Joint Health Programs

Utica College is pleased to offer joint health professions programs with several professional schools. Students in the joint health profession programs study at Utica College for three years and spend four years at the professional school. UC awards the bachelor's degree after the first year of professional study is satisfactorily completed.

Although admission to the professional school is decided separately and not guaranteed, some preference - usually in the form of a guaranteed interview - is given to participants in the joint health professions program when they apply, usually in their sophomore or junior year at UC.

UC has agreements with the following medical programs:

• State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry
• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
• SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
• Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine

Application Process

Admission to joint health professions programs is highly selective and involves a three-phase process.

Phase One

Applicants must complete and submit the Utica College application for admission by January 15 of their senior year in high school. The Admissions Committee then reviews the application for a decision on acceptance to Utica College. An acceptance to Utica College does not mean automatic consideration for the joint health professions programs. The Admissions Committee decides if the applicant is eligible for consideration for the joint health professions degree programs and, if so, a supplemental application is sent. Applicants lacking the academic credentials required for the joint health degree programs will be notified by Utica College.

Phase Two

Applicants who receive acceptance to Utica College and the supplemental application are required to complete and submit the supplemental application by February 15. The professional school will review applications and decisions will be made by April 1.

The selective nature of the program requires that all applicants visit campus for a personal interview with an admissions counselor at Utica College by February 15. If an applicant is unable to visit, a phone interview can be arranged.

Phase Three

Students admitted to the joint health professions program apply to professional school in their second or third year of college (depending on specific school requirements). Admission decisions by the professional school will be based in part on specific admissions test scores (e.g., MCAT, OAT, DAT). Admission to professional school is not guaranteed. Students not admitted to professional school complete their bachelor's degree at UC and may again apply to professional school again as juniors or seniors.

Specific admissions requirements vary for each joint health professions program. Regardless of the professional school, a strong record of academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, and community involvement are expected. Minimum requirements for each program are listed below.

Programs

SUNY College of Optometry in New York City offers both a 3 + 4 program and an early assurance program. It seeks to improve public access, cost-effectiveness, and quality outcomes of eye, vision, and related health care delivery.

Rank in the top 10% of high school class. Score 1200 on the SAT I with minimum of 600 on math and 550 on verbal. Minimum high school GPA of 93%.

University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, ME, reserves five seats for UC students. UNECOM has a primary objective of training osteopathic family physicians that will practice in the under-served areas of New England. Opportunities also exist for medical students to specialize in such areas as surgery, emergency medicine, neurology, psychiatry, and radiology, among others. A distinctive characteristic of medical education at UNECOM is the focus on preventive medicine. Students are trained not only to care for the sick but also to participate with their patients to promote health.

Rank in the top 20% of high school class. Score at least 1,100 on the SAT I or 26 on the ACT. Demonstrate a good understanding of osteopathic medicine.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA, reserves 15 seats for UC students. LECOM's purpose is to educate and develop primary care physicians in the osteopathic tradition. It also proposes to provide students with a firm academic background so that those who wish may advance further into the osteopathic specialties, such as surgery, emergency medicine, neurology, psychiatry, and radiology, among others.

Rank in the top 20% of high school class. Score at least 1,100 on the SAT I or 26 on the ACT. Demonstrate a good understanding of osteopathic medicine.

The State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine offers UC students two options: a combined program in which the first three years are spent at UC and the following four years are spent at SUNY Buffalo, or an early assurance at the end of their sophomore year at Utica College. Career opportunities are available in numerous fields, including private practice, the armed forces, public health, business, industry, dental research, health administration, and education. A student's undergraduate major must be in biology or chemistry.

Rank in the top 20% of high school class. Score 1,200 on the SAT I or 27 on the ACT. Demonstrate a strong motivation for a career in dentistry.

Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, OH, cooperates with UC in an accelerated binary degree program admitting highly qualified students who have demonstrated a commitment to the profession, proven academic abilities, and superior personal qualifications.

Rank in the top 20% of high school class. Score at least 1,100 on the SAT I or 26 on the ACT.

Standards of Continuation

Each program has specific requirements for continuation. Upon acceptance into a program, students will receive the requirements for continuation. Students must receive the recommendation of Utica College's Advisory Committee for the Health Professions (ACHP) for continuation in the combined medical program and follow the admissions procedures stipulated by the graduate program.

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee for the Health Professions (ACHP) is designed to support students in these programs. The committee includes professors of biology and chemistry as well as members of the Mohawk Valley professional community, including at least one physician, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist, chiropractor, and veterinarian. Each student meets with committee members at least twice a year.

Through this committee, students are given the opportunity to ask questions, receive advice, find opportunities to volunteer in hospitals and clinics with practicing professionals, and keep abreast of dates for exams such as the MCAT and DAT.

Utica College is a member of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions.

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