Certificate in Premedical Sciences

Students who complete the premedical or prehealth curriculum while enrolled in the Postbac Premed Program may be eligible for a Certificate in Premedical or Prehealth Sciences, if they have taken at least twenty points of science courses at Columbia. The Certificate is not required by medical schools or other programs of study in the health professions; however, it does signify that a student has satisfactorily completed a rigorous premedical/prehealth curriculum as recognized by Columbia University and the State of New York. Certificates in Premedical and Prehealth Sciences are officially conferred on three different dates (in May, October, and February). Students who receive the certificate become alumni of the University.

Eligibility

Students should consult with their advisor concerning eligibility for the Certificate. Generally, students are eligible to receive a Certificate in Premedical or Prehealth Sciences from Columbia University if they:

• Complete the program within five years of matriculation
• Earn a minimum of 20 points in the required premedical math and science curriculum while enrolled in the Postbac Premed Program, including concurrent completion of the organic chemistry and biology course sequences (or an approved advanced-level equivalent) with satisfactory grades and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75

Students who begin their studies in the Premedical Sciences at Columbia, but go elsewhere to complete any remaining requirements, are ineligible for the Certificate.

Applying

In order for the Certificate to be conferred, eligible students must file an application via the "Forms" section of the Student Success Portal by the following deadlines, as set by the Office of the Registrar:

August 1: for October certificates
November 1: for February certificates
March 15: for May certificates