Pre-Professional Health Studies

     The Pre-Professional Health Studies Office at Temple University serves undergraduates interested in developing an academic and co-curricular profile that will increase their success in post-graduate and professional endeavors.  The office provides academic advising, co-curricular, and professional development opportunities for students interested in preparing to go to professional school in

Dentistry	Pharmacy
Medicine	Podiatry
Optometry	Veterinary Medicine

Program Features

    The Pre-Professional Health Studies Office provides advising support for students to help them identify their academic strengths and interests and the paths that will best prepare them to fulfill their career aspirations, including

• Individual, group, and electronic advising to help students identify tracks and programs best suited to their interests in the health care profession;

• seminars, colloquia, and speakers on issues and concerns central to understanding the complexities of the health care profession in the twenty-first century;

• student organizations focused on health care issues and concerns that students can get involved in early and stay involved in throughout their undergraduate career; and

• opportunities for internships, service learning, and other experiential learning activities key to the professional development of the individual interested in a career in the health care profession.

    All entering students indicating an interest in dentistry, medicine, and related fields are strongly encouraged to develop an alternative plan, which might include exploring opportunities in the health care profession in the following areas:

The First-Year Program

The Pre-Professional Health Studies Office offers the first-year student

• Advising about choices relating to majors and programs appropriate to preparing for post-graduate study.

• Special sections of the Freshman Seminar, introductory classes, and learning communities focused on health care issues to help first-year students learn more about the opportunities in the health care profession.

• Special events – speakers, panels, and colloquia – focused on health care issues and concerns to help first-year students develop their understanding of the health care profession.

• Experiential learning opportunities such as internships, service learning and physician shadowing that allow first-year students to learn firsthand about the health care profession.

• Early experience writing about and receiving feedback on personal statements about experiential learning / professional development experiences through the electronic portfolio program.

Together, these features will help first-year students develop an understanding of the complex nature of health care in the 21st century and the role they can play as health care providers.

Beyond the First-Year

At the upper-level, the Pre-Professional Health Studies Office continues to support the student’s preparation for a career in health care both academically and professionally, including the process of applying to professional school.

In addition to the program features available to first-year students, at the upper-level the office provides

• advising support to develop the academic profile best suited to their career interests;

• information sessions or seminars on the professional school application process;

• test preparation (MCAT, MAT, PCAT, DAT) seminars;

• mock interviews, and

• leadership seminars.

Undergraduate Research

Recognizing that research can play a valuable role in a student’s undergraduate career and contribute to preparation for post-graduate and professional endeavors, the Pre-Professional Health Studies Office encourages students to have a research experience related to their academic and/or professional interests. The Pre-Professional Health Studies Office provides information about opportunities for advanced undergraduates to participate in the research in their majors or in related areas and about research opportunities in laboratories located on the Health Science Campus. Funding support for undergraduate research projects is available through the Undergraduate Research Incentive Fund (URIF) and Diamond Research Scholars Program. Students have the opportunity to present their research at the annual Temple Undergraduate Research Forum (TURF) and to receive funding support to present at national conferences.

Volunteer / Community Service

Students interested in careers in the health professions can gain valuable experiences in health care related fields by taking advantage of the volunteer and community service opportunities available to Temple University students. The Pre-Professional Health Studies Office maintains a database of volunteer and community service opportunities available to Temple students. The Health Studies Program will provide students information on the area volunteer and service opportunities, and help place the students in those opportunities whenever possible.

Special Programs

TempleMed Scholars offers high-achieving high school seniors provisional admission to Temple Medical School at the time of their admission to an undergraduate program. Candidates invited to apply based on their high school performance and SAT scores. Application requirements include an essay and an interview.  More information.

Post-Baccalaureate Program in Health Professions
Designed to help recent college graduates with strong academic records in fields other than science prepare to enter professional school in medicine and dentistry. More information.

For further information contact:

Pre-Professional Health Studies Office
1810 Liacouras Walk
Suite 100

http://www.temple.edu/healthadvising
(215) 204-2513

healthadvising@temple.edu

Pre-Professional Health Studies Student Manual

Temple Medical

Scholars Program

Post-Baccalaureate

Program