Health Professions at SFSU Home Page

Health Professions Home Page

SFSU Health Professions Advisor

Programs:

Undergraduate Program for SFSU undergraduates interested in health professions. E-Mail Advice
Summer Science Institute (SSI), through a combination of lectures, labs, workshops and visits of health profession schools, helps economically and educationally disadvantaged undergraduates succeed in major's introductory science course work and make informed decisions regarding choice of health profession. Academic credit is conferred through a 2-unit Science Concepts (Sci 235) course during the 8-week summer program. During the the fall and spring, enrollment in SSI-dedicated sections of Science Concepts maintains academic and peer support. A stipend is provided to each SSI student to help ease financial burdens. In 2008, a group of 15 students from SFSU and other nearby colleges and universities participated in SSI during M-F, 8-11 am, June 23 - Aug 15 (8 weeks). SSI will accept a new group of as many as 24 students each summer.
Formal Post-Bac Program Applications for Cohort 3 (2008-2010) are no longer being accepted. Applications for Cohort 4 (2009-2011), to begin June 8, 2009, will be available 1/1/09. For those taking pre-requisite courses in a highly structured and supportive environment. E-Mail Advice

Updated 8/25/08 => PH footnote on Fall Class Schedule, see policy: pdf .

Informal Post-Bac Programs for those taking pre-requisite or advanced courses in a flexible and relaxed environment. E-Mail Advice

Important: Fall admissions to the informal (2nd-Bac) program have closed due to California budget cuts. Although SFSU has in general shut down online applications for informal post-bacs for Spring 09, those whose goal is to enter a graduate health professions school will be allowed to apply during the period of Aug 1 to Sept 2, 2008. To apply, please click here for a downloadable application. See additional information in the table below.

Two Dental Post-Bac Programs: Applications for 2008-2009 Programs are no longer being accepted. Applications for the 2009-2010 Programs will be available 1/1/09. E-Mail Advice
SFSU/UCSF/Pacific Dental Reapplicant Program For 12 disadvantaged dental school reapplicants.
SFSU Adjunct Dental Post-Baccalaureate Program For a total of 10 first-time applicants (disadvantaged or not) and non-disadvantaged dental school reapplicants.

See table further below for comparison of post-bac programs

Other Activities:

Health Professions Advisory Committee: (HPAC) is comprised of student leaders who work closely with me to shape the pre-health professions programs offered at SFSU. Our focus is to assist fellow SFSU students in reaching their health profession career goals by providing both the vision and the resources necessary to organize, guide and manifest a variety of health professions activities on campus. HPAC welcomes new members and interns from the SFSU student population. To join HPAC, contact hpac@sfsu.edu.
HPAC Scholarships: Available to SFSU undergraduates, informal post-bacs (2nd-Bacs) and formal post-bacs.
Pre-Health Student Organizations: SFSU has a rich variety of student organizations that conduct activities related to the health professions.
Health Professions Speaker Series: During fall and spring semesters, talks relevant to health profession students at SFSU are given each Wednesday, 5-7 pm, in Hensill Hall, room 501.
Health Professions Letter Forwarding Service: Forwards letters of recommendation as part of the health profession school application process. Fees are charged for these services.

Formal vs. Informal Post-Bac Programs Offered at SFSU

The Dental Post-Bac Programs are not compared here. Students accepted to Dental Post-Bac Programs enter SFSU as 2nd-Bacs.

Return to Informal Post-Bac or Formal Post-Bac web page.

Feature

Formal Program

Informal Programs

2nd-Bac

Open University

Cohort Structure Yes, ~50 students take all classes together for entire 2-year program. No, each student chooses their own schedule. No, each student chooses their own schedule.

Full-Time/Part-Time Course Work? Full-time only. We recommend little or no outside employment during participation in program. Full-time or part-time. Outside employment can be accommodated during participation in program. Full-time or part-time. Outside employment can be accommodated during participation in program.

Pre-registration for classes Yes, all classes and all semesters. Yes, for all semesters. However, some classes do not allow 2nd-Bacs to pre-register; instead, some space is allocated for 2nd-Bacs, and admission occurs during the first day of class. No, only during the summer. Admission occurs during the first day of class if space is available.

Guaranteed Entry into Classes? Yes. No, due to frequent over-enrollment you may not be admitted into all classes. However, 2nd-Bacs have a high registration priority, and are often admitted. They do well getting into advanced science classes. No, due to frequent over-enrollment you may not be admitted into all classes. In addition, Open U students have a low registration priority. Open U students have a better chance of getting into advanced science classes due to lower enrollment.

Dedicated Classes?

Yes, all labs and discussion sections will enroll only formal post-bacs. However, lecture sections will also enroll some non-Program post-bacs.

No, classes open to all students with appropriate pre-requisites.

No, classes open to all students with appropriate pre-requisites.

Pre-Reqs? Electives? First-Time Applicants? Reapplicants?

Focused on pre-requisite courses. A few advanced science electives may be available. Best suited for those taking pre-reqs for the first time; not for reapplicants. Reapplicants should consider informal post-bac program.

Pre-requisites and/or advanced science electives are available. Suitable for first-time applicants and reapplicants.

Pre-requisites and/or advanced science electives are available. Suitable for first-time applicants and reapplicants.

International Students? Not at this time. We are working on qualifying the Formal Program for international students. Please stay tuned. Yes. Those with F1 visas from previous study in US can begin in summer. Those seeking new F1 visa must start in the fall or the spring . Yes, any visa.

Fees ~$16,000 per year (~$550 per unit) regardless of residency status. Fees may increase slightly for summer 2009 entrants (Cohort 4 ). ~$4,100 per year for full-time enrollment (6-21 units per semester) for in-state residents. Add $339 per unit for out-of-state residents and international students. Typically, California residency can be established after 1 year of attendance. $210 per unit ($256 per lab unit), regardless of residency status.

Financial Aid Mainly subsidized and unsubsidized loans; a small number of scholarships have recently become available. Scholarships, subsidized loans and unsubsidized loans. No financial aid available; consider outside sources.

Admission Requirements Official transcripts documenting bachelor's degree from an accredited school, 2 letters of recommendation, personal statement and possibly an interview. Minimum 2.5 GPA as mandated by State, but due to competitive nature of Program, a higher GPA will likely be needed. Official transcripts documenting bachelor's degree from an accredited school, minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA or 2.5 GPA for last 60 semester units (90 quarter units) of course work. No requirements.

Application Periods

Starting Summer 08: Cohort 3. Rolling admissions; applications were due April 1, 2008, but are still being considered.
Note: A few transfers into Cohort 2 and/or Cohort 3 will be considered for Fall 08 & Spring 09.

Starting Summer 09: Cohort 4. Rolling admissions; applications considered from January 1 to April 1, 2009.

Starting Fall 08: Admissions for Fall 08 were closed in mid-January due to severe California budget cuts, and SFSU's need to respond quickly. Limited admissions were extended until March 20, 2008. At present, the only recourses are: 1) our Formal Post-Bac Program (<= column to the left) or 2) Open U (column to the right =>).
Other possibilities for post-bacs in the SF Bay area include UC Berkeley Extension's Post-Bac Program and Mills College. Other nearby CSUs (SJSU, CSU-EB) may be responding to budget cuts in different ways from SFSU, so they may still be keeping 2nd-bac classes open. Community colleges are a last resort.

Starting Spring 09: Although SFSU has in general shut down online applications for informal post-bacs, those whose goal is to enter a graduate health professions school will be allowed to apply during the period of Aug 1 to Sept 2, 2008. To apply, please click here for the downloadable application.
Summer 09: Late Mar-Jun, 2009 (pre-registration allowed for informal post-bacs (2nd-Bacs); i.e., post-bacs who have already been admitted to SFSU and Open U.

Starting Fall 08: first day of class (no pre-registration).

Starting Spring 09: first day of class (no pre-registration).
Starting Summer 09: Late Mar-Jun, 2009 (pre-registration allowed).

Certificate Conferred?

Yes, upon completion of the 43-uint "core" Program.

No.

No.

Return to Informal Post-Bac or Formal Post-Bac web page.

Talk to Community College Counselors (9/21/07)

Pre-Health Student Organizations:

Pre-Health Professions Student Alliance (PHPSA): Supports the undergraduate community on campus in pursuing admission to health profession schools by holding office hours, providing advice and support, and coordinating workshops and other on-campus events.

PHPSA Officers PHPSA List-Server PHPSA Web Site PHPSA President

Pre-Health Students of Color (PHSC): Supports students of color on campus in pursuing admission to health profession schools by holding regular meetings and events, and providing a safe place to share experiences. All students are welcome.

PHSC Officers PHSC President

Health Education and Access Link (HEAL): Supports the equal access of health care to all by raising awareness on campus and holding seminars with nationally recognized experts. HEAL has recently begun a close relationship with the Juvenile Obesity Clinic at UCSF.

HEAL Officers HEAL List-Serve HEAL Web Site HEAL President

American Medical Student Association (AMSA) - SFSU Chapter: Coordinates the support of pre-medical students at SFSU by students enrolled in nearby medical schools. Part of a national organization that supports pre-medical and medical students.

AMSA-SFSU List-Serve AMSA Web Site AMSA President

SFSU Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC): is a student-run organization that meets once a week with the SFSU Health Center staff advisor to make recommendations on student health services, programs, and fees. Additionally, SHAC plans preventive programs for the SFSU student body.

SHAC E-Mail SHAC Web Site SHAC President

SFSU Pre-Osteopathic Medicine Club: Contact Lindsay Kuntz, Pre-SOMA Club President.

SFSU Pre-Dental Club: Contact Devin Lopez, Pre-Dental Club President Web Site

SFSU Pre-Pharmacy Club: Contact Chaundra Cox, Pre-Pharmacy Club President.

SFSU Pre-Optometry Club: Contact Aya Toriumi, who is coordinating this newly forming organization.

SFSU Pre-Forensics Club: Needs a new President. Contact Gevrey Trunnell, past President. Also fssa@sfsu.edu.

SFSU Pre-Vet Club: Contact Margo Wixson, who is coordinating this newly forming organization.

Kinesiology Student Association (Includes Pre-Physical Therapy):

Contact KSA President KSA E-Mail KSA Web Site

Return to Informal Post-Bac or Formal Post-Bac web page.

Courses I Teach:

Introductory Biology I (Bio 230): is the first biology class required for Biology majors. It also fulfills the first semester Biology requirement for most health profession schools. 5 units (includes lab), letter grade. Covers the following topics: Chemistry of Life, Cell Biology, Cellular Respiration, Photosynthesis, Plant Physiology, Human Physiology, Genetics and Molecular Genetics. Taught by me summers only as part of Formal Post-Bac Program starting summer, 2007. Will be taught by others in future Fall and Spring semesters. Syllabus

Introduction to Health Professions (Sci 235): provides information on the most popular health professions (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, podiatry, nursing, optometry, veterinary medicine, allied health professions, etc.) in a friendly and safe atmosphere. Includes guest speakers and student activities. Focused on freshmen and sophomores who want to explore their options for entering careers in the health professions. Can be taken twice for credit. 2 units, letter grade, taught every Fall and Spring semester. (Listed as Science Concepts on the online class roster). Syllabus

Health Professions Colloquium (Sci 695.01): focuses on the health profession school application process, especially writing personal statements and practicing for interviews. Can be taken twice for credit; best taken the semester before applying. 2 units, letter grade, taught every Fall and Spring semester for all SFSU students. Syllabus

Health Professions Colloquium (Sci 695.02): focuses on two special groups of students: 1) those applying to dental school, including those enrolled in the Dental Post-Bac Programs, or 2) those enrolled in the Formal Post-Bac Program. Can be taken twice for credit; best taken the semester before applying. 2 units, letter grade, taught every Fall and Spring semester.

Contact Information:

Office: HH-221. Hensill Hall (HH) is located on 19^th Ave, midway between Winston Ave (Stonestown Mall) and Holloway Ave.

Getting to SFSU: Campus Map Driving and Public Transportation SF Bay Area Transit Guide

Parking: Those coming from off-campus can park in the residential areas just east of 19^th Ave. There is time-unlimited parking along 19^th Ave and Junípero Serra Ave, but parking spaces are rarely available. More frequently available parking can be found along Winston Ave and the streets that abut onto it (2 hour limit), and along Holloway Ave and the streets that abut onto it (1 hour limit). Do not park in the Stonestown Shopping Center parking lot - you risk being towed. Parking on Campus See MapQuest for a local area map.