A student enrolled in the Duquesne University PMHPP Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program may choose to couple his/her certificate studies with a master's degree to enhance the learning experience and gain additional qualifications. While a student may choose to pursue a degree in any field, there are 3 master's degree options that are directly related to healthcare and complement the pre-medical requirements. Admissions to these programs are facilitated by the PMHPP. PB students pursuing masters degrees are eligible for graduate aid, whereas certificate (only) students are not eligible and must rely on monies remaining in their undergraduate aid pool.

Master of Science in Biotechnology

The Master of Science in Biotechnology is designed to provide advanced graduate training in the natural sciences, while enabling students to consider other career options for their scientific knowledge through coursework in business, ethics and leadership. Duquesne biotechnology students learn not just science, but also how to participate and lead technical development teams and how to use their background in the diverse career opportunities within biomedicine. The M.S. in Biotechnology combines advanced training in the sciences with instruction in the essentials of regulatory affairs, medical devices, commercial research and product development.

Master of Arts in Health Care Ethics

Students who have the majority of their science requirements met or those who are interested in expanding their understanding of social and ethical issues in health care may wish to combine the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate with a Master of Arts in Health Care Ethics. The M.A. degree program includes a total of ten courses (30 credits), one required course plus nine courses selected from the general Healthcare Ethics courses. The required course is a general graduate-level introduction to ethics. The nine HCE courses will be chosen by the student with advisement according to the student's interest.

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

With rapid advances in technology, and as generations live longer, more active lives, the demand for biomedical devices, procedures and other solutions continues to grow as well. Biomedical engineers with advanced degrees have even more opportunities for expanded responsibilities. This 32-credit MS-BME program is designed to be flexible to serve both full-time students and working professionals. Students will have significant opportunities for research in state-of-the-art labs, working alongside accomplished faculty. Graduates of the program will have the experience to perform research and engineering design in a variety of healthcare settings.

*Admissions requirements vary by program, and acceptance is not guaranteed. Supplemental application materials submitted to PMHPP will be shared when application is made to these programs; however, applicants also may be required to provide additional application materials and/or essays.

PB-PMHPP Program Options

The Certificate Option is designed for students who require at least one year of pre-requisite coursework to become eligible to apply to professional schools. Students applying to the Certificate Option must designate whether they are interested in the Enhancement or Career Changer Pathway; further information for these pathways is below. The PB-PMHPP is not designed to assist students who have already applied to or are in process of applying to medical, dental, or other health professional school simultaneously with making application to the PB-PMHPP; this is NOT a "glide or growth year" program. Therefore, applicants to the PB-PMHPP are discouraged from taking entrance exams (eg. MCAT, DAT) until they have completed the Duquesne program.Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Requirements

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Requirements

To successfully complete the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical and Health Professions Certificate Program, a PB-PMHPP student must earn a minimum of 24 credits at the university, as stipulated in the student's individual PB-PMHPP contract and meet the academic standards delineated below. Failure to meet all of these standards will result in a change of status and/or dismissal from the PMHPP.

  • Achieve an overall final GPA of 3.25
  • Achieve an overall science/math GPA and science GPA of 3.0
  • Meet all programmatic requirements as stipulated in the student's individual Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Contract
  • Be in good standing with the University, (school and department), and the PMHPP

While all curricular plans for the Certificate Program are individualized and designed uniquely to meet students' needs, we strongly recommend that all students include at least one non-science course each semester in order to help prepare them for the non-math/science professional expectations required of all medical and health care professionals, including admission examination (eg, MCAT, DAT) critical thinking and reasoning sections, professional school interviews, and future clinical practice expectations. Typically, Certificate Program students take three sciences and one non-science course in each semester. Post-Baccalaureate students take classes with both undergraduate and graduate students at the University.

PB-PMHPP Certificate students are required to enroll in a minimum of two (0 credit) PB-PMHPP courses over the time of their enrollment. These courses are designed to provide PB-PMHPP students with basic training in medical skills and health safety requirements including, but not limited to HIPAA training, blood-borne pathogen training, handwashing, gloving, sterile field, and other health and safety training and assessments. Students also are introduced to inter-professional education and evidence-based practice, and the anatomy, pathophysiology, and terminology of the cardiorespiratory, neurological, and gastrointestinal systems.

To provide students with more options upon matriculation from Duquesne and make them more attractive candidates to medical, dental, or other health professional programs, some PB-PMHPP students also choose to couple their Certificate work with the pursuit of masters degree. This Certificate-Masters Option generally requires two full years of study. The PB-PMHPP currently has three options for masters degrees under this program:

  • Master of Arts in Health Care Ethics
  • Master of Science in Biotechnology
  • Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Students interested in one of the master's degree options should apply first to the PB-PMHPP through the online application, and then await further instructions regarding the master's application, once accepted to the PB-PMHPP. Should a student choose to pursue a master's degree program not listed above, it would be the student's responsibility to meet all requirements of that alternative masters degree program, and to pursue the application requirements independently.

Applicants who need less than 24 credits to meet their admission requirements for medical, dental, or other health professional program or admission examination pre-requisites, and prefer a more independent approach may be interested in pursuing the PB-PMHPP Non-Certificate Program. As with the Certificate Program, students will work with a PB-PMHPP advisor to create individualized curricula. Students in this Non-Certificate Program are not eligible to enroll in the PB-PMHPP courses and are not eligible for PB-PMHPP Certificates, Duquesne University endorsement/committee Letters, or assistance with the preparation of their applications. They will be eligible for assistance with the submission of their professional school letters. Students in this program are required to complete all coursework in no more than 24 months or two years (whichever occurs first).

However, if you want to have access to all the benefits the PB-PMHPP has to offer, the certificate option, whether coupled with a master's option or not, is the best route.

Pathways

The Enhancement Pathway is designed to assist students who have coursework in science and math, but who still wish to enhance or complement their background to become a better qualified medical, dental or other health professional applicant. A unique curricular plan is developed for each student that will complement and enhance that student's background. These plans are typically one year, but will depend on individual student needs. To maximize the benefits of this path, students should be knowledgeable of the requirements of the medical or professional schools they intend to apply to so that they are aware of any additional requirements or expectations of applicants to those programs (eg. research experience).

The Certificate Option is not designed to assist a student who plans to simultaneously apply to medical or health professional schools along with submitting an application to the PB-PMHPP Certificate Option to fill his/her glide or growth year.

Regardless of background, applicants to this program are strongly discouraged from taking any standardized graduate admissions test (ie. MCAT, DAT, GRE, OAT) needed for medical or professional school in preparation to apply to Duquesne's Post-Baccalaureate Program. However, if an admissions test was taken previously, applicants are required to submit their scores with their application. Applicants are advised that professional schools will see all admission exam scores taken before and after matriculation to Duquesne.

The Duquesne PB-PMHPP application cycle opens November 1, and applications should be received by April 1st to ensure student needs can be met. However, complete applications may be considered for review at the discretion of the PB-PMHPP based upon space availability until June 1st. The PB-PMHPP cannot guarantee course availability for applicants who apply after April 1st. Therefore, applicants are HIGHLY encouraged to apply as soon as possible There is no spring admission cycle.

The Career Changer Pathway is designed for students who have little to none of the pre-requisite coursework required for admission to medical or professional school. Typically, students admitted to this pathway come from diverse career backgrounds and life experiences. The length of study in this pathway typically takes two years plus one summer, depending on individual student needs. Career Changer applicants who would like the option to begin the PB-PMHPP during the summer are encouraged to have their completed application to the PB-PMHPP no later than February 1.

The curricula for Career Changer students are uniquely designed to meet the basic requirements of medical or professional schools. This pathway also is structured to prepare applicants for the standardized admissions test for their area of interest. It should be noted that students will be required to research the medical or professional schools they intend to apply to so they are aware of any additional program requirements.

The Duquesne PB-PMHPP application cycle opens November 1, and applications should be received by April 1st, although by Februry 1st is highy recommended. 

However, complete applications may be considered for review at the discretion of the PB-PMHPP based upon space availability in the program until June 1st. The PB-PMHPP cannot guarantee course availability for applicants who apply after April 1st. Students are HIGHLY encouraged to apply as soon as possible There is no spring admission cycle, and only complete applications will be considered for admission by the required deadline.