Interested in Health Science Career?
Health Professional
Program
Affiliations
Thomas Jefferson University
Jefferson College of Health Professionals
Pre-Health Professional Programs
at Shippensburg University
This portion of the Biology Department website is designed to provide all students considering a career in health sciences with information that will help you to better understand opportunities available to you as a pre-health professional student at Shippensburg University. The majority of students who pursue health professional programs are biology majors (in the health professions track). However, occasionally some students choose chemistry, psychology, exercise science, or other majors and, with proper advising and coursework, can also pursue professional programs in the health sciences.
The variety of health professional educational programs and careers available to you is considerable. This document provides a list of health professional careers sorted by the amount of time needed to complete the required educational program. With the growing population and in particular the large - and aging - “baby boomer” population, all areas of health care promise strong employment opportunities. People are living longer and are more active in older age than ever before, further adding to the health care needs which must be addressed by a range of health professionals.
You should follow your strengths and interests when choosing a health career. Some health careers are in medical research, others are clinical laboratory positions with minimal patient contact. There are occupations that involve short-duration interaction with patients, whereas other careers provide opportunities for long-term / life-long care of patients. Certain careers require only one year of professional training, whereas others consist of four-year professional programs followed by several years of residency. Set goals for yourself that are realistic, but not limiting. Determination, perseverance, and diligence are equally important to – if not more important than – intelligence as you work towards your educational and career goals.
Curriculum sheets used in advising students while guiding them through their four-year biology program are available for you to review: health professions track or medical technology track. The left side of the page indicates the general education requirements for Shippensburg University with the right side of the page indicating the requirements for the Biology/Health Professions track or Biology/Medical Technology track. The Biology/Medical Technology track is a double-major leading to the BS in Biology after the first four years then a second degree – the BS in Medical Technology – is conferred following successful completion of the clinical year. Blank lines on these curriculum sheets indicate spaces for elective courses which are determined through advisement. In total, 120 credits are required for the BS in Biology degree which averages 15 credits per semester when divided over eight semesters.
Health Professional Program Affiliations
Shippensburg University has affiliations with many health professional programs as shown on the list below. In most agreements, early acceptance is available to qualified students. Accelerated agreements enable motivated students to enter a professional program before they have completed their undergraduate requirements for the baccalaureate degree at Shippensburg. To gain entry to the “3+” programs, application is made to the professional program in the fall of the student’s junior year of college. If accepted into the program, credits will be transferred back to Shippensburg after successful completion of the first professional year, thereby substituting for the senior year at Shippensburg and allowing the student to earn the baccalaureate degree in Biology from Shippensburg University.
Students pursuing such an option will work closely with the health sciences advisors to ensure the required courses are completed before beginning their professional education. Students should realize these affiliations are non-binding for the student and do NOT prevent them from applying to any other professional school under the normal procedure.
The numbers in parentheses refer to the number of years at Shippensburg University followed by the number of years at the professional school necessary to obtain the professional degree.
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (3+4) - leading to a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine, D.O. http://www.pcom.edu (see recommended 3 year curriculum)
Pennsylvania College of Optometry (3+4) - leading to a Doctorate of Optometry, O.D.
http://www.pco.edu (see recommended 3 year curriculum)
Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (3+4) - leading to a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine, D.P.M. http://podiatry.temple.edu (see recommended 3 year curriculum)
Temple University School of Dentistry (3+4) - leading to a Doctorate of Dental Medicine, D.M.D.
http://www.temple.edu/dentistry (see recommended 3 year curriculum)
Up to four seats are reserved annually for students who meet the guaranteed acceptance criteria that includes prerequisite and cumulative GPA’s of at least 3.2, minimum DAT scores as determined by Temple University dental school admissions committee. Details on this may be obtained from the Health Sciences advisors.
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy (3+4) - leading to the Pharm. D.
http://www.pharmacy.pitt.edu (see recommended 3 year curriculum)
Program eligibility includes a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 with no grade less than C in any prerequisite course. At least 90% of the pre-pharmacy core courses must be taken at Shippensburg University. A letter of intent should be sent to U. Pittsburgh by the end of the student’s sophomore year at Shippensburg. Up to four seats are reserved annually. This articulation is not available to students transferring into Shippensburg University. Details on this may be obtained from the Health Sciences advisors.
New York Chiropractic College (3+3) - leading to a Doctorate of Chiropractic, D.C.
http://www.nycc.edu (see recommended 3 year curriculum)
With the NYCC agreement, students who maintain at least a 3.1 GPA in the Biology major and who have earned at least a C in the prerequisite, non-science courses will automatically matriculate to NYCC.
Logan College of Chiropractic (3+3) - leading to a Doctorate of Chiropractic, D.C.
http://www.logan.edu (see recommended 3 year curriculum)
With the Logan Chiropractic agreement, students who maintain at least a 3.25 GPA in the Biology major and who have earned at least a C in the prerequisite, non-science courses will automatically matriculate to LCC.
Arcadia University, Masters in Physician Assistant Program - leading to a M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies http://www.arcadia.edu
Arcadia University will grant assured admission each year to the four most qualified SU students who successfully complete requirements and procedures outlined in the articulation agreement. A B.S. in either Biology or Chemistry is required in addition to a minimum 3.3 GPA overall and in prerequisite courses (with no less than a C in any prerequisite course), a minimum total score of 1700 on the GRE (with no individual section less than 450), and a minimum of 200 hours of patient care/research experience. Details on this may be obtained from the Health Sciences advisors.
Thomas Jefferson University – Jefferson College of Health Professions
http://www.jefferson.edu/jchp
Special Note: Students who desire to pursue the 2+ programs (nursing, radiologic sciences, bioscience technologies, occupational therapy) should use the major’s code
“Thomas Jefferson University – Allied Health Sciences” on the Shippensburg University application.
Baccalaureate Programs (2+2)
Nursing (see TJU requirements and recommended 2 year curriculum at SU)
Radiologic Sciences - includes radiography, ultrasound, MRI, CT, nuclear medicine, etc.
(see TJU requirements and recommended 2 year curriculum at SU)
Bioscience Technologies (2+2 or 3+1) (or post-baccalaureate programs, 4+1)
- includes Medical Technology (aka: Clinical Laboratory Science), Cytotechnology, Biotechnology
(see TJU requirements)
Masters Degree Program
Occupational Therapy - Combined BS/MS in OT (2+3) or entry-level Masters in OT (4+2)
(see TJU requirements)
Doctoral Degree Program
Physical Therapy (4+3)
No accelerated program is available at this time due to the doctoral-level status.
(see TJU requirements)
P.A.C.E. Program with Thomas Jefferson University, College of Health Professions
With the “Plan a College Education” (P.A.C.E.) program, high school seniors may apply to TJU for a position to begin two years later. During the two years at Shippensburg University, students complete their prerequisite courses and, providing they maintain good academic standing and continue shadowing/volunteer experiences in their discipline, they automatically matriculate to TJU to complete the professional component of their degree. The P.A.C.E. option is NOT available for the physical therapy program because the DPT program requires the baccalaureate degree.
This early acceptance program is for high school seniors with relatively high SAT scores (minimum SAT’s vary among disciplines) and who have volunteer hours in the respective field of study. Interested students should contact Thomas Jefferson University College of Health Professions for additional information and P.A.C.E. applications by calling 1-877-533-3247 or via their website at www.jefferson.edu/jchp. PACE application involves rolling admissions; therefore, qualified students are encouraged to apply early in their senior year of high school.
Medical Technology Clinical Affiliations
Students can pursue a career in medical technology (aka: clinical laboratory science) by electing the Biology/Medical Technology or Chemistry/Medical Technology double major, resulting in a 4+1 program.
Shippensburg University is affiliated with seven hospitals to which students can apply for the clinical year of their medical technology training. Hospital affiliations are:
Altoona Hospital, Altoona, PA
Augusta Medical Center, Fishersville, VA
Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, PA
Reading Medical Center, Reading, PA
Saint Vincent Medical Center, Erie, PA
Williamsport Hospital, Williamsport, PA
York Hospital, York, PA
Health Professional Advising
Dr. David R. Long serves at the Director of Health Sciences and oversees advisement for the health professional programs. He also advises all the medical technology students and students in the 2+2 programs affiliated with Thomas Jefferson University. Additional faculty with specialties in health science-oriented disciplines such as physiology, immunology, microbiology, cell biology, and genetics also serve as advisors for students who are in the health professions track.
The Health Professions Committee, comprised of faculty from the biology and chemistry departments, provides interviews for students who are in the Biology (or Chemistry) Health Professions track and who are applying to medical, dental, podiatric, optometry, and veterinary programs. These particular professional programs prefer a committee letter of recommendation in lieu of individual letters. The Health Professions Committee interview provides students with interview experience and provides the committee with information that is used to compose the committee letter of reference.
So Why Choose Shippensburg University if you have an Interest in the Health Sciences?
The Biology Department offers a wide assortment of courses in health science-related disciplines and in other areas of biology that help provide students with a good breadth of understanding of the biological sciences while at the same time allowing them to select electives that help prepare them for success in their chosen professional program.
In each of the last several years, approximately 30-35 students matriculated to health professional programs in disciplines such as medicine, veterinary medicine, optometry, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, radiologic sciences, nursing, chiropractic, medical technology, nuclear medicine technology, pathologists’ assistant, physician assistant, pharmacy, and others. (See placement record for recent years.) Students who are successful in their coursework as biology majors at Shippensburg find they are very well prepared for success in their professional studies.
A hallmark of an education at Shippensburg University is close faculty-student interaction, fostered by small class size. Laboratories rarely exceed eighteen students and upper-division course lectures typically enroll no more than twenty students. Students are encouraged to get to know faculty and, like-wise, faculty take time to know their students. Students are encouraged to engage in undergraduate research projects which often are awarded funding through various sources such as the SU Undergraduate Research Fund and the Miklausen-Likar Research Fund. Furthermore students are encouraged to obtain first-hand exposure to health careers by shadowing health care practitioners. Numerous students over recent years have gained volunteer experiences at local hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other health care sites. Research work and internships may be taken for academic credit, but it is the experience of these ventures that provide the greatest reward in academic growth and accomplishment.