The Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is aimed at supporting recent graduates and career changers with a bachelor’s degree who have a drive and passion for a health-science career, but lack the courses required for entry into their program of choice. The PB-Health Certificate prepares students for study in medical school, dental school, veterinary school, physician assistant programs, physical therapy programs, and more.
Students will work with Loyola University New Orleans academic and pre-health advisors to identify courses that best meet their needs. Loyola’s small class sizes give students the chance to build relationships with professors, which in turn allows faculty to write excellent letters of support for professional school applications. Students will receive one-on-one guidance and support throughout the program as they apply to their desired graduate program. Loyola’s outstanding curricula and supportive environment will help students become competitive for enrollment in exceptional health programs.
For more information, contact Nikita Milton, Assistant Director of Graduate, Online and Evening Admissions, at namilton@loyno.edu or (504) 865-3240.
Priority Application Deadlines
Prospective students interested in starting the PB-Health Certificate should apply to Loyola by the following dates:
Priority deadline for summer admission is February 28, 2020.
Final deadline for summer admission is May 8, 2020.
Priority deadline for fall admission is February 28, 2020.
Final deadline for fall admission is August 7, 2020
Summer classes start May 25th, 2020.
Fall classes start August, 2020.
Minimum Degree Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited United States university
- 3.0 undergraduate GPA
- Complete college level math with a B
- Calculus eligibility (Option A: B or better in Pre-Calculus or Calculus; Option B: eligible math placement score)
- One Letter of Recommendation from a former or current professor whose class you have completed
OR
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited United States university
- 2.5 undergraduate GPA
- 60th percentile Quantitative GRE
- Calculus eligibility (Option A: B or better in Pre-Calculus or Calculus; Option B: eligible math placement score)
- One Letter of Recommendation from a former or current professor whose class you have completed
Tuition & Certificate Criteria
With tuition of $450 per credit hour for accepted students, the program offers an affordable option for post-graduate individuals with health career goals. Students enroll in undergraduate courses in biology, chemistry, physics, math, psychology, and others as needed. Students who are accepted into the program and take at least 32 credits of the specific courses they need for the program of interest and who maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA.* will be eligible to receive a Pre-Health Post-Bac Certificate. Students pursuing a Pre-Health Post-Bac Certificate will need to be in good standing in all facets of the institution and university policies. A maximum of 16 transfer credits will be accepted towards the certificate. Full time students needing 32 credits can complete the certificate in as little as 14 months, and part-time students can complete the program in 24 months. Students who successfully complete the 32-credit hour program can take an additional 12 credits at the post-bac tuition.
*A student whose GPA falls below a 3.3 will have one semester to improve their GPA to a 3.3 or above.
Participating Courses
All undergraduate course descriptions can be found in the University Bulletin, and several participating courses are being offered at Loyola for Summer Session 2020. Up to 12 hours of elective credit can be used with this program. Electives will consist of any other Loyola class students and their advisor deem necessary for their desired health-related graduate program.
- BIOL A106 Cells & Heredity
- BIOL A107 Cells & Heredity Lab
- BIOL A108 Biology of Organisms
- BIOL A109 Biology of Organisms Lab
- BIOL-A300 Microbiology I
- BIOL-A301 Microbiology I Lab
- BIOL A304 Comparative Anatomy-Vertebrate
- BIOL A305 Histology
- BIOL A312 Anatomy and Physiology
- BIOL A313 Anatomy and Physiology Lab
- BIOL A326 Molecular Genetics
- BIOL A327 Molecular Genetics Lab
- BIOL A360 Cell Biology
- BIOL A361 Cell Biology Lab
- CHEM A105 General Chemistry I
- CHEM A107 General Chemistry I Lab
- CHEM A106 General Chemistry II
- CHEM A108 General Chemistry II Lab
- CHEM A300 Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM A310 Organic Chemistry I Lab
- CHEM A301 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM A311 Organic Chemistry II Lab
- CHEM A400 Biochemistry I
- CHEM A401 Biochemistry II
- CHEM A400 Biochemistry Lab
Mathematics Course Descriptions
- MATH A118 Pre-calculus Mathematics
- MATH A260 Statistical Inference for Scientists
- MATH A257 Calculus I (4 crs.)
- PHYS A115 Physics for Life Sciences I
- PHYS A112 Physics for Life Sciences I Lab
- PHYS A116 Physics for Life Sciences II
- PHYS A113 Physics for Life Sciences II Lab
Psychology Course Descriptions
- PSYC A100 Intro to Psychology
- PSYC A230 Developmental Psychology
- PSYC A235 Abnormal Psychology
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the program deadlines?
Priority deadline for summer admission is February 28, 2020.
Final deadline for summer admission is May 8, 2020.
Priority deadline for fall admission is February 28, 2020.
Final deadline for fall admission is August 7, 2020
Summer classes start May 25th, 2020.
Fall classes start August, 2020.
How much will the program cost per credit hour?
The program is $450 per credit hour.
Are there any prerequisites needed to be accepted into this program?
If you have not made a B or higher in a college-level pre-calculus or calculus course you will need to show math competency by taking a math placement test.
Upon completion of the program, are students guaranteed a letter of recommendation for medical schools?
Students who receive a 3.3 or higher GPA in the program will receive a composite letter of recommendation.
Is it possible to have a job while enrolled in the program?
Yes. There is a part-time option that would allow students to work while completing the program.
Is financial aid available?
See Financial Aid section below. Students wanting to use this program must contact Anna Daigle (apdaigle@loyno.edu) in Financial Aid.
What, if any, resources and support are available to students?
All faculty have office hours and there are usually tutors available through the Student Success Center. Each member of the PB-Health program will have an academic advisor and will have access to specialized pre-health advising.
Is on-campus housing available?
On-campus housing is very limited and priority is given to first-year freshman who are required to live on campus. There are several off-campus apartments or houses for lease near the campus. We advise checking Loyola's official off-campus housing provider to see what might be available: http://loyno.universityrentallisting.com/
Is the program authorized for issuance of I-20 forms for international student applicants?
The program cannot be used to secure an I-20 at this time.
Will students be provided with volunteer opportunities or clinical experience?
Career Services at Loyola can help students find relevant opportunities for which to apply.
Is the MCAT required for admissions to the program?
No
Is an MCAT preparatory component offered?
Not at this time.
Does the program have any linkage agreements with MD programs?
Not at this time.
On average, what is the student to faculty ratio?
Most of our science classes have less than 50 students per instructor. Most labs are capped between 16 and 20 students. In the sciences, no classes or labs are taught by graduate students.
Are classes the same ones taken by traditional undergraduates?
Yes, these are the same classes taken by traditional undergraduates.
Are classes offered in the evening?
While some eligible classes may be offered in the evening hours, PB-Health students should expect to complete most of their coursework with daytime classes.
Where do I apply to this program?
Applicants use the Adult Undergraduate Programs Application.
Financial Aid
Loan Options for the Pre-health Post-bac Program
The Pre-Health Post-Bac Program is considered a fifth year of undergraduate studies and is only eligible for private loans and certain federal loans. This program is not eligible for scholarship or grant assistance from Loyola University New Orleans or the federal government.
A student in the Pre-Health Post-Bac Program that shows they are taking courses necessary to enroll in an eligible graduate program/doctoral program can be eligible for 5th Year Undergrad loans for preparatory course work through the Direct Loan Program. Students are ONLY eligible because they are pursuing courses that will allow them to apply to an eligible program of study.
Students wanting to use this program must contact Anna Daigle (apdaigle@loyno.edu) in Financial Aid.
From page 1-82 of the 2019-2020 Federal Aid Student Handbook:
"A student may apply for a Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan (or a parent may apply for a Direct PLUS Loan on behalf of a dependent student) for coursework the school has documented is necessary for the student to enroll in an eligible program. The preparatory courses must be offered as part of an eligible program offered by the school, though the student does not have to be enrolled in that program. You may not award Direct Loans for standalone courses that do not count towards an eligible program and exist solely to serve as preparatory coursework.
If enrolled at least half time in these prerequisite courses, the student is eligible for loans for one consecutive 12-month period (not per program) beginning on the first day of the loan period. If the period of preparatory courses spans more than one academic year, the student may receive multiple loans.
To be eligible for loans under this exception, the student must be taking classes that are a prerequisite for admission. A student who is only taking courses to raise his or her grade-point average in order to be admitted would not qualify."
Auto/Expedited Admit Requirements
- Auto admit for non-science majors with a 3.3 GPA or higher.
- Students are required to submit one letter of recommendation from a faculty member within their major who can speak to their academic abilities.