Mar 18, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog, Volume 78 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog, Volume 78 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Pre-Professional Studies



Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental and other Health-Related Studies

Siena students preparing for the study of medicine, dentistry and most other health professions careers normally major in one of the sciences. The minimum undergraduate course requirements for entry into most medical or dental school include: General Biology I and II, General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, General Physics IA (or I) and IIA (or II), Calculus IA (or I) and Calculus IIA (or II), and one year of college-level English. Students in any of the science majors can accommodate these 40 credits of science within their degree program. Additional Biology courses (ex. Cell Biology, Genetics, Physiology and Biochemistry) are strongly recommended and required by some schools.

All students should consult with the Health Professions Advisor, Dr. Elizabeth Brookins, and their academic advisor to insure appropriate course selection and course sequencing. Students interested in other health professions should consult with the Health Professions Advisor to be certain of meeting specific requirements for other professional schools. The Health Professions Recommendation Committee considers applications for careers in dentistry, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, chiropractic medicine and veterinary medicine.

Medical and Related Programs

Albany Medical College Program in Science, Humanities and Medicine
Personally and academically talented high school seniors who have demonstrated a commitment to the service of others will be jointly accepted by Siena and Albany Medical College into a unique eight-year program in medical education. A 3.5 average in the sciences is required to remain in the program. In the junior and senior years at Siena, academic emphasis will be placed on the humanities. Students in this program will be required to declare a minor in one of the humanities or social sciences and will earn a B.A. degree in Biology (see Biology Department listing for specific course requirements). An extended commitment to volunteer service is required of all program participants during the summer between the junior and senior years. Funding is provided for travel and living expenses. Candidates must complete the Common Application and Siena Supplemental Application by November 15th of the student’s senior year in high school. For more information about the requirements see Dr. LaRow.

Albany Medical College Early Assurance Program for Underrepresented Students
Albany Medical College will accept two underrepresented students at the completion of the sophomore year. The accepted students remain at Siena and complete their degree in the major of their choosing prior to matriculation into Albany Medical College. To be eligible to apply students must have completed half of the required premedical courses with a 3.2 overall and science GPA. The required courses are: General Biology I & II, General Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I & II, General Physics I & II.

SUNY Upstate Medical University Dual Acceptance
Upstate Medical University will jointly accept two students per year directly out of high school, Siena’s Admissions and Health Professions Advisor will submit names of accepted incoming Siena students to Upstate for interviews. These interviews will take place at Upstate in April prior to the students’ enrollment at Siena. Candidates must have a 90 high school average; minimum of 1250 SAT (28 ACT); health related activities; and reside in a rural community in New York State. In order to retain their acceptance, students must maintain a minimum cumulative and pre-requisite science undergraduate GPA of 3.5 each semester, earn no grade lower than a “C” , and score a minimum of 509 on the MCAT. Applicants have a maximum of two attempts (if needed) to attain the minimum score by August 31st, one year prior to their expected matriculation at SUNY Upstate. Acceptance is conditional and will be rescinded if conditions of acceptance are not met.

SUNY Upstate Medical University Early Assurance Program
Students apply to the Early Assurance Program with Upstate Medical University after having completed their spring semester of their sophomore year. Interviews and acceptances are announced late summer. Accepted candidates are expected to complete their bachelor’s degree at Siena in good standing with no grade lower than a “C”. The program relieves students of the anxiety of the traditional application process. Requirements include (1) minimum cumulative and prerequisite science undergraduate GPA of 3.5, (2) completion of five out of the eight required science courses, (3) recommendation by the Health Professions Committee, and (4) a recommended 1300 SAT or 29 ACT score. An interview with Siena’s Health Recommendation is required. In order to retain their acceptance, students must maintain a minimum cumulative and prerequisite science undergraduate GPA of 3.5 each semester, earn no grade lower than a “C” and score a minimum of 509 on the MCAT. Applicants have a maximum of two attempts (if needed) to attain the minimum score by August 31st, one year prior to their expected matriculation at SUNY Upstate. Acceptance is conditional and will be rescinded if conditions of acceptance are not met.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Combined Degree Program
Qualified High school seniors can jointly apply to Siena and LECOM. Students must have a minimum SAT score of at least 1170 (or an ACT score of 26) and must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.5. Students interested in this joint program should apply to Siena and notify the Health Professions advisor, Dr. Brookins, of their interest into this program. Students interview at LECOM during their senior year in high school and Siena is notified of their acceptance. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.4 and 25 MCAT to matriculate at LECOM. Students will enroll at the LECOM campus of their choice: Erie, PA, Greensburg, PA, or Bradenton, FL. completing their first year at Siena. A 3.5 GPA is required for acceptance into the program and continued matriculation.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Early Acceptance Program
This Agreement establishes an Early Acceptance Program to which Siena College undergraduate students (in their first or second year) can apply early in their academic career to LECOM. The Early Acceptance Program is designed to facilitate the admission of Siena College students into LECOM’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. Once recommended by Siena College, LECOM will interview the student prior to completion of the student’s second year at Siena. Students successfully interviewing will be offered a provisional acceptance to LECOM’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. Upon meeting the criteria for final acceptance, they will matriculate at the LECOM campus of their choice. Because this is a demanding professional program, the requirements listed for acceptance have been established to demonstrate that the student is capable of handling the rigorous course load, for more information, see Dr. Brookins.

Lake Erie College of Dental Medicine Combined Degree
This Agreement establishes a Joint Acceptance Program between Siena College and LECOM School of Dental Medicine; prospective students should contact Dr. Brookins, Health Professions Advisor, with questions. The Early Acceptance Program is designed to facilitate the admission of incoming Siena College students into LECOM’s Doctor of Medical Dentistry program. Students apply directly to Siena College and LECOM’s School of Dentistry during their senior year of high school To be eligible for a dual acceptance, a student must have a 1170 SAT or 26 ACT and have a 3.5 GPA in high school. Students must maintain this level of performance at Siena and obtain the required DAT scores for matriculation into LECOM School of Dental Medicine. The dental campus in is Bradenton Florida.

Lake Erie College of Dental Medicine Early Acceptance Program
The Early Acceptance Agreement Program between LECOM and Siena College allows undergraduate students (in their first or second year) to apply early in their academic career to LECOM School of Dental Medicine in Bradenton, Florida. The Early Acceptance Program is designed to facilitate the admission of Siena College students into LECOM’s Doctor of Medical Dentistry program. Academically qualified students will be recommended by Siena College and LECOM will interview the student prior to completion of the student’s second year at Siena. Students successfully interviewing will be offered a provisional acceptance to LECOM’s School of Dental Medicine. Because this is a demanding professional program, the requirements listed for acceptance have been established to demonstrate that the student is capable of handling the rigorous course load, for more information, see Dr. Brookins. To be eligible for early acceptance, a student must have an 1170 SAT or 26 ACT, a 3.5 GPA in high school and a 3.4 overall GPA at Siena (3.2 GPA in science). Students must maintain this level of performance at Siena and obtain the required DAT scores for matriculation into LECOM School of Dental Medicine.

SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine Combined Degree Program
Exceptionally qualified high school seniors can apply and be jointly accepted by both Buffalo School of Dental medicine and Siena College. This accelerated (7 year) program is designed for individuals who have a clear career focus on dentistry prior to entering college, and it allows students to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a doctor of dental surgery degree in seven. Interested students should notify Dr. Brookins when they apply to Siena; qualified students are then recommended to Buffalo for consideration into this program if they meet the minimum academic standards -high school average of 93 or higher and a SAT of 1300. Interviews take place at Buffalo during the second semester of the senior year of high school and accepted students will be offered a provisional acceptance in the spring of their senior year in high school. To remain in the program a GPA of 3.5 and a minimum DAT are required by Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. Students complete their first three years of education at Siena College and their last four years at Buffalo’s School of Dental Medicine. A Bachelor’s degree will be granted from Siena after completion of the first year at Buffalo.

SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine Early Assurance
The Early Assurance Program at the School of Dental Medicine was developed to offer the opportunity for early acceptance to academically strong undergraduate students focused on a career in dentistry and to relieve some pressure and expense from applying to dental schools. Interested academically qualified (3.5 college GPA) sophomores at Siena will go before the Health Professions Recommendation Committee at Siena for recommendation to Buffalo. Accepted students will be notified by July 15 after their sophomore year and are required to maintain a 3.7 GPA at Siena and minimum required DAT scores. Students are also required to gain at least 100 hours of clinical dental experience prior to matriculation into Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.

Salus College of Optometry
Siena and Salus College of Optometry (Pennsylvania College of Optometry) offer an accelerated (7 year) program leading to an optometry doctorate. Qualified Siena students will be accepted by Salus College of Optometry after completing three years in Siena’s accelerated Biology curriculum. Siena will grant the Bachelor of Science degree when the student has completed his or her first year of professional study. Your academic advisor and Health Professions Advisor, Dr. Brookins, will provide you with a suggested three year curriculum.

State University of New York College of Optometry Joint Degree Program (and Early Acceptance)
Siena College is one of only 25 colleges in the country to have an accelerated Joint Degree Program with SUNY College of Optometry. Up to six students per year may be admitted into a seven year Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) Program. Students accepted into this Joint Degree Program are admitted into Siena College and simultaneously (provisionally) admitted to the SUNY College of Optometry. Admission directly from high school requires a 93% academic average, 1300 SAT (or 29 ACT), strong interest in Optometry and successful interview at SUNY Optometry. Siena students may also be eligible for this accelerated program if they met the above GPA and SAT/ ACT requirements and have at least a 3.3 GPA at Siena. Accepted students must maintain a 3.3 GPA (overall and science) at Siena and earn at least 330 on every section of the OAT. Students complete three years of pre-professional training at Siena College and then enroll at SUNY Optometry for four years of professional school. Students will be awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Biology upon successfully completing their first year at SUNY. Dr. Brookins, the Health Professions Advisor and your academic advisor will provide you with a suggested three year curriculum.

New England College of Optometry.
Up to five students a year will be jointly admitted by NECO and Siena College. Students enrolled in this accelerated program will complete three years at Siena prior to matriculating into NECO for four years (an optional 4 + 4 track may be available). Dr. Brookins, the Health Professions Advisor, will work with students interested in this program, to design a suggested accelerated curriculum. A Bachelor’s degree will be awarded after the first year of study at NECO. To remain in the program students must maintain a 3.4 GPA and an average 330 on the OAT with no score below 300.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine- School of Pharmacy Early Acceptance
Siena College and Lake Erie College of Pharmacy have established three tracks leading to a PharmD. degree. The options are a 2+, 3+ or 4+ program between Siena and LECOM Pharmacy. The 2+ program is available for exceptional high school students, where students can be jointly accepted by both LECOM and Siena. After completing two years at Siena they begin their professional training at LECOM School of Pharmacy. No Siena degree is attained. For the 3+ program, Students apply to LECOM by February of their freshman year at Siena. After completing the 3-year undergraduate phase (accelerated curriculum) they enroll at LECOM. A Siena Degree is obtained at the end of the first year of professional study. The 4+ program allows students to apply to LECOM School of Pharmacy by February 1st of their sophomore year. They spend all four years at Siena. Continuation in these programs is contingent on maintaining a 3.4 overall GPA. Students have the choice to enroll in the traditional four year pharmacy curriculum or an accelerated three year curriculum. Professional training on the Erie, PA campus is an accelerated 3-year curriculum, while the Bradenton, FL campus is a full 4- year curriculum. For information about this Pharmacy program and the different tracks see Dr. Brookins.

Allied Health Professions

Siena College students preparing for study in the Allied Health Professions (physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, etc.) should consult with the Allied Health Professions Advisor, Mrs. Eileen Martino, and their academic advisor to ensure appropriate course selection and meeting specific graduate admission requirements. The undergraduate course requirements vary a great deal depending upon which health care profession a student is interested in. Most, if not all, allied health professions require Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 as well as Statistics for the Social Sciences.

Albany Medical College Physician Assistant Early Assurance Program
Masters of Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies
The Early Assurance Program (EAP) is an opportunity for juniors to apply to the Center for Physician Assistant Studies at Albany Medical College (CPAS). Accepted students are required to complete their Bachelor’s degree at Siena College prior to matriculation in January after they graduate. Please Note- No transfer students are allowed to apply through the EAP. Admission to the EAP is highly selective based on grades which include Overall, Science, and Chemistry GPA (must be greater than 3.20), SAT scores, recommendations, a personal statement, and an interview. Students must also complete at least one half (approximately 500 hours) of the 1000 hours of required health care experience. Interested students should contact Dr. Daniel White, Allied Health Professions Advisor for additional information.

Sage Graduate School Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program: Articulation Agreement
Siena College and The Sage Colleges School of Health Sciences have developed a collaborative agreement to provide qualified students from Siena College an opportunity to pursue a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from the Sage Graduate Schools (SGS). Qualified students apply the summer following their junior year. Siena students will be given preferred admission consideration to the Sage Colleges School of Health Sciences for the DPT degree, who demonstrate the following: 1.) On track for earning a baccalaureate degree, 2.) Overall and Science GPA of 3.25 or higher, 3.) Completion of the Physical Therapy Program Prerequisites with grade of C or better, 4.) Completion of a minimum 40 hours of Clinical Observation in various PT settings. Interested students should contact Mrs. Eileen Martino, Allied Health Professions Advisor for additional information.

Sage Graduate School Masters in Occupational Therapy Program: Articulation Agreement
Siena College and The Sage Colleges School of Health Sciences have developed a collaborative agreement to provide qualified students from Siena College an opportunity to apply to the Masters in Occupational Therapy Program (MS in OT) from the Sage Graduate Schools (SGS). Qualified students will be given preferred admission consideration to the Sage Colleges School of Health Sciences for the MS in OT degree, who demonstrate the following: 1.) On track for earning a baccalaureate degree, 2.) Overall GPA of 3.25 or higher and 3.0 Science GPA or higher (includes Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 and General Physics 1, 3.) Completion of the Occupational Therapy Program Prerequisites with grade of C or better, 4.) Completion of a minimum of 20 hours of Clinical Observation in various OT settings. The deadline to apply is June 1st following junior year. Students interested in this program should contact Mrs. Eileen Martino, Allied Health Professions Advisor for additional information.

Sage Graduate School Masters in Applied Nutrition: Articulation Agreement
Siena College and The Sage School of Health Sciences have developed a collaborative agreement which allows Siena College graduates to seamlessly transition into the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics Program or a Masters in Applied Nutrition Program at the Sage Graduate School. Qualified students will be given preferred admission into the Nutrition Program if they have met the course prerequisites prior to application. Students also have the option to enter into the Registered Dietitian track with additional prerequisite courses. If interested in this agreement, students should contact Mrs. Eileen Martino, Allied Health Professions Advisor for additional information.