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Shoshana Katzman

Shoshana Katzman
Program Director
Health Sciences

Student Success Story

Benjamin Cedars

"The course schedule was flexible, which was great because I was volunteering at Highland Hospital while taking the courses." —Benjamin Cedars, Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program student

Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program

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EDP 402305

Get the science education you need for advanced study in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, advanced nursing degrees, physical therapy, physician assistant and other health professions with the UC Berkeley Extension Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program. Courses meeting the academic standards of UC Berkeley ensure that your education is of the highest quality. By successfully completing the Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program, you're ready to join others who have gained admission to a wide range of top health care programs. We have a rolling admissions policy, which means that we consider applications every month of the year. Therefore, there is no application deadline. However, it is advisable for applicants to submit all of their credentials at least two months prior to their intended date of matriculation.

Specifically, this program:

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Courses

The table contains the required courses for the Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program, as well as the terms they are typically available for enrollment.

2 Required Courses, Varied Number of Electives, 1.9 ceu, *24 Semester Units

Required Courses Course Number Units/ CEU Classroom
Health Careers Seminar I   0.4 ceu Fall
Spring
Summer
Health Careers Seminar II   1.5 ceu Fall
Spring
View All Electives for This Program Course Number Units/ CEU Classroom

Course availability is subject to change. Additional courses will be added as they are approved. Only classroom courses taken for a letter grade (C or better) are applied toward the program requirements.

*The 24 semester units are not a requirement for application or enrollment into the program, but are required for students who wish to request the award of completion.

To enroll, click on a course title above and choose a section.

You may enroll in individual courses without registering for the Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program.

You must pay the course fee when you register to be assured of a seat in the class.

Who Will Benefit

Whether you're a career changer seeking to enhance your science background, a recent college graduate who wants a stronger academic record or a reapplicant, you can choose courses you need to reach your goal. View the health care programs that have admitted our students.

Prerequisites for Admission

College graduates who hold at least a baccalaureate degree are eligible to apply for the Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for consideration. GPA requirements may be updated as annual reviews of the programs are conducted. This program is not approved for international students who hold F-1 visas.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum comprises 2 required courses (Health Careers Seminar I and II) and a varied number of electives (depending on specific courses taken) for a total of 1.9 ceu and 24 semester units. Candidates must pay a nonrefundable program registration fee. All credit courses must be taken for a grade, and students must maintain at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA). Transfer credit is not accepted. For more information, please see the completion requirements.

All coursework must be completed within three years of registering for the program. However, requirements may be updated based on new developments in the field of study; we recommend completing the curriculum in a timely fashion.

Credits earned in online sections are not applicable toward the Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program.

How to Register for This Specialized Program of Study

We have a rolling admissions policy, which means that we consider applications every month of the year. Therefore, there is no application deadline. However, it is advisable for applicants to submit all of their credentials at least two months prior to their intended date of matriculation.

To apply to the Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program, you must submit the following:

  1. The online registration form with your credit card information or complete the mail-in registration form. The registration fee is nonrefundable.
  2. An official, sealed transcript from an accredited undergraduate institution verifying that you earned a baccalaureate degree and maintained a GPA equal to or above 3.0.
  3. Any additional transcripts (official and sealed) from all other undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. International transcripts must be professionally translated.
  4. The personal statement essays form (Word). Answers should be in essay style, where applicable, and in 12-point font. The 500-character limit on each section is strictly enforced. Essays must be submitted within the form itself. Attached essays are not accepted.
  5. Three letters of recommendation (a minimum of one from an academic reference). Letters are expected to be confidential and should be sent directly from the recommenders. Applicants may only submit letters if they are in sealed envelopes with the recommender's signature across the seal. Opened letters will not be accepted from applicants.
  6. Current C.V. or résumé (applicable as of June 1, 2013)
  7. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is not a requirement for our program. However, if you took the MCAT in the past three years, you must submit your scores.

Send transcript(s), statement of purpose and letters of recommendation (items 2–5 above) to:

Shoshana Katzman, Ph.D.
Program Director
Health Sciences
UC Berkeley Extension
1995 University Ave., Suite 110
Berkeley, CA 94704-7000

Professional Organizations

American Medical Student Association (AMSA), UC Berkeley Extension Post-Baccalaureate Chapter
UC Berkeley Extension is a charter member of AMSA, a student-governed, national organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training.

The University of California, Berkeley, is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). UC Berkeley Extension—like all other UC Berkeley schools, colleges and departments—is accredited by WASC through the University.

Contact Information

Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions. To contact the department office, email science@unex.berkeley.edu or call (510) 643-0598.

Students who have been accepted to the Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program receive priority registration for high-demand laboratory courses. Instructions for priority enrollment are emailed a month before the beginning of the fall and spring enrollment periods. Students who fail to meet the priority enrollment deadlines can register for courses when enrollment opens.

Advisory Board

Dena Bullard, M.H.S.
Academic Health Sciences Specialist, Health Sciences and Services
University of California
Office of the President

Joseph I. Castro, Ph.D., M.P.P.
Vice Chancellor, Student Academic Affairs
University of California, San Francisco

John Matsui, Ph.D.
Program Director, Biology Scholars Program
UC Berkeley

Ramu Nagappan, Ph.D.
Director, Humanities
UC Berkeley Extension

Cathryn L. Nation, M.D.
Associate Vice President, Health Science and Services
University of California
Office of the President

Henry Ralston, M.D.
Professor of Anatomy
University of California, San Francisco

John Swartzberg, M.D., Ph.D.
Clinical Professor, Joint Medical Program
UC Berkeley School of Public Health

Richard C. Van Sluyters, Ph.D., OD
Professor of Optometry and Vision Science
Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Head Graduate Adviser
UC Berkeley

Juhn Verano, M.S.
Pre-Health Professions Career Counselor
Stanford University