We Prepare You To Stand Out
What do medical and other health professional schools look for in candidates? While application requirements are unique to each schooland program, most schools seek students who are top academic performers with high overall science/math and science GPAs and high professional school admissions test scores (eg, MCAT, OAT, DAT, GRE); have extensive and relevant research as well as experiential and volunteer activities; demonstrate evidence of professional competency and behavior and positive letters of recommendation.
Post-Secondary Certificate in Pre-Medical and Health Professions
To be eligible for a Duquesne University letter of endorsement, PMHPP Honors Cords, and designation of enrollment in the PMHPP on his/her transcript, a student must earn the PMHP Post-Secondary Certificate. This designation on a student's transcript will provide medical, dental, and other health professional schools' admission units with a way to recognize a student who has received specialized education and training consistent with those who may earn a degree/academic major in pre-medical studies at other universities. It also validates the unique intentional learning in medicine and health professional content that is not offered to any other group of students at the University.
To earn the PMHP Post-Secondary Certificate, an UG-PMHPP student must:
- Complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of PMHPP-approved pre-medical/health professional coursework in math, science, or psychology/sociology, earned with a minimum grade of "C" or better, after being formally enrolled in the Program.
- Take an UG-PMHPP course each of the fall/spring semesters up until the time of application to medical or health professional school, with a minimum of one full year (two UG-PMHPP courses) being required to earn the PMHP Post-Secondary Certificate.
- Earn passing grades in all UG-PMHPP courses,
- Meet all PMHPP academic and professional behavior retention standards,
- Demonstrate a cumulative GPA of >3.0, cumulative math/science GPA of >3.0, and cumulative science GPA of >3.0 at the time of validation for graduation to earn the PMHP Certificate, and
- Be in good standing at the University and within his/her respective school
PMHPP student professional expectations, behavior, and academic retention standards are described in the 2021-2022 PMHPP Handbook which is accessible to all PMHPP students on the Community Canvas site.
NOTE: Undergraduate students applying to or already enrolled in Duquesne's Pharmacy,
Nursing, or Physician Assistant academic major programs are not eligible for the PMHPP
to pursue these careers, because they already receive the specialized advisement and
preparation services for those careers through their respective programs. Should they
wish to pursue medical/health professional careers other than their major program
careers, they then may apply to the PMHPP to get the additional assistance to pursue
those alternate paths.