Q. What is the UC Berkeley Extension Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Professions Program?
A. The Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Professions Program is a formal pathway for students to gain academic instruction in the basic sciences they need to apply to a variety of health profession programs, including nursing, physical therapy, and other allied health fields.
This post-graduate program features small evening and Saturday classes that meet the needs and regulations for a wide range of healthcare-professional training programs. The first students in the program were enrolled in fall 2006.
Q. What is the value of a UC Berkeley Extension program?
A. As the continuing education arm of UC Berkeley, one of the finest public research institutions in the United States, UC Berkeley Extension has an unmatched reputation for excellence. UC Berkeley Extension's campus-approved academic curricula and instructors are widely respected and contribute to the successful completion of a high-caliber course of study. Also, program flexibility allows any student to take individual courses rather than complete the entire certificate program.
Q. Who is eligible to apply for the program?
A. College graduates who hold at least a baccalaureate degree are eligible to apply. A minimum GPA of 2.5 (effective fall 2007) is necessary for consideration for the Pre-Health Professions Program. GPA requirements may be updated as annual reviews of the programs are conducted.
Q. How do I apply for the program?
A. Applicants must submit the following:
Q. To whom should the transcript(s) and statement of purpose be sent?
A. These documents should be sent to
Barbara Peterson, Ph.D.,
Program Director
Basic Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Programs
UC Berkeley Extension
1995 University Avenue, Suite 110
Berkeley, CA 94704-7000
Q. What is the tuition for the program?
A. There is no traditional per-semester tuition like many colleges and universities. Fees are paid on a per-course basis. Please see the list of courses. Hyperlinked courses are currently available for enrollment; click on the course title for more information, including cost.
Q. How soon following submission of my credentials will I know the status of my application?
A. It depends on when UC Berkeley Extension receives the four components of the application process. Usually it takes four to six weeks to receive a sealed transcript. Recent graduates should contact the Registrar's office to ensure that the completion of degree notation has been added to the transcript. When all materials have been received, notification should occur within a week to 10 days.
Q. What are the deadlines for submitting an application?
A. We have a rolling admissions policy, which means that we consider applications year-round. It is advisable for applicants to submit their credentials at least a month prior to their intended date of matriculation.
Q. How do I register for the program or individual courses?
A. Students may register for the program online or by mail. You may also choose to take individual courses at any time. Courses on the approved list that were taken beginning in summer 2005 can be applied toward the program requirements.
Q. What is the grading policy for the program?
A. To receive a certificate of completion, students must take all courses for a letter grade and maintain at least a B average. No course grade lower than a C is acceptable.
Q. Is it possible to take online courses and use them to fulfill requirements for the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Professions Program?
A. Online courses are not offered as a part of this program, as they do not meet the requirements of many graduate programs and medical schools.
Q. What are the requirements of the program?
A. To earn a certificate of completion in the Pre-Health Professions Program, students must complete at least 16 units from the approved academic credit courses and maintain at least a B average. The Pre-Health Professions Program must be completed in a maximum of two years. See the complete course list. Additional courses may be added as they are approved. Courses may not be substituted and/or transferred for credit from another institution in the post-baccalaureate program. Courses on the approved list that were taken beginning in summer 2005 can be applied toward the program requirements.
Q. Are there direct relationships between the program and specific professional schools?
A. No formal relationships exist with any professional schools.
Q. Is there an advising component in addition to the academic programming?
A. An optional, non-credit Health Careers Seminar has been designed to help students assess the strength of their credentials and develop strategies for application to health profession schools.
To qualify for this seminar, students in the Pre-Health Professions Program must have completed 12 units with an overall GPA of 3.0. Other components of the seminar include reviewing personal statements, conducting mock interviews, and addressing specific needs related to your applications.
Q. Does UC Berkeley Extension provide financial aid and student housing?
A. UC Berkeley Extension has no financial aid program; Citibank has developed a loan program for Extension students.
UC Berkeley Extension does not provide student housing. Visit Cal Rentals for information regarding housing in the Berkeley area.
Q. What is the refund policy if it becomes necessary to withdraw from a course in which I am enrolled?
A. If you enroll in a course and then cannot attend, you may request a refund. Refunds are subject to a $30 processing fee.
Courses with fewer than six meetings: You must make your request no later than one business day prior to the first class meeting.
Courses with six or more meetings: You must make your request no later than one business day prior to the second meeting.
Read about our complete refund policy.
Q. May I apply to the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Program before I complete my undergraduate degree?
A. No. We require a transcript from your degree-granting institution, bearing the notation that you were awarded the degree.
Q. How may I obtain additional information regarding these programs?
A. You may contact us at science@unex.berkeley.edu or call (510) 643-0598.
For a free UC Berkeley Extension course catalog, call 1 888 UC-SMART.
Plus, we offer information sessions that will give you all the information needed to start your education.
