |
| BMS 201 | Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| | |
| BMS 306 | Genetics | 3 |
| or | |
| BMS 307 | Genomics | 4 |
| | |
| BMS 316 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 318/BMS 318 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| | |
| BIO 591 | Independent Research Project in Advanced Biology | 1 TO 4 |
| or | |
| BMS 591 | Independent Research Project in Biomolecular Sciences | 1 TO 4 |
| | |
| CHEM 161 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 162 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 200 | Foundations of Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| and | |
| CHEM 201 | Foundations of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 260 | Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| and | |
| CHEM 201 | Foundations of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 210 | Foundations of Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| and | |
| CHEM 211 | Foundations of Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 212 | Organic Synthesis | 3 |
| CHEM 213 | Organic Synthesis Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 354 | Foundations of Biochemistry | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 26-45 |
Physics including:
Students must maintain a 3.00 (B) cumulative grade point average in order to be in good academic standing and to receive the post-baccalaureate certificate. Upon completion of the planned certificate program, a certificate will be issued from the School of Graduate Studies. (While completion of this program does not lead to a graduate degree, courses at the 400 level or above that are taken as part of this program may be counted toward a master’s degree upon the approval of a program advisor, provided that the graduate-syllabus option is elected at the time of course registration in 400-level courses.)