Physical Therapy student demonstrating her knowledge to the professor

Health Professions Postbaccalaureate Program

Graduate professional programs are extremely competitive. In 2018, there were 5,811 medical school applicants in the state of Texas and only 1,654 (28.4%) students matriculated into medical school. Our program mission is to provide supplemental education to the baccalaureate degree that will prepare students for graduate programs in health professions. We aim to improve upon the competitiveness of each student through education, service to mankind, and research.

Program Contact

Dr. Craig Younce

Associate Professor of Biology

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Degrees

Health Professions Postbaccalaureate Program

Why take the Health Professions Postbacc Program?

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Improved Test Scores

Successful students will show an improved entrance exam score (GRE or MCAT) after completion of the postbacc program, including our Kaplan Prep course. In a highly competitive environment for access to graduate health professions programs, higher test scores are essential.

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Improve Foundational Knowledge

We will improve your foundational knowledge of the health sciences including chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics. We will provide research opportunities in the areas of Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Public Health, and Biomedical/Pharmaceutical Sciences. We will also aid our students in identifying shadowing and medical service opportunities locally and/or abroad.

Program Details

Each student will have 12 months of coursework (starting May term or Summer I). Specific courses will be selected by an advisor on a student-to-student basis to tailor the program for each student’s needs.

One year of Chemistry (General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or Biochemistry)
One year of Physics (PA-track is excluded)
One year of Biology minimum (General Biology I/II, Physiology, Advanced Anatomy with Nursing—Cadaver dissection, Immunology, Microbiology)
One semester of Statistics
One year of Research and/or Volunteer and Shadowing with partnering departments/institutions
Kaplan Prep Course (7-week GRE in the Fall; 8-week MCAT prep in Spring)
One year of social sciences (if needed—Intro to Psyc; Intro to Soci; Life Span Dev; Clinical Counseling, Business, Marketing)

Students are required to earn a B or better in all coursework. Students will be required to give a public, oral presentation of research at the end of the program

Students must have earned a baccalaureate degree.

Students are required to earn grades of “B” or better in the program. A student earning a grade “C” or lower in any course will be placed on academic probation. Earning a grade of “C” or lower in more than one course will result in dismissal from the program.

Successful completion of the 12-month program with a GPA of 3.4 or better (GPA requirement may vary based on the graduate program) in addition to a competitive GRE or MCAT score will result in a guaranteed interview at HSU Department of Physical Therapy, HSU Masters in Physician Assistant Studies, and Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Additional, successful program participants on the medical track will be individually evaluated by the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Office of Admissions and an interview will be extended to top participants.

Upon completion of the Gateway Postbaccalaureate Programs at Hardin-Simmons University students shall:

Demonstrate a proficiency in the fundamental and advanced concepts necessary for the healthcare fields of physical therapy, physician assistant studies, medicine, nursing, and/or athletic training.
Demonstrate their ability to read, understand, and critically analyze medically relevant literature and ideas presented in textbooks and published journal article
Demonstrate an understanding of foundational and advanced scientific knowledge by applying concepts necessary for the designated healthcare field of study (physical therapy, physician assistant, medicine (MD or DO), nursing, and/or athletic training).
Demonstrate the ability to clearly and logically present information in both written and oral forms.
Be fully prepared for graduate study in one or more of the following areas of healthcare: Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Medicine (MD or DO), Nursing, and Athletic Training.
Demonstrate their commitment to helping others through volunteering, service-learning projects, shadowing, and outreach (local, national, or international).

The Gateway Postbaccalaureate Programs follows SACS Best Practices for Certification Programs guidelines.