Basic Sciences for Health Professions Post-Bachelor's Certificate

University College’s Certificate in Basic Sciences for Health Professions is specifically designed for students who want to pursue a career in medicine but did not complete the required science courses in their undergraduate degree program. The goal of the program is to help this special group of students get accepted into the school of their choice in order to pursue a career in medicine. Throughout the program, students receive personalized academic and application advisement through the office of Pre-Professional Advisement.

This comprehensive program allows students to:

• Complete the course work required for application to most medical, dental, veterinary, or osteopathic medical schools in one calendar year
• Complete core certificate requirements in three semesters of intensive study
• Gain on-site volunteer experience in the health professions that is critical to a successful medical school application
• Prepare for the MCAT and other standardized graduate admissions tests
• Acquire important recommendations necessary in the competitive environment of medical school applications

Certificate Overview

Students who intend to apply to medical, dental, veterinary and osteopathic medical schools and who hold an undergraduate degree in a non-science major must complete basic science course work in order to apply to those schools. This certificate program allows the student to complete the required courses, gain valuable volunteer experience, and prepare for the graduate admissions test in an intense, rewarding year of study. This program focuses on all factors that are important to medical school applications including science course work, medical volunteer experience, attaining good scores on the MCAT, the medical graduate admissions test, and securing important recommendations from academic and medical professionals.

Students complete 34 credits of science courses,  covering the topics required by medical schools: general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biology in cohort format of courses specially scheduled for students in this program.  The program can be completed in a little as three intense semesters of study. 

The program features a cohort format of study in which students study with a group of peers in specially scheduled course sections. Students will work with a specialized pre-health professions advisor to assist them with their application process.

Special Features of This Certificate Program

Pre-Health Professions Advising: The Office of Pre-Professional Advising will be available to certificate students throughout the program to assist with all aspects of their preparation and application process.

Pre-Health Professions Committee Letters of Reference: Students would receive a letter of recommendation for inclusion in their applications on behalf of the Certificate in Basic Sciences for Health Professions Committee.  Students would interview with a medical professional (doctor, dentist, or veterinarian) of the Committee.  A letter is written by the committee member who interviewed the student on behalf of the entire committee. 

Job Shadowing: The program would arrange for participants admitted to the program to shadow a medical professional on the job at their place of work for two to three days in a semester.  The student would gain valuable insight into the medical profession through the experiences of a working professional.

Volunteer Work:  Students would be required to spend two semesters volunteering at a local medical facility in their field of study (medicine, dentistry, veterinary science).  Arrangements would made by University College for the students to participate in the volunteer programs overseen by UC staff.  Students would gain experience the medical field from the inside, network, and gain references that would assist them on their med school applications. 

Who Should Apply

Students who did not take the required science courses in their undergraduate degree program and want to apply for medical, dental, veterinary or osteopathic medicine schools.  Medical schools are often eager to accept students from non-premedical degree backgrounds because of their diversity of experiences, but require all applicants to have science course work that will prepare them for their studies in medicine.  If you are excellent student, did not complete the required science courses, and want to prepare for medical school in as little as a year, this certificate program is for you.

Careers and Advanced Degrees

Careers and Jobs
Careers and jobs this certificate can lead to: medical doctor (MD), dentist (DDS, DMD), veterinarian (DVM) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO).

Advanced Degrees
Advanced degrees this degree can lead to: Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).

Application Requirements

Applications are reviewed by the by Adelphi Office of Admissions and the Executive Director of University College. The following are required for application to the program:

• Completed University College Application and Fee
• Three letters of recommendation
  • One from undergraduate faculty highlighting academic abilities
  • One for work or volunteer organization highlighting leadership skills
  • one personal reference highlighting interest in medicine
• Transcripts from all previously attended colleges (unofficial upon application, but official before program completion)
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher
• ACT or SAT scores (unofficial upon application, but official before program completion)
• Essay detailing why they want to pursue a career in the health professions

View curriculum details

Contact For additional information, please contact: University College p - 516.877.3412 e - ucinfo@adelphi.edu Hagedorn Hall, Room 201 Adelphi University Garden City, NY 11530

Back to Top of Page