certificate

Pre-Medical and General Science Studies

Our rigorous post-baccalaureate certificate program for pre-health students is approved for Federal Financial Aid and provides a structured academic preparation for those planning to apply to health professional programs. Earned credits are transferable to UC and Cal State campuses, plus many universities nationwide (some limitations may apply).  

This program is perfect for…

  • Those planning to apply to medical, dental, veterinary, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapy, and more health programs
  • Students who want to improve their GPA to help their application stand out in the admissions process
  • Those wanting to study with a flexible schedule: part-time, full-time, evenings
  • Students preparing for the MCAT
  • Students interested in taking individual courses and not the entire certificate program
  • Career changers from a variety of backgrounds whose undergraduate major did not require math and science classes

What you can learn.

  • UCLA curriculum recognized and respected by top medical and professional schools
  • Rigorous and research-informed academic content
  • Core disciplines of biology, chemistry, life sciences, math, and physics
  • Wide variety of subjects in other science disciplines, humanities, or social sciences
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Virtual Open House

Learn how this program can help you achieve your pre-health goals in this informative, interactive session that includes an opportunity for general advising.

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Bi-Weekly Q&A Sessions

Meet with a program counselor during our interactive Q&A session and ask detailed questions about the certificate and courses.

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Certificate Requirements

No academic prerequisites are required for admission.

To complete this certificate, you must take a minimum of 12 UCLA-equivalent (XL) courses.* Nine of the 12 courses must be chosen from the following four core disciplines (a minimum of one course from each area):

  • Group 1 – Chemistry (CHEM)
  • Group 2 - Biological Sciences (LIFESCI, PHYSCI, MIMG, or MCD BIO)
  • Group 3 - Math/Statistics (MATH or STATS)
  • Group 4 – Physics (PHYSICS)

Select your courses from the course list below. 

Optional: XL-level social sciences, humanities, and language courses are available IF needed for a student’s academic goal, but are NOT required to earn the certificate. Students can include up to three of these courses and have them count towards the certificate’s 12 course minimum requirement. Note: Students MUST let the department know so that XL-level social sciences, humanities, and language courses can be added to their certificate record since these are optional.

GPA Requirement: Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of completion to earn the certificate. 

*Courses are equivalent to those taught on UCLA’s main campus and are numbered: XL 1-199. Please note, your course of study may vary depending on how many courses you need to fulfill your foundational requirements. Students who are new to the sciences or are career changers will likely have to take more than the minimum 12 courses. Concurrent courses are also accepted for credit in this program.

You have three years in which to complete all the courses required for the certificate. If you choose to apply courses taken previously at another school, your 3-year period would begin then, leaving you with less time in which to complete your UCLA Extension courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this program for?

UCLA Extension’s Pre-Medical and General Sciences Studies Certificate program provides a structured academic background in basic science preparation for students interested in medical studies or other health-related disciplines. This would include:

  • Medical
  • Nursing
  • Dental
  • Veterinary
  • Pharmacology
  • Physical Therapy
  • Physician Assistant
  • Optometry
  • Etc.

The program is designed for individuals returning to school on a part-time or full-time basis. Additionally, this program is a way for students to take the classes they may have missed as undergraduates or to raise their GPAs to make them more attractive candidates to medical school admission boards; thus, this program is well suited for both Career Changers (students with little to no background in sciences) and Academic Enhancers (students who have completed many or most of the science courses prior).

Is this program suitable for schools/programs other than medical, such as dental, PA, PT, Veterinary, graduate schools, etc.?

Yes. This program was titled a “pre-med” certificate as an “umbrella term,” as we have students taking classes in preparation for various professional schools, and graduate programs in the sciences, so our courses are not limited nor exclusively geared towards pre-medical studies. Nevertheless, if you want to find out more information on required courses for the schools you are looking into, we recommend you contact the admissions department of the school(s) or visit their website for a list of required courses.

How will these courses impact my undergraduate transcript or GPA?

Please keep in mind that your institution's previous transcript will not be rewritten with the new classes you take at UCLA Extension. Rather, when applying to health schools, you will submit your undergraduate transcript(s) and your UCLA Extension transcript.

Do I need to be enrolled in the program to take courses?

Students do not need to be enrolled in our Certificate Program to enroll in our courses. UCLA Extension is an open-enrollment institution.

Q: WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ENROLLING IN THE CERTIFICATE?
A: Students are given the freedom to either enroll in individual courses or formally enroll in the certificate. Below are some advantages that are only available to certificate students:

  • Certificate students can apply for financial aid (there may be eligibility requirements that mustbe met). For full information on aid options and eligibility requirements, please contact the Financial Aid Office at (310) 825-4246, or at finaid@uclaextension.edu.
  • Certificate students are considered UCLA Alumni when they finish the certificate and with that, comes to some benefits such as free transcripts.
  • Certificate students are able to purchase a BruinCard, which can be used to access various student resources, discounts, etc.
  • View additional certificate benefits.
  • If the certificate is completed, the competition of the certificate program will be noted on the student’s official transcripts. If the student’s certificate GPA is 3.5 or higher at the time of completion, an “earned with distinction” notation is also added to the transcript.
  • Monthly/Quarterly New Student Orientation

Q: WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY TO THE PROGRAM?
A: There is no formal application process in terms of “acceptance” into the program. You can choose to enroll in the certificate program or take individual classes as you need them. To enroll in the certificate program, all you need to do is pay the $95.00 candidacy fee below.
This program does not require letters of recommendation, transcripts, a certain GPA, or a personal statement; save that energy for when you apply to your health schools of choice.

The Pre-Medical and General Science Studies Certificate qualifies for federal student aid. 

In order to meet the requirements, students must establish candidacy in the certificate program and be enrolled in required courses for the program for the entire quarter in which you are receiving aid. 

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Courses

Click below to view the required and elective courses, if applicable, for this program.

Group 1 - Chemistry
Choose at least one course from the list below.
CHEM XL 14A
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
CHEM XL 14B
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
CHEM XL 14BL
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
CHEM XL 14C
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
CHEM XL 14CL
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
CHEM XL 14D
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
CHEM XL 153A
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
CHEM XL 153B
Typically Offered: Winter, Summer
CHEM XL 153C
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Group 2 - Biological Sciences
Choose at least one course from the list below.
LIFESCI XL 23L
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
LIFESCI XL 7A
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
LIFESCI XL 7B
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
LIFESCI XL 7C
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
LIFESCI XL 107
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
MCD BIO XL 100
Typically Offered: Winter, Summer
MCD BIO XL 138
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
MIMG XL 100L
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
MIMG XL 101
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
MIMG XL 102
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
PHYSCI XL 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
PHYSCI XL 13
Typically Offered: Winter, Spring, Summer
see all courses
Group 3 - Math/Statistics
Choose at least one course from the list below.
MATH XL 1
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
MATH XL 31A
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
MATH XL 31B
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
STATS XL 10
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
STATS XL 13
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring
Group 4 - Physics
Choose at least one course from the list below.
PHYSICS XL 5A
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter
PHYSICS XL 10
Typically Offered: Winter, Spring, Summer

Track-Specific Certificate Planners

Whether you are bound for med school or another health profession, choosing the right courses to make sure your program's requirements are covered can be confusing. Click on your specific pre-health track below to see suggested courses. Students who apply to this certificate program are also invited to a program orientation where they will be able to meet with the program’s academic counselor.

This certificate program is a total of 48 quarter units. Estimated tuition per credit hour is $312.50.

Estimated Cost Breakdown

All courses in this program are paid for individually, unless otherwise noted. An application form is required to establish candidacy in this program. From the 'Apply Now' button, complete the online application and pay the application fee if applicable.

Application & Candidacy Fee

95.00

Estimated Program Tuition

15000.00

Estimated program textbook/materials

1500.00

*The Application & Candidacy Fee establishes your candidacy in the program for a period of time covering normal progress toward completion and may allow you to access a variety of program benefits.

**Federal Financial Aid Gainful Employment Disclosures

The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges and universities to disclose certain information for any financial aid eligible program that, “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. This information includes program costs; occupations that the program prepares students to enter; occupational profiles; on time completion rate; and for the most recent award year: the number of students who have completed the program, the number of students who complete the program within the estimated duration, the job placement rate, and the median Title IV and private loan debt incurred by those who complete the program. For gainful employment information for this program, visit our Financial Aid page.

This certificate is approved for international students (F-1 student visa).

Students participating in courses offered solely by UCLA Extension must meet the English Language Requirements outlined below. Any international student interested in taking classes on UCLA’s main campus must adhere to the English Requirements outlined for UCLA courses.

Acceptable tests and minimum scores

Scores that are equal to or higher than the listed minimum scores from the following tests, taken within the past two years, can satisfy the English proficiency requirement.

  • TOEFL: 80 (iBT)
  • IELTS: 6.5
  • iTEP: 4.5
  • CAE: B (CEFR C1)
  • CPE: C (CEFR C2)
  • TOEIC: 685
  • DUOLINGO (DET): 105

While no other type of test score is accepted in general, students who are affected by test center closures may request an exception to submit an alternate test score.

International Baccalaureates (IB) students or students currently enrolled in an academic institution where the primary language of instruction is English may submit an official academic transcript or verification of enrollment from their school as proof of English proficiency.

Learn more:

International Students: How to Apply

Academic Requirements & English Language Proficiency

I graduated from Brown in May 2015 but I was not able to complete all of my requirements for medical school. UCLA Extension has opened that door for me. I knew that I could not afford a traditional post-baccalaureate program and thus, UCLA Extension has been a great opportunity. By allowing me to select only the courses I need, I have been able to save money and also take the necessary steps to get closer to my goals. The small class sizes have allowed me to be more confident to ask for help from my professors and my grades have reflected that.

Camila Salazar

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