Pre-Professional Health-Related Combined Degree Programs

Dr. Katherine Wydner, Advisor

A number of combined degree programs are available to students through a series of articulation agreements with area colleges and universities. These programs are coordinated through the Department of Applied Science and Technology and the Health Careers Advisory Committee. Students participating in these programs spend three years at Saint Peter’s University in a pre-professional program (pre-pharmacy or pre-physical therapy) and then finish their professional degree at another institution in three or four additional years. Students must meet all of the requirements of the individual professional school and acceptance at an individual professional school is solely at the discretion of that school. Participation in any of these pre-professional programs while a student at Saint Peter’s does not guarantee admittance to the partner school. For particular details about when and how students should apply to each of the professional school partners, students should consult the Health Careers Advisor.

These combined degree programs represent only particular options for ultimately obtaining a graduate Physical Therapy or Pharmacy degree. Students who complete a traditional four year Bachelor’s degree from Saint Peter’s, take the courses required for the particular graduate program, and show high academic performance may qualify for application to other graduate programs.

Students interested in these combined degree programs need to plan their academic course of study with the assistance of a member of the Health Careers Advisory Committee so as to ensure compliance with program requirements, which may change at the discretion of the professional schools. Students not interested in these combined-degree programs, but planning on entering similar or other graduate, health-related programs upon completion of their Bachelor’s degree, should likewise consult the Health Careers Advisor for help with choosing the appropriate course of study.

Pre-Physical Therapy with Rutgers University

The Pre-Physical Therapy program is designed to assist students who are interested in attending a Physical Therapy (PT) program after Saint Peter’s University. Saint Peter’s has a combined degree program with Rutgers University that leads to a Bachelors of Science from Saint Peter’s and a Doctorate in PT from Rutgers University. Students who are admitted to this Pre-PT program spend three years at Saint Peter’s followed by three years at Rutgers. Students with a strong high school record (verbal + math SAT > 1170) and strong college record may be considered for the Pre-PT track; admission is conditional at all stages. Students in the Pre-PT track must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, conduct volunteer/service work with a PT, pass an interview at the partner school, and achieve a good GRE score. While at Saint Peter’s, students pursuing the Pre-PT track must complete the core and major requirements and take certain other required courses which include (but are not limited to) two semesters of General Biology with laboratory, two semesters of General Chemistry with lab, two semesters of Physics with lab, two semesters of Anatomy & Physiology with lab, one semester of Psychology, one semester of Calculus (MA-133), and one semester of Statistics (MA-132). The Health Careers Advisor will assist students in planning their academic program.

Pre-Pharmacy with Rutgers University

The Pre-Pharmacy Program is designed to assist students who are interested in attending a Pharmacy program after Saint Peter’s University. Saint Peter’s has a combined degree program with Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ) that leads to a Bachelors of Science from Saint Peter’s and a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Rutgers. Students who are admitted to this Pre-Pharmacy program spend three years at Saint Peter’s followed by four years at Rutgers. Students with a strong high school record (Top 20% high school class, verbal + math SAT > 1410) and strong University record may be considered for the Pre-Pharmacy track; admission is conditional at all stages. While at Saint Peter’s, students in the Pre-Pharmacy track must maintain a strong GPA, complete the core and major requirements, and take other required courses which include (but are not limited to) two semesters of General Biology with laboratory, two semesters of General Chemistry with lab, two semesters of Organic Chemistry with lab, two semesters of Physics with lab, one semester of Psychology or Sociology, one semester of Calculus (MA-133), and one semester of Statistics (MA-132). The Health Careers Advisor will assist students in planning their academic program.