PREPROFESSIONAL HEALTH PREPARATION

This program is available for students who are successful in enrolling in courses through extended studies.

Prepare to Apply to Health Professions Schools through this Certificate Program

Link to Application

Link to Grade Calculation Sheet

Link to FAQ from Postbacc Club

Program Overview

SDSU’s Certificate in Preprofessional Health Preparation program provides post baccalaureate education to individuals returning to school in preparation to apply to Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, Veterinary, Physician Assistant, Podiatry, Optometry, and Chiropractic schools.

The program is intended to provide courses and advising necessary for candidates to apply to health professions schools including:

· Military Veterans

· Students returning to school after pausing to care for children or other relatives

· Peace Corps returnees

· Career changers

This program is not intended for students with very low undergraduate GPA's.

Participants will enroll in regular SDSU courses on a space-available basis through the Open University program.

The faculty from San Diego State University will provide instruction and the SDSU Preprofessional Health Advising Office will provide advising.

Matriculated SDSU students may not enroll in the program.

Completion of the certificate program does not automatically qualify a person to enter health professions schools as schools review grades, test scores, and experience as part of the admissions process.

The Program

The certificate program consists of twelve or more units as approved by the Preprofessional Health Advising Office

Certificate Requirements

1. Submission of the certificate application and all official or unofficial transcripts showing completion of a Bachelor's or higher degree to the SDSU Preprofessional Health Advising Office. (If science prerequisites were taken as an undergraduate, they should average to 3.0 and overall GPA should be 3.0 using Grade Calculation Sheet)

2. Attendance at a PPHA Office orientation meeting during the first semester of the certificate program.

3. A minimum of 12 units of new coursework with a grade point average of 3.0 or better with a minimum grade of C in each course.

4. Submission of an Open University registration form and current fees each semester to the College of Extended Studies.

5. Completion of materials for the SDSU PPHA committee process or Letter Service as required for all SDSU students working with the PPHA Office.

6. Completion of activities and submission of materials required for participation in the Preprofessional Health Committee Process or Letter of Recommendation Service, including registration for the Preprofessional Workshop through Extended Studies. (The $55. fee for this workshop is required to offset costs associated compiling, uploading and/or mailing Committee or Letter Service Packets.)

7. Payment of a certificate fee of $35 to the Extended Studies Program after completing all requirements.

(To enter the program, only the certificate application and transcripts to the Preprofessional Health Advising Office need be submitted. Other paperwork and the $55.00 Preprofessional Workshop fee will be required in the course of completion of the certificate during the Committee Letter Process. The Certificate Completion Application Form along with a $35 fee must be submitted to Extended Studies once all requirements for the certificate have been met.)

Fees

1. Current Open University per-unit rate.

2. Preprofessional Health Advising Office Workshop Fee (currently $55). Required of all Preprofessional Health students at SDSU using the Committee Letter or Letter Service.

3. College of Extended Studies Certificate Completion fee ($35) to be submitted with the certificate application once all required courses are completed. Please contact Rhonda Beard at 619-594-6924 or rbeard@mail.sdsu.edu.

Financial aid is not available for the College of Extended Studies self-supporting programs. Veteran’s benefits may be available; for information, please contact the SDSU Joan and Art Baron Veteran’s Center at (619) 594-5813.

Parking Permits

Parking Permits may be purchased in person from the main University Cashier parking office or when registering at the College of Extended Studies. The parking fee is determined by SDSU. Parking information and temporary visitor parking permits are available at the information booth on Campanile Drive.

What You Need to Do

1. Admission

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university; or

2. Degree and/or certificate from a foreign country. Matriculated SDSU students may not apply.

2. Establish a Course of Study

After attending orientation, set up an appointment with the Preprofessional Health Advisor to review your course of study. Please bring your tentative course of study to your first meeting with the advisor.

SDSU Preprofessional Health Advising Office

5500 Campanile Dr. MC-1017

San Diego, CA 92182-1017

Program Advisor: Barbara W. Huntington

(619) 594-6638

3. Apply

Please complete the admissions application form during enrollment in your first course, attach an unofficial or official transcript of you BA or BS (or higher degree), your grade calculation sheet using every grade for every class ever taken at a college (if a class was retaken, both grades must be used), and mail to the Preprofessional Health Advising Office at the above address.

4. Registration

Registration for courses in this certificate program is though the Open University program, which opens almost all SDSU classes to the community (matriculated SDSU students may not apply) on a space available basis. Admission to the University is not required. Credit earned is non-matriculated resident credit. For graduate students, not more than nine units of coursework taken in Open University prior to admission to an advanced degree or advanced certificate program are accepted for a program of study. Participants should take the following steps:

1. Check the SDSU Class Schedule for the days and times of the course(s) you need. It can be obtained from Aztec Shops, call (619) 594-7535, or go to www.sdsu.edu.

2. Obtain an Open University registration form for each course desired from the College of Extended Studies , or call (619) 594-5152 to have the forms sent to you.

3. Attend the first class meeting and obtain the instructor’s and department signatures.

4. Turn in the forms and class fee at the College of Extended Studies registration office.

Registrations will be accepted after the first week of classes and after a signature from the instructor has been obtained. For your convenience, the College of Extended Studies registration office is open from 8 am- 6pm, Monday through Thursday; 8 am – 5 pm Friday; and Saturday from 8 am-10 on the first day of Extended Studies classes. The Cashier’s Office is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. General information is available at www.neverstoplearning.net.