Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Biology

The University of Nevada School of Medicine offers students a one-year certificate program to prepare students who already have their BS or BA for application to medical school. The program integrates upper-division science courses, study strategies, testing taking skills, and clinical experiences to prepare students for the medical school admission process.

The program is designed to prepare students for the academic rigor of medical school. Selection requirements include a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.85 or a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in the last 30 credits of their undergraduate BA or BS. The Post-Baccalaureate Program is designed to encourage Nevada students from diverse and disadvantaged populations to pursue careers in medicine. Such students might include, but are not limited to, students who are first generation college students, are economically disadvantaged, are geographically disadvantaged areas, or are members of underrepresented cultural minorities. A formal application and interview by two committee members will be required. The program admissions committee will be composed of faculty from participating institutions, a community physician, a member of the general UNSOM admissions committee, and the UNSOM Assistant Dean for Admissions.

Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.3 or higher in all post baccalaureate coursework in the program. All students must take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Students will enrolled in a tailored curriculum of 32 undergraduate credit hours over one year, which may include up to two summer sessions, depending on each student's academic background and preparation. An advisor from UNSOM will identify courses for each student to take from existing courses in the Department of Physical and Life Sciences at Nevada State College and other NSHE institutes. In addition, students will attend Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) preparation sessions and study skill classes and will be assisted in receiving additional experience in research, community service ventures, and clinical experience as needed.

This program will utilize existing faculty and courses. All courses identified in the curriculum are presently being taught by Nevada State College faculty. Potential courses that may be included in the post-bacc curriculum include, but not limited to, those listed below.

Curriculum

Semester (subject to change)

Fall (Even years)

BIOL 470Topics in Applied Microbiology

3.00

BIOL 414Endocrinology

3.00

Fall (Odd years)

BIOL 475Neurobiology

3.00

Fall

PSY 470Health Psychology

3.00

Spring

BIOL 473Advanced Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology

3.00

CHEM 377Natural Product Chemistry

3.00

Summer

BIOL 409Virology

3.00

Fall and Spring

BIOL 300Principles of Genetics

4.00

BIOL 405Molecular Biology

3.00

BIOL 251General Microbiology

4.00

BIOL 351Microbiology

4.00

CHEM 474Biochemistry I

3.00

CHEM 475Biochemistry II

3.00

CHEM 121General Chemistry I

4.00

CHEM 122General Chemistry II

4.00

CHEM 241Organic Chemistry I

4.00

CHEM 242Organic Chemistry II

4.00

PSY 403Physiological Psychology

3.00

PSY 441Abnormal Psychology

3.00

Students can choose between BIOL 251 or BIOL 351.

Fall, Spring, and Summer

BIOL 491Independent Study

1.00 - 3.00

PHYS 151General Physics I

4.00

PHYS 152General Physics II

4.00

TBA

BIOL 416Bioinformatics

3.00

BIOL 453Immunology

3.00

BIOL 457Molecular and Cellular Immunology

4.00

Students may choose between BIOL 453 or BIOL 457.