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Pre-Professional Studies

Law

Manhattanville offers several options for students interested in pursuing a career in law. Although many students interested in the legal profession major in Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies or in Criminal Law, it is also possible to pursue other majors, while minoring in Legal Studies or Criminal Law. Details regarding Political Science, the Legal Studies and Criminal Law concentrations, and the minors in Legal Studies and Criminal Law are listed under Political Science in the Academic Departments section below. Students interested in law should seek advice early on from the pre-law advisor and/or the Director of Legal Studies.

Pre-Health Professions

The Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee (PHPAC) is available to assist students in preparing for admission to a graduate health professions program. This includes medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry, physical therapy, and other health-related fields. Students considering a career in one of these fields should contact a member of the PHPAC as soon as possible upon admission to Manhattanville, to plan their schedules. Students are strongly advised to begin taking courses in preparation for admission to a particular graduate health professions program in the first semester of their studies at Manhattanville.

Standardized examinations are an essential component of the admission process to many programs. The MCAT, DAT, or other entrance exam is usually taken at the end of the student's Junior year, with application to the graduate health professions program made in the fall of the Senior year (for admission in the fall immediately after graduation). A student can major in any subject; Manhattanville does not offer a "Pre-Health" or "Pre-Med" major. However, all pre-health courses must be completed in a timely manner so that the student is prepared to take the appropriate entrance exam by the end of his/her Junior year. If a student is interested in the pre-health program and chooses to major in Biology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry, he/she must also complete a minor in another subject and any of the required pre-health courses not covered in the major or minor. Students, who wish to major in subjects other than Biology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry, may declare one of two health-related minors. The Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Studies minor is for students interested in medical, dental, or veterinary school. The Health Sciences minor is for students interested in other health-related programs.

Pre-Health courses/minors:

Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Studies

Principles of Biology I, II

Principles of Chemistry I, II with labs

Organic Chemistry I, II with labs

Calculus I

College or University Physics I, II

First-Year Writing Seminar

One course in English Literature (2000 – level; not a film course)

Recommended: Statistics, Biochemistry

Recommended for MCAT 2015 students: Psychology, Sociology

Health Sciences

Principles of Biology I, II

Principles of Chemistry I, II with labs

Organic Chemistry I with lab

Statistics for the Social Sciences

Anatomy and Physiology

The courses listed above provide a minimal program of preparation for the entrance exams and for admission to the graduate programs. Additional courses directly related to the chosen profession may also be needed for admission. It is highly recommended that two or more of the courses listed above be taken in the first semester at Manhattanville. The sequence in which these courses are taken should be discussed with a member of the PHPAC as early as possible in the academic career to ensure the best possible outcome.

Admission to graduate programs in the health professions is highly selective. To compete successfully for admission, students must maintain a minimum 3.25 cumulative G.P.A. and a 3.25 G.P.A. in the courses listed above while at Manhattanville. Students should be aware that some professional schools require a G.P.A. that is significantly higher than 3.25. Students should also be aware that some professional schools require a very strong performance on a standardized entrance exam (MCAT or DAT, for example).

Besides advising and consultation, the PHPAC provides an Official Committee Recommendation Letter (PHPAC Letter) upon a student’s request. To request a PHPAC Letter, the student:

1. should have successfully completed six semesters of college, at least two of which were at Manhattanville;
2. should have a 3.25 G.P.A. as described above;
3. must have completed at least one science course, preferably two or more, at Manhattanville College. It is recommended that all core courses be completed at Manhattanville;
4. must get approval from the PHPAC for core courses taken elsewhere;
5. in the post-baccalaureate program, must complete at least half of the core courses at Manhattanville College; and
6. must submit a complete PHPAC Letter Request Form and supply all of the requested information, including the appropriate standardized test results, by the second Friday in August that precedes application deadlines. If the file is incomplete upon submission, the PHPAC will not consider it for a letter of recommendation.

Any student who is unable to meet these requirements should contact a member of the PHPAC as soon as possible to discuss his/her options. Note that the standardized test result is a requirement for the application and the PHPAC will not evaluate the student’s file without the test result. Therefore, students must schedule to take the MCAT (or appropriate counterpart) no later than early August.

Students should pick up the necessary forms from a PHPAC member or the Academic Advising Office before the end of the sixth semester. Students who request a PHPAC Letter will be evaluated by the Committee and receive one of the following ratings:

1. Highly Recommended
2. Recommended
3. Recommended with Reservation
4. Not Recommended

Students will be notified once the PHPAC has decided on a level of recommendation. If a student decides to proceed with the application process, he/she will be scheduled for an interview with the PHPAC. The interview is intended primarily to help prepare students for the professional school admissions process. It may also serve to give the Committee a more complete impression of the student, thereby improving the Committee's ability to write a letter on his/her behalf.

Questions or comments may be sent to prehealth@mville.edu.

Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Professions Program

For college graduates who are interested in entering medical, dental, veterinary or any other graduate/professional programs in the Health Sciences. Manhattanville’s Post-Baccalaureate program provides students with an opportunity to complete course work normally required as pre-requisites for entry into graduate and professional programs in the Health Sciences. The program is designed both for students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree with a major and/or minor outside of the sciences and are now seeking to complete the necessary pre-requisite core courses required of most graduate programs in the Health Sciences as well as those students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree with a major or minor in the sciences and are currently seeking academic enhancement by repeating course work already taken and/or enrolling in upper-level science courses. In addition, some students undertake Post-Baccalaureate course work as a means of preparation and review for entrance exams like the MCAT, DAT, etc. Students work with an advisor to identify appropriate course selections based on their needs and goals and design an individualized program of study. Required courses are offered in the Summer Session as well as during the academic year. Students apply for admission through the Director of Continuing Education.

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