Pre-Medical and Health Professions

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown has a strong commitment to educating undergraduate students preparing for careers in medicine and health-related sciences. Nearly 20% of Pitt-Johnstown students have expressed interest in finishing degree programs in preparation for employment or further graduate study in nursing, medicine, rehabilitation, optometry, dentistry, podiatry, or veterinary medicine.

As a student in the Pre-Med program, you will work closely with faculty and medical professionals from the region who will guide and mentor you throughout your time at Pitt-Johnstown. Among the opportunities available to you at Pitt-Johnstown are:

• Individual academic advising sessions during which you will identify career goals, choose a major, discuss course requirements, and establish a timeline for completing your studies,
• Shadowing experiences, internships, and preceptorships at our region’s leading healthcare facilities and research centers, which will provide you with real-world experience and a first-hand understanding of benefits and opportunities of your chosen career.
• Research experiences, including participation at the annual Symposium for the Promotion of Academic and Creative Enquiry (SPACE), that enable you to connect theory-to-practice while making meaningful contributions to your career field. 
• Events, such as group informational sessions and workshops with community members in health professions, to help you establish a professional network.
• Membership in the Health Sciences-Medical RealWorld Interest Group, which will connect you with other students, faculty, and staff with shared interests.
• Guidance on the review, selection, and application processes for professional school.
• Mock interviews to prepare you for professional school admission interviews.

Pitt-Johnstown is proud the acceptance rate into professional schools  for students participating in the Pre-Medical Careers program.  Between 1999 and 2011, the average acceptance rate into medical school has been 97.8%, while the acceptance rate into dentistry and podiatry schools has been 100%. 

Generally, professional schools require completion of 90-100 semester credits of undergraduate work from accredited colleges or universities before applications will be processed. Exceptions are sometimes granted for extraordinary performance or where unique arrangements have been made with specific schools. (For instance, high school students with exceptional credentials can apply for acceptance to a program established between Pitt-Johnstown and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry that may allow entrance after the junior year if performance remains consistently superior.)

Usually, the following coursework must be completed before admissions exams can be successfully completed:

• 2 semesters of introductory biology with lab (BIOL 0110, 0111, 0120, 0121)
• 2 semesters of introductory chemistry with lab (CHEM 0111, 0112, 0113, 0114)
• 2 semesters of organic chemistry with lab (CHEM 0231, 0232, 0233, 0234)
• 2 semesters of introductory physics with lab (PHYS 0140, 0141, 0142, 0143)
• mathematics through 1 semester of calculus (MATH 0221)

In addition, students are expected to have general education courses including composition and other courses typical of Arts and Sciences baccalaureate programs. Some professional programs may have special requirements (e.g. optometry requires microbiology [BIOL 1185] and statistics [MATH 0212]). Some schools may also have additional requirements.

It is advisable to take some additional science courses in preparation for the admissions exams. Most students take Genetics (BIOL 0350), Cell Biology (BIOL 0360), and Animal Physiology (BIOL 1125). Biochemistry (CHEM 1321, 1322) is often cited by professional students as helpful.