Pre-Professional Health Advising Programs

Pre-Health Advising for Medicine, Dentistry, and Other Health Careers

Designed to foster motivated, caring, and communicative students who intend to pursue careers as physicians and healthcare professionals, Monmouth University’s pre-medical, pre-dental, and health careers preparation charts a uniform course of study under the mentorship of the Pre-Health Advising. The preparation encompasses all undergraduates intending to attend medical school, dental school, or any graduate course of study in the health professions.

Pre-Health advising prepares undergraduates for medical school as well as other health professional schools, including dental, veterinary medicine, physician assistant, physical therapy, public health, and occupational therapy. The Committee members are from the science faculty and have strong interests in career advising. Pre-Health Advising works closely with the Center for Student Success (CSS) and Undergraduate Admission.

Most pre-medical students major in biology or chemistry, as a strong foundation in basic science is vital to success in professional education. However, it is possible to major in another field, and to take the prerequisite science courses for professional schools. Students from diverse majors, including Spanish, psychology, and health studies, have been successful by being exceptional in both their majors and in science courses. Non-science majors are encouraged to use their free electives for biology and chemistry courses, as taking more science than the minimum prerequisite courses for professional schools is advised. An increasingly complex and global medical profession demands healthcare professionals to have broad cultural knowledge and excellent communication skills. Therefore, Pre-Health students are encouraged to excel in humanities courses as well as in science. Students geared towards a career in healthcare should also seek out volunteer and shadowing opportunities as early as possible. Leadership skills can be enhanced through participation in campus clubs and organizations.     

Preparation for health professional schools begins in the freshman year. Incoming first-year students are encouraged to indicate their future career aspirations to their academic advisor during orientation. The sequential nature of the natural and physical science courses chosen requires careful planning if students are to meet the requirements of their chosen professional schools. Throughout the academic year, students are encouraged to attend update meetings on the various professions, informal presentations by healthcare providers, and informational sessions on career preparation run by the Pre-Health Advising. Committee members attend the major national and regional health profession conferences to remain current, concerning both developments in the field and medical and professional school requirements. In addition to course advisement, Pre-Health Advising members provide students with information on admissions tests, such as the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and the DAT (Dental Admissions Test), and prepare students for entrance interviews at professional health schools. The Committee also composes and provides a comprehensive letter of recommendation to professional health schools, which is one of the most important parts of the admissions package.

The Pre-Health Advising is pleased to offer the following affiliation programs:

Pre-Medical Preparation and be taken at MU as a Post-Baccalaureate student

College graduates who wish to enter medical or other health professional schools but have not completed the prerequisite course requirements may enroll at Monmouth University to complete the necessary credits as a post-baccalaureate student. If interested, please contact the Office of Admission at 732-263-5869. Once a student is admitted to Monmouth University as a post-baccalaureate student, Pre-Health Advising provides academic advising in preparation for admission into a medical or other health professional school.  

Monmouth University Physician Assistant Program

The Monmouth University Physician Assistant Program began accepting students for its first class in Fall 2014. The Physician Assistant program allows qualified students to pursue a three-year Master of Science in Physician Assistant degree following a bachelor’s degree at Monmouth University. Preference for interviews for this program is given to Monmouth University undergraduates.

Rowan University - School of Osteopathic Medicine

Monmouth University offers a cooperative academic arrangement between Monmouth University and Rowan University-SOM so that highly qualified students can complete the required courses for the baccalaureate and osteopathic medicine degrees in an eight-year sequence. This program is composed of four years of approved undergraduate study at Monmouth University and four years of study in Osteopathic Medicine at Rowan University-SOM. Eligibility for entry into the program at the end of the sophomore year is limited to Monmouth University students who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States and who have completed a minimum of sixty (60) credits with a major in biology or chemistry, and meet the following requirements:

1. overall G.P.A. of 3.50 or higher,
2. receive a recommendation of support from the PPHAC, and
3. submit scores of all components of the SAT or the ACT.

Candidates must maintain a 3.50 G.P.A. at Monmouth University, with no science course grade lower than a “B.” Candidates will be interviewed by the PPHAC at Monmouth University and by Rowan University-SOM and must achieve a competitive score on the MCAT (determined by Rowan University-SOM) by September 15 of their senior year. The decision for final admission to medical school will be made by the Rowan University-SOM and will be based on a candidate’s satisfaction of the school’s admission requirements.

American University of Antigua – College of Medicine

American University of Antigua will allow qualified sophomores to apply to Monmouth University to be accepted into a “4 + 4” program with AUA College of Medicine. Qualified students (up to five per year) would complete four years at Monmouth University (with a major in biology or chemistry), and would continue to AUA College of Medicine to earn the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. Accepted students must maintain an overall 3.25 G.P.A. at Monmouth University and a 3.25 G.P.A. in all prerequisite courses required by AUA College of Medicine, with no more than one “D” or “F” in any prerequisite course. Candidates must also obtain a total MCAT score of 20 or higher, receive a letter of recommendation from the PPHAC, and be successfully interviewed by the AUA College of Medicine. Acceptance to this program is non-binding, and students in the program are eligible to apply to additional schools.

St. George’s University (SGU), Grenada, B.S./M.D. and B.S./D.V.M. 4 +4 Program

In this program, students will begin their studies at Monmouth University (MU). After successfully completing four (4) years of undergraduate study and earning a B.S. degree at MU, qualified students who satisfy all respective admission requirements will proceed to Grenada and enter the first year of St. George’s University School of Medicine or St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine. Qualified medical students will be eligible to complete the first two (2) years of medical study in Grenada and the final two (2) years of this combined program in clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals in the U.S. and/or the U.K. Qualified veterinary students will be eligible to complete the first three (3) years of veterinary study in Grenada and their final clinical year at affiliated veterinary schools in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, or Ireland.

Undergraduate students must express interest in one of the combined degree programs at time of application to Monmouth University. MU and SGU will select candidates based on criteria and conduct undergraduate interviews. The eligible medical student will maintain a G.P.A. of at least 3.40 while at MU and a score of 25 or higher on the MCAT. For the veterinary student, a GPA of 3.10 must be maintained while at MU and a score of at least 300 (combined verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning) on the GRE. Additionally, all qualified MU students must meet all admission criteria of SGU School of Medicine and SGU School of Veterinary Medicine including a successful interview with SGU.

Students apply to this joint program from high school. There is no cap on the number of students who can be accepted. There is no binding commitment for the student to attend SGU once accepted into the program. They may choose to apply and enter another school if accepted.

American International College of Arts and Sciences – Antigua (AICASA) – Monmouth University Bachelor of Science degree

Students who achieve an Associate’s Degree from the American International College of Arts and Sciences (Antigua) may be offered admission to Monmouth University to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology or Chemistry if the following qualifications are met:

• Be in good academic and disciplinary standing;
• An overall cumulative college grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.00 or higher; high school applicants must have at least a 3.00 cumulative high school G.P.A. and 1500 three-section SAT score;
• No “F” or “D” grade in any required course by Monmouth University;
• Monmouth University does not represent that students admitted pursuant to this agreement will be able to complete the degree requirements. Each student is responsible for planning his or her undergraduate education to develop the skills necessary to succeed in a demanding degree program;
• Transfer credit will be awarded as specified in the Monmouth University catalog.

Students interested in any of the pre-professional health programs should contact 732-571-3687 for specific requirements and to seek advising.

Law

Those students interested in law as a profession or as an adjunct to other vocations can obtain the necessary pre-law preparation at Monmouth University. Several majors are appropriate as undergraduate preparation for a career in law. Monmouth University also offers a major in Political Science with a Concentration in Legal Studies. Faculty members dedicated to career advising help interested students plan their courses of study and provide advice and suggestions concerning the processing of law school applications. In general, the student should consider joining the Pre-Law Club and give special attention to developing the skills of lucid writing, logical thinking, and precise comprehension of language.