The 33-credit Gateway to Professional Studies program can be completed in as little as one year, while all concentrations can be completed on a self-paced schedule that suits the needs of working professionals and those seeking career advancement.

The Gateway to Professional Studies (GPS) track has a curriculum that includes foundational courses that will provide an interdisciplinary background in biomedical sciences that can be used as advanced preparation for professional schools including medical, dental, veterinary, and pharmacy schools. Courses that will be taught online, blended, and face-to-face. Course work includes biochemistry, pharmacology, communication skills, histology, anatomy, physiology, and other relevant topics of study.

Gateway to Professional Studies track

This one-year (33-credit) intensive program of study is designed for students who have earned their bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, pharmacy, or a related field, and seek admission to a healthcare-related professional school (medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, chiropractic, optometry, podiatric, or physical therapy). This track also provides a solid background for careers in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, including pharmaceutical sales, business and management, regulatory science, or science teaching.

A one-year program focused on building your credentials to compete for admission to a healthcare-related professional school.

Degree highlights

FDU’s GPS degree will enhance your knowledge, improve your application credentials, and prepare you for academic success in a challenging professional school environment.

  • Blended online and face-to-face classes at FDU’s Florham Campus in Madison, NJ, with a specially priced tuition rate.
  • Builds your knowledge and training in biochemistry, pharmacology, psychology, histology, anatomy and physiology, as well as develops your communication skills.
  • Studies also include a 12-credit core that explores the legal, ethical, management and public health issues confronting all aspects of health care.

You will also receive highly personalized support in applying to professional school, including one-on-one help in developing your application and preparing for your interview.

  • Studies also provide career preparation for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, including pharmaceutical sales, business and management, regulatory science, and science teaching.
  • Faculty may include professors from:
    • FDU’s Becton College in biological/allied health, psychology and counseling, and chemistry/ pharmaceutical sciences;
    • the School of Pharmacy;
    • Silberman College of Business.

Admission requirements and tuition

Enrollment in this program is currently offered only at FDU’s Florham Campus in Madison, NJ. Applications are processed on a rolling admissions basis with a recommended deadline of January 15 for the spring semester and August 15 for the fall semester.

Students in the GPS track will be considered for admission based upon several criteria:

For science and non-science majors

A baccalaureate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the following science coursework is required:

  • General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • General Biology I and II
  • Anatomy and/or Physiology

All applicants

All students will be required to provide a resume or curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation and a personal statement describing their history and life experiences, as well as a description of their reasons for their interest in the program. Interviews may be requested by the department.

Changes in our academic program may occur and would be implemented at the start of a new academic year/fall semester.

Your application package will include:

  • A completed FDU Graduate Admissions Application
  • Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required.
  • Two letters of recommendation, from a professor, employer, or professional in the field familiar with the student’s strengths and abilities
  • Personal statement
  • Resume or curriculum vitae

Cost of attendance

This program features specially-priced tuition. For the current cost of attendance, contact the Florham Campus Office of Enrollment Services at 973-443-8600. Federal Direct Loans are available to qualified applicants. For more information, contact the Florham Campus Office of Financial Aid at 973-443-8700.

To estimate the cost of tuition (not including other fees), please complete the following steps:

  1. Obtain the program’s current cost per credit from the Office of Enrollment Services.
  2. Multiply the cost per credit times the total number of credits in the program. (If you start in a semester other than the fall, any tuition increases for the next academic year would be applied to your total costs.)

Curriculum

All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise indicated.

Core Health Science Requirements: 15 credits

  • HSCI6200 Ethics of Health Care Research
  • HSCI6250 Psychology for the Medical Sciences
  • HSCI7302 Epidemiology and Study Design Evaluation
  • HSCI7401 Biostatistics
  • HSCI8806 Project Management
  • Introduction to Health Policy and Systems

Gateway to Professional Studies Track Requirements: 21 credits

  • BIOL6891 Histology
  • BIOL6892 Human Physiology
  • BIOL6893 Human Anatomy
  • CHEM6663 Introductory Medicinal Chemistry
  • CHEM6685 Pharmacology
  • CHEM6781 Biochemistry for the Medical Sciences
  • CHEM7500 Technical and Scientific Writing

Co-directors

Dr. Anthony Tasso and Dr. Patricia Melloy

Course Descriptions

  • BIOL6891 The structure and Functional correlations of body tissues, cells, organs and organ systems

  • BIOL6892 Molecular, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems.

  • BIOL6893 The knowledge of human variability and susceptibility to disease begins with a thorough introduction to the basic structure of the human body that occurs in this course. The goals of the course are; to introduce the fundamental organization and structure of the human body and to begin the process of clinical observation by attention to detail and honing of observationa. skills.

  • CHEM6663 Based on all branches of chemistry, but especially organic chemistry, the focus of this course is on improving a drug's therapeutic effect while minimizing its undesirablle side effects.

  • CHEM6685 A study of drugs, their history, sources, physical and chemical properties, compounding, biochemical and physiological effects, mechanism of action, absorption, distribution in the body, and therapeutic uses.

  • CHEM6781 Chemistry of substances of biological significance, structures and mechanisms of hydrolytic and respiratory enzymes, biosystheses of proteins, bio-oxidations and molecular structures of complex molecules.

  • CHEM7500 Introduction to learning the written and oral communication of technical information. Assignments include writing and presenting proposals, reports, standard operating procedures, technical papers and documentation.

  • HSCI6200 The student will examine the ethical issues that confront all aspects of health care.

  • HSCI6250

  • HSCI7302

  • HSCI7401 A comprehensive survey of the theoretical and practical aspects of descriptive and influential statistical procedures-z tests, t tests, analysis of variance, correlation and regression analysis, and nonparametrics. Emphasis is on why and when to use the various procedures as well as on the interpretation of statistical results.

  • HSCI8806 The purpose of this course is to integrate the essential components of project planning and management with healthcare information systems for healthcare leaders. The course will outline the process for developing, implementing and evaluating project plans as well as integration of communication and project life cycle theory.