PostBaccalaureate Certificate Program for Pre-Health Professionals
This post-baccalaureate certificate program provides an opportunity for pre-health career students to strengthen their academic background prior to application for admission to a health professional school. The program is designed to make post-baccalaureate students more competitive for admission through a combination of coursework, standardized test preparation, and health science activities. A student must remain in post-baccalaureate status while completing the certificate program.
Students may begin the certificate program only during the Fall Quarter of an academic year. Completed applications must be received by the Department no later than May 1.
The certificate program requires completion of a minimum of 24 units taken in post-baccalaureate standing. A maximum of 6 units of previously completed post-baccalaureate coursework from another institution may be used toward completion of the certificate program. Refer to the Graduate Study chapter of the University Catalog for general information governing all certificate programs.
Requirements for Admission to the Program
Acceptance by the University to postbaccalaureate status.
Completion of a certificate program application form and acceptance by the selection committee. A limited number of students will be accepted into the program each academic year.
An undergraduate degree in a biological science from an accredited college or university, or an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and completion of pre-health professional required science courses with lab (two years of biology, two years of chemistry, one year of math, one year of physics).
Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math courses.
Establishment of a student file in the Cal State LA Health Science Advisement Office.
Completion of BIOL 340 (General Genetics) and BIOL 380 (Cell Biology), or their equivalent.
Requirements for the Certificate
A minimum GPA of 3.00 is required in all course work.
Completion of a minimum of 24 units from the following list of courses.
| BIOL 416 | Molecular Genetics (4) |
| BIOL 417 | Principles of Gene Manipulation (4) |
| BIOL 422 | Vertebrate Structure and Function (5) |
| BIOL 424 | General Embryology (4) |
| BIOL 429 | Animal Histology (5) |
| BIOL 432 | Fundamentals of Toxicology(4) |
| BIOL 433 | Animal Physiology I (4) |
| BIOL 434 | Animal Physiology II (4) |
| BIOL 435 | Neurobiology: Neuroanatomy (4) |
| BIOL 436 | Neurobiology: Neurophysiology (4) |
| BIOL 439 | Endocrinology (4) |
| BIOL 444 | Drug Discovery (4) |
| BIOL 448 | Molecular Biology of the Brain (4) |
| BIOL 449 | Neurobiology of Development (4) |
| BIOL 454LP | May be taken with PRIOR adviser approval (units vary) |
| MICR 401 | General Virology (3) |
| MICR 410 | Hematology (4) |
| MICR 430 | Bacterial Physiology (3) |
| MICR 433 | Bacterial Physiology Laboratory (2) |
| CHEM 431A | Biochemistry (3) |
| CHEM 431B | Biochemistry (3) |
| CHEM 431C | Biochemistry (3) |
| CHEM 435 | Introduction to Biochemistry (4) |
Completion of one or more of the following courses is strongly recommended to enhance a professional school application.
| ANTH 444 | Medical Anthropology (4) |
| BIOL 300 | Biometrics (4) |
| ENGL 308 | Expository Writing (4) |
| PHIL 429 | Bioethics (4) |
| SOC 425 | Medical Sociology (4) |
Participation in the Cal State LA MCAT Review Course.
Note: This information was modified from what appears in the University Catalog.