Pre-Medical Program

117A The Science Complex South
610-436-2978
Pre-Medical Program
e-mail: pmed@wcupa.edu
Teresa Donze-Reiner, Director

Committee Members

Dr. Teresa Donze-Reiner, Biology and Program Director
Dr. Mahrukh Azam, Chemistry
Dr. Frank E. Fish, Biology
Dr. Jessica Sullivan-Brown, Biology
Dr. Felix E. Goodson, Chemistry
Dr. Zhongping Huang, Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Jennifer Maresh, Biology
Dr. Susan Johnston (P.A.), Anthropology and Sociology
Dr. Melissa Reed, Kinesiology
Dr. Thomas Simpson, Chemistry
Dr. Joan Woolfrey, Philosophy
Dr. Michael Cirigliano, MD FACP, Honorary Member

The Pre-Medical Program prepares undergraduate students for application to the health professional schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and physician assistant programs. The program also prepares students for careers in optometry, podiatry, chiropractic medicine, pharmacy, and biomedical research. The program consists of an individualized selection of course work, personal counseling, and academic support. Optional internships in biomedical research at medical schools or research institutes are available to qualified students.

For highly select undergraduates, medical school early assurance programs are available in affiliation with Penn State University College of Medicine (undergraduate), Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (undergraduate), Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Dental Education (undergraduate),  Arcadia University's M.S. in Physician's Assistant Studies (undergraduate). 

Students are welcome to major in any discipline of their choice while participating in the Pre-Medical Program at WCU. We encourage our students to take classes and major in subjects they are interested in and to complete the prerequisites for the pre-health profession of their choice. Some of the popular majors for pre-health students include the B.S. in Biology; B.S. in Biology - Cell and Molecular Concentration; B.S. in Chemistry; B.S. in Forensic and Toxicological Chemistry, B.S. in Pharmaceutical Product Development; B.S. in Physics; or B.S. in Psychology. Students in the Pre-Medical Program may have two advisors - one from their major field and one from the Pre-Medical Committee. The advisor from the major field serves as their academic advisor, while the one from the committee offers advice about professional schools and their requirements, as well as their professional development, including volunteering and shadowing opportunities.

The post-baccalaureate program in pre-medicine has been established at WCU for many years. It is designed for the career-changer student who has graduated with a bachelor's degree in typically a non-science field and needs to take some, if not all, of the science courses as prerequisites for entrance requirements into medical school or another pre-health profession school, including dental, physician assistant, podiatry, optometry, or veterinary school.

Majors in Conjunction with the Pre-Medical Program

Students are welcome to major in any discipline of their choice while participating in the Pre-Medical Program at WCU. Pre-Medicine is not a major. Please consult the Pre-Medical Director if you are undecided on which discipline to major in while in the Pre-Medical Program.

Certificate

• Pre-Medicine

• See undergraduate admissions information.
• See academic policies.

All undergraduate students are held to the academic policies and procedures outlined in the undergraduate catalog.  Students are encouraged to review departmental handbooks for program tips, suggested course sequences, and explanations of procedures. When applicable, additional policies for specific department programs may be listed below.

Application Policy for the Pre-Medical Program

It is essential for incoming students contemplating a medical career to apply to the Pre-Medical Program immediately upon matriculation at the University. Similarly, it is essential for students who, at some later time, develop an interest in a medical career to apply to the Pre-Medical Program. Students who fail to consult with the Pre-Medical Office prior to taking the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) or who fail to report the results of any MCAT exam to the Pre-Medical Office are not eligible to receive a Pre-Medical Committee letter of evaluation when they apply to medical school.

All West Chester students who wish to apply to a health professional school should ask their professors to forward letters of evaluation to the Pre-Medical Committee and should process their applications through the committee. It is recommended that students accumulate a minimum of five letters of evaluation in their confidential file, including one letter from a licensed medical professional. The committee will send a composite letter of evaluation to the professional school for students who meet the academic requirements and have an acceptable interview with the committee. Further information is available in the Pre-Medical Office, 117A Schmucker Science Center South.

Admission Requirements for the Pre-Medical Program

Because of the intense competition for health professional school admission, we encourage academically talented and highly motivated students to apply to the Pre-Medical Program. To matriculate into the Pre-Medical Program from high school, students will need to complete a pre-medical application after their acceptance into WCU and have a minimum SAT score of 1240 or ACT score of 26. Students that transfer to WCU will need to have a minimum GPA of 3.20 in their college courses to gain acceptance into the Pre-Medical Program.

Minimum G.P.A. Requirement for the Pre-Medical Program

Students must maintain a minimum 3.20 grade point average to remain in the program.