ɬ offers specialized faculty advising in the Pre-Professional Health Sciences (PPHS) to help prepare you for acceptance into graduate-level professional health programs including medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physicians assistant, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
A career in the health sciences involves both a strong science preparation and a strong foundation in liberal arts. Medicine is a healing art that requires significant skills in human interaction and understanding. Patients are best served by practitioners who are well-grounded in the liberal arts, human sciences, and the pure sciences.
Any major is acceptable preparation as long as minimum admission requirements are met. However, a strong undergraduate program in the sciences is both required and advised.
Your advisor will help you plan an individually appropriate and competitive academic plan throughout your undergraduate years.
PPHS Program Overview
Success in pursuing a career in health sciences and gaining acceptance to a professional graduate program demands constant self-assessment complemented by mentoring by knowledgeable faculty and clinical professionals.
Phase I
You are admitted to the University.
- When you interested in one of the PPHS related careers, you provided specialized advising from the day you register for your first classes until you are accepted for admission to these competitive programs.
- PPHS advising is integrated into the curriculum. You will take PPHS 1200 “Introduction to Health Professions” and PPHS 1800 “Health Care Career Seminar” in your first and second years. The PPHS coordinator teaches these courses and provides group advising to PPHS students during their first two years at SPU.
Phase II
At the end of your second year, you may formally apply to the PPHS program.
- Application to the program is required for students pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine.
- Students interested in other health-related careers, including physician assistant, optometry, physical therapy, and others are welcome to apply.
- Admission requires passing grades in PPHS 1200 and PPHS 1800, strong grades in the sciences, an overall SPU minimum 3.0 GPA, and evidence of at least 15 hours of job shadowing a professional in your field of interest.
- You must online.
As a successful applicant, you will be provided with:
- Individual advising by a PPHS faculty member who will serve as your committee lead when required.
- Eligibility to participate in the PPHS Committee Interview System.
- Assistance with committee letter submission to AMCAS and other admission portals for the health sciences.
Committee Interview System
All students pursuing admission to graduate programs in medicine, dental, and veterinary medicine are required to utilize the PPHS Committee Interview system when requesting letters in support of their applications to professional schools. This system ensures that your application is nationally competitive.
- When participating in the program, you will enroll in PPHS 3400 “Application workshop” where you will learn specific interview skills that will help you prepare for the application process.
- A three-member faculty committee will interview you at the end of your junior or senior year and write a comprehensive recommendation letter.
- This letter describes your academic, clinical, and personal potential for success in a professional program, while also summarizing your outside letters of recommendation and the results of the interview.
- These letters are highly respected by professional schools, many of which require them before considering students for admission.
Specific Program Requirements
Review the specific requirements for your chosen program: