PREPARING FOR THE DOCTORATE LEVEL HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Overview
Health care is a major factor in American life. In the last few decades, scientific and technological advances have greatly improved the health of most of our nation's citizens. These advances have increased both the numbers of people involved in health care and areas of specialization.
Professional training for most health professions takes place in specialized schools and is geared toward students who have completed two to four years of liberal arts and sciences education. There are two main types of health professions schools: those that require two or three years of arts and sciences education and two to three years of professional education; and those that generally require four years of undergraduate work and four years at a professional school. The first type of health professions program includes respiratory care, clinical laboratory sciences, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, cytotechnology, physician assistant education, and social welfare. The second type, which grants students a doctorate at the end of their professional studies includes the fields of allopathic medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, and veterinary medicine. Other programs, such as the Master of Science in the health sciences program at Stony Brook, prepare students for a variety of careers in health care management, teaching, or research. Students should be well informed about the requirements and characteristics of several career fields and plan their undergraduate curriculum to broaden their options. They should be realistic about their own abilities and have several alternatives in mind. The University at Stony Brook offers a wide variety of liberal arts and pre-professional courses students need for admission to health professions schools and also makes special efforts to help students prepare and apply successfully.
Selecting a major and taking required courses
There is no preferred major for undergraduates seeking entrance to doctoral level health professions schools. It is not necessary to major in a natural science. Students should pursue the subject they enjoy and perform well in. They should make sure they have a balanced program that includes the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. A good overall program is one that helps them develop writing and quantitative skills. Stony Brook's general education requirements, called the Diversified Education Curriculum, and its proficiency requirements in foreign language, mathematics, and writing, aim to ensure a balanced program. Visit our page on choosing a major for more information.In general, doctoral level health professions schools expect that applicants will have completed the following courses before applying to a professional school (several options are listed below; speak to an advisor about alternatives):
One year of English:
WRT 102 fulfills half of this requirement (as well as completion of your DEC A writing requirement). Students often choose one class from EGL 191, EGL 192, EGL 193, WRT 301, or WRT 302 to fulfill the other half, but many English literature or Writing courses are equally appropriate. AP credits are not applicable. Speak to an advisor for more information..
One year of college Mathematics (with at least one semester of calculus). Options include:
MAT 123 & MAT 125; OR MAT 125 & MAT 126; OR MAT 131 & MAT 132; OR MAT 141 & 142. AP credits may be applicable. Speak to an advisor for more information.
One year of general Chemistry and Chemistry lab. Options include:
CHE 129, CHE 130, CHE 133 (lab) & CHE 132, CHE 134 (lab) OR
CHE 131, CHE 133 (lab) & CHE 132, CHE 134 (lab) OR
CHE 141, CHE 143 (lab) & CHE 142, CHE 144 (lab).
Many students with AP credit for Chemistry will take the CHE 141, 142 honors sequence. Speak to an advisor for more information.
One year of Biology and Biology lab:
Two semesters of lecture and the accompanying lab courses, usually BIO 202, BIO 203, BIO 204 (lab), & BIO 205 (lab). Students with a 4 or a 5 on the AP examination are expected to complete at least 8 additional credits of more advanced biology with labs.
One year of Physics and Physics lab. Options include:
PHY 121, PHY 123 (lab) & PHY 122, PHY 124 (lab) OR
PHY 125, PHY 126, PHY 127 (labs included in the classes) OR
PHY 131, PHY 133 (lab) & PHY 132, PHY 134 (lab).
One year of Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry lab. Options include:
CHE 321, CHE 322 & CHE 327 (lab) OR
CHE 321, CHE 326, & CHE 327 (lab)
Some health professions schools have additional requirements. Veterinary schools often require one semester of microbiology and biochemistry. (Cornell Veterinary School prefers two semesters of biochemistry.) Students should have field experience as well: two 10-week sessions--one with large animals, one with small animals. Optometry schools generally require one semester of statistics and one of psychology, and some desire one semester of abnormal psychology.
Additional recommended courses:
Students should choose their courses carefully, and should consult with a faculty advisor in their major department as well as with their prehealth advisor. There is no substitute for good grades built upon a solid foundation of hard work in challenging courses which you have chosen prudently. Handling courses: some cautionary advice
Withdrawing from a course after the first two weeks of the semester will result in a W for the course on your transcript. If you have a good reason to withdraw from a course and your academic record is otherwise strong, receiving a W will not damage your potential for admission to a graduate health professions school. You should avoid a pattern of such reports on your transcript, however, since professional schools may interpret this as indicating poor judgment, bad planning, or the inability to finish what you begin. W grades are certainly preferable to grades of NC or F.
Unless circumstances beyond your control require it, do not take any required graduate health professions courses during the summer or an intersession.
Similarly, all courses required should be taken at a four-year institution, not a community college.
Entrance examinations Services for students preparing for careers in the health professions
Prehealth Advising aids prehealth students by providing written information and individual and group advising. This office also coordinates the application procedure under the direction of the Faculty Committee on Health Professions (FCHP).
The Prehealth Advising Office
- maintains files of instructors' evaluations for students who plan to apply to graduate health professions school.
- mails students news information, and application deadlines and procedures appropriate to each semester and class year.
- produces informational publications for both print and electronic distribution.
- posts statistics and announcements.
- provides counseling on academic matters and on graduate health professions decisions.
- collaborates in bringing speakers to the campus from health professions schools and participates in setting up special presentations for students interested in specific graduate health careers.
- makes available to prospective applicants (in the fall of their junior year) a timetable of steps to be taken each month in the application process.
- schedules interviews with prospective applicants during the spring (usually of the junior year) or fall (usually of senior year)in order to prepare, under the direction of the FCHP, a written evaluation of the prospective applicant to be forwarded to the professional schools. Students who elect to take pre-application examinations in the late summer or fall are scheduled for interview and evaluation during the fall.
- coordinates with the School of Medicine a post-baccalaureate/MD program.
Application information
Application normally takes place the summer after the junior year. Students should have completed the requirements listed above by the end of the junior year--but for various reasons, it could be appropriate and prudent to complete the prerequisites later.When applying to doctorate level health professions schools, students are required to submit an evaluation from their undergraduate institution. This letter of evaluation is prepared on the basis of an interview and information submitted by the student including an Autobiographical Packet that asks for a personal statement and details about the student's undergraduate courses and activities; a minimum of three recommendations (one from a basic science instructor, one from the student's major, and one other selected by the student); and transcripts from all colleges attended.
At the beginning of the spring semester of the junior year, applicants should schedule an interview. The completed Autobiographical Packet and recommendations must be on file before the interview is scheduled. Since the number of openings is limited, students are advised to schedule the interview promptly.
Files are sent to the Faculty Committee on Health Professions to review once the entrance examination scores are received. Students who took spring entrance examinations and completed all application procedures including an interview may have their credential files sent to graduate health professions schools beginning in August of their application year. Fall interviews are scheduled for those students who plan to take the application examinations scheduled in late summer (MCAT) or early fall (DAT or OAT). These students may submit requests to send their credentials files in October and November. All requests are submitted on the Credentials Request form.