Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in
Health Professions or in the Sciences
This post-baccalaureate program is designed for persons who have completed a bachelor's degree and want to pursue a career in the health professions or sciences. The program prepares students for admission to schools of dentistry, medicine, osteopathy, optometry, audiology, podiatry, veterinary medicine, physician assistant and other health-related fields. It also prepares students for graduate study in biology, chemistry and physics, or for entry into full-time employment in the basic sciences.
A candidate should have a distinguished undergraduate college record with an overall GPA of at least 3.0. Satisfactory performance on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) or other health-profession college admissions test is required. These tests are normally taken in the spring of the junior year. Most students spend two years at Arcadia University, taking two to four courses each semester and during the summer session. Students who seek assured admission into Arcadia's Physician Assistant master's program must complete at least two courses each semester and have the curriculum approved by the Chair of the Physician Assistant program.
Requirements for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in the Health Professions
(Variable credits depending on a student's preparation)
The minimum recommendation of the American Medical Association includes the following courses:
- BI 101, 102 General Biology I, II
- BI 211 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology or BI 205, 206 Human Anatomy, Human Physiology
- CH 101, 102 Modern Chemical Concepts I, II
- CH 201, 202 Organic Chemistry I, II: Structure, Mechanisms and Reactions
- MA 201 Calculus I
- PH 201, 202 Fundamental Concepts of Physics I, II or PH 211, 212 Conceptual Physics I, II
Students choose additional courses in consultation with their adviser. In view of the diverse backgrounds of students entering the program, the coursework and time required are individualized. Students who plan to enter careers in the health professions elect coursework in their chosen field, such as pre-med or pre-nursing.
In addition to the minimum science courses, a strong background in liberal arts and social sciences is recommended.
Students who seek admission to the Arcadia University Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant) program are expected to hold a baccalaureate degree and must meet the following minimum prerequisites to be assured of acceptance:
- A 3.3 GPA in a 32-credit (minimum) course of study designed in consultation with a Physician Assistant adviser and completed in a period not to exceed 24 months.
- A minimum total score of 1,100 is expected for the verbal and quantitative portion of the Graduate record Examination (GRE), with no single test score below 450. A minimum score of 4 is expected for the analytic portion of the exam.
- Eight credits (or two required courses) per semester (or one course in any single summer session).
- Two hundred hours of health-care experience or a combination of health-care experience and clinical research.
- Three letters of recommendation, at least one of which is from a licensed physician or physician assistant who is able to judge the student's academic qualifications and readiness for rigorous academic work at the graduate level.
Requirements for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in the Sciences
(Variable credits depending on a student's preparation)
Students are required to take additional courses in the sciences beyond the minimum number of recommended courses listed for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in the Health Professions. In addition, students who plan to enter careers in the basic sciences elect coursework in their chosen field, such as in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Chemistry and Business, or Optometry. In view of the diverse backgrounds of students entering this program, the coursework and time required are individualized.
In addition to the minimum science courses, a strong background in liberal arts and social sciences is recommended.
Adviser
- Professor Dr. Chester M. Mikulski
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