Pre-Medical Studies

The Pre-Medical Program at Widener is open to all students in all majors. The program is directed by Dr. Robert Morris, the Health Professions Advisor.

Pre-medical advising begins in the freshmen year and continues through the application and interview process in the senior year. Field trips are organized during the academic year to Philadelphia professional schools (medical, dental, veterinary, optometry, and podiatric medical), and campus visits are organized for admissions personnel from these and other schools. These trips and visits are coordinated with the Pre-Medical Club. Widener has the following affiliations with professional schools:

The Widener Medical Scholars Program

The Widener Medical Scholars Program is a provisional medical school acceptance program with Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. The program is designed to attract students into primary care specialties (general pediatrics, general internal medicine, and family medicine) and is limited to eight students annually. Students who are successful in gaining admittance to the program as high school seniors are awarded provisional acceptance in the medical school, pending their successful completion of a four-year undergraduate degree at Widener including the specified prerequisite courses for medical school.

Eligibility requirements and details follow:

Dual Degree 3/4 programs for Biology Majors Only

Widener has several seven-year dual degree programs where a student completes the first three years of the biology major curriculum (including all general education requirements) and is then accepted into the professional school. Instead of a senior year at Widener, a student begins the four-year program at the professional school.
Upon completion of the first year of professional school, the course work is transferred to Widener and Widener awards the BS degree in biology.

The five programs are listed below:

Students may practice in any field of medicine (psychiatry, surgery, nephrology, neurology, etc.). MD's and DO's have the same practice opportunities and are licensed by the same examining boards. Optometry: B.S./O.D program with Salus University, Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Podiatric Medicine: B.S./D.P.M program with the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. Dentistry: B.S./D.M.D. program with the Temple University School of Dentistry.

Widener participates in this program which provides special seminars for students interested in primary care. Opportunities exist for students to work with medical school faculty on research during the summer. Students who participate in this program may qualify for special consideration at the time of application in the junior year.

Three-year Graduate Program in Physical Therapy

Widener University offers a three-year graduate program in physical therapy that leads to the degree Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). As with the seven year programs explained above, Widener has a six dual degree program in physical therapy, allowing qualified students to begin their course work in the graduate physical therapy program following three years of undergraduate study in biology, anthropology, psychology, or sociology.

The Pre-Medical Program assists students in preparing for careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc. Students may choose any major within the university, and they work individually with the pre-medical advisor.

This includes advising sessions, seminars and field trips in the first several years. In the junior year students are assisted in the application process and reviewed by the Pre-Medical Committee. Practice Medical College Admission Tests (MCATs) with analysis and feedback are offered each spring. In the senior year practice interviews are held to assist students with the professional school interview process.