SCHOOL OF SCIENCE
Accelerated and
Special Programs
of Study
In the Pre-Health Professions
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An affiliation agreement with nearby Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) allows Penn State Erie to offer a 3+4 Accelerated Program in Primary Care.
Admission requirements include a score of 1200 on the SAT, a high school grade-point average of 3.5, a rank in the top 25 percent of your high school class, and evidence of desire to become a primary care physician. Preference is given to residents of rural areas of Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and western New York, although highly qualified applicants from other areas will be considered.
You'll complete three years of undergraduate study in biology at Penn State Behrend; provided you continue to meet the program requirements, will apply to LECOM at the beginning of your junior year. If accepted, you'll begin medical school the next fall, rather than complete a senior year of undergraduate study. After the successful completion of your first year at LECOM, you'll receive a Penn State Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.
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Aspiring dentists can opt for the 3 + 4 Accelerated Program in Dentistry in conjunction with the Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia.
The program requires high school seniors to have a 3.5 grade-point average, 1200 or better SAT score, and rank in the top 25 percent of the graduating class. Preference is given to Pennsylvania students from rural areas, and students who desire to practice dentistry in underserved areas of the state.
You'll complete three years of undergraduate study in Biology at Penn State Behrend and apply to Temple at the beginning of your junior year; if accepted, you'll begin dental school the next fall. After the successful completion of your first year at Temple, you'll be awarded a Penn State Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.
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You also can pursue a 3+4 Accelerated Program in Pharmacy in collaboration with the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science. Early in your junior year you'll take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test. After the successful completion of your first year at Buffalo, you'll be awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.
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A Biology degree with a Medical Technology Option is available to students interested in a career as a medical technologist. Medical technologists are responsible for accurate performance of laboratory diagnostic testing using computers, precision instruments, and other complex equipment.
After
six semesters of study at Penn State Behrend, you'll spend twelve
months at an affiliated hospital learning hands-on clinical
skills. The program's current affiliation is with Saint
Vincent Health Center in Erie.