Post-Baccalaureate Students

College of Arts and Sciences

Pre-Health Professions Advising Center

Postbaccalaureate Students

Many students at FIU have returned to school to take the basic science and math courses necessary to apply for professional schools in the health professions. You may take courses as a '"Non-degree Seeking Student" or apply for a second degree as a "Degree-Seeking Student." If you already have a bachelor's degree, however, it is not necessary to obtain a second full degree. For example, if you were a Sociology major, you can just take the courses required for professional school admission. However, you should make every effort to apply and be accepted as a "Degree-Seeking Student" for two reasons. (1) Many of the required or suggested professional school courses are also required for a major in Biology or Chemistry. You may want to continue on and complete the second degree, while you wait for your applications to be accepted. As a "Non-Degree Seeking Student" only 15 credits may be applied toward a degree. (2) Non-Degree Seeking Students are the very last students to be able to register at FIU. On the other hand, if you already have a bachelor's degree, you will probably be considered as having Senior status, which gives you an early registration date.

Follow this link for information regarding FIU's post-baccalaureate undergraduate premedical certificate.

Suggestions for Postbaccalaureate Students

There are several types of postbaccalaureate programs.

1. Enhancement of undergraduate total GPA and science/math (BCPM) GPA: In this case, it is recommended that the student take additional upper division science courses before considering a graduate program. The student should take at least three upper division undergraduate courses per semester for a full year, and achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5.

2. Enhancement of GPA by enrolling in a graduate science program, either thesis based or non-thesis based. Students should achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5.

3. Enhancement of GPA by enrolling in a Special Master’s program, preferably in a university that has a medical school. Students take medical school courses and are given the opportunity to prove their ability to succeed in a medical school program.

4. Programs for students who are changing careers. These are programs for students who have taken minimal science courses and who have an undergraduate degree that is not science based. There are many programs that are formal postbaccalaureate programs, and are structured so that the student completes the minimum prerequisites for medical schools in a short amount of time. These programs may also include some upper division courses. Other institutions, such as FIU, do not have a formal postbaccalaureate program. However, we accommodate students who have not completed the prerequisite courses either at FIU or at other universities. In consultation with the Pre-Health Professions Advisor, the student selects those courses which are prerequisites for medical school, as well as those additional upper division undergraduate courses which are most helpful for success on the MCAT.

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Programs

You can be a Postbaccalaureate Student at any university. FIU does not have an organized Postbaccalaureate program, but encourages students to meet with the Pre-Health Professions advisor to schedule classes. Other universities have actual formal programs.