Science and Engineering

Pre-Health Professions Program

The Pre-Health professions program is open to all HCU students interested in a career in health professions.  The program is not a major; rather, it is a series of classes and activities designed to prepare students for entry into these schools.  Activities in the program include membership and participation in the applicable pre-professional student organizations, trips to health professions schools, and workshops offered by the Professional Experience Office.  Students should check around COSE for information about scheduled activities.  Students are also encouraged to seek shadowing opportunities with area healthcare professionals and to perform community service as individuals or in conjunction with student organizations.

Entry into a health professions school is a competitive process.  Applications to health professions schools may occur early in the summer after a student’s junior year if prerequisite courses are complete and a student has a competitive GPA and test scores.  If these conditions are not met, it may be in the student’s best interest to delay application until he or she obtains a competitive GPA and admissions test score.  Texas health professions schools require evaluation letters.  They may be submitted in one of two forms. 1) A Composite Letter of Evaluation from the Health Professions Advisory Committee or 2) Three individual letters of evaluation.  The HPAC provides a Health Professions Packet (HPP) for qualified students.

The Health Professions Packet (HPP) is the preferred letter of recommendation by the Health Profession schools.  This packet includes a cover letter from the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) containing information summarized from committee process (mandatory self-assessment, workshops and mock interview) and letters of evaluation from HCU faculty in support of students’ application (min and max of 3).

In order to request the Health Professions Packet an HCU student must:  

  1. Complete required Self-Assessment by published deadlines 
  2. Request individual letters from COSE faculty and staff. Students approved for the HPP will ask faculty and staff to submit letters to the Professional Experience Office PXO (pxo@hc.edu). Students not approved for the HPP will ask recommenders of their choice to submit letters directly to the health profession school.
  3. Complete 30 semester hours at HCU of which 16 hours are science courses.
  4. Complete at least 90% of pre-requisites courses for the intended Health Profession.
  5. Notify the Professional Experience Office (pxo@hc.edu) and indicate their intention to apply to a health profession school.
  6. Attend three (3) workshops designed to acquaint students with the health professions application services, the format of an impactful personal statement and the expectations of applicants at interviews.
  7. Attend a 30-minute scheduled interview (Mock Interview) with the Health Professions Advisory Committee during the spring semester prior to application submission.
  8. Meet the following requirements
  • 3.0 or above overall GPA
  • 3.0 or above Science and Math GPA
  • Experience beyond high school with healthcare and/or research
  • Participation in COSE Health Professions events
  • Leadership
  • Student organization involvement
  • Faculty/staff Interaction – need maximum of 3 faculty and/or staff letter writers

Health Professions Student Guidelines

Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental prerequisite courses may change at any time without notice to Houston Christian University. A current list of requirements for admission is maintained in the Professional Experience Office of the College of Science and Engineering.

Our Successes

Here are some of the places you can find HCU Huskies:

  • University of Texas, Medical Branch-Galveston
  • Baylor College of Medicine
  • Texas A&M University Health Sciences
  • Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
  • St. George University
  • West Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • A.T. Stills University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Ross University
  • University of Texas Medical School, Houston
  • Texas Tech Health Science Center
  • Texas Tech, Health Science Center, El Paso
  • University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
  • William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine

“Houston Christian University prepared me both for getting into and getting through medical school. The small, close environment allowed me to become friends with the faculty, and let them get to know my true personality. This gave the recommendation letter that was later written to medical schools about me a personal touch. The amount of personal attention that was given to me for advising was a product of the small class sizes and collegial environment found at HCU. All of the classes were taught by professors with PhDs, and not by teacher’s assistants; this raised the quality of the teaching and knowledge base to which all of the students were exposed. The senior seminars also allowed research exposure for those students who chose not to do outside research. This exposure has proven invaluable in the understanding of complex concepts.”
Dr. Gary Horn, HCU Class of 2006; Baylor College of Medicine Class of 2010; Body Imaging Fellowship, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, 2015-2016; Assistant Professor of Radiology and Director of Abdominal Imaging, UTMB, 2016-2018; Assistant Professor of Radiology Baylor College of Medicine, 2018 – Present

How can I be a strong candidate for medical or dental school?

  • After the application is submitted, competitive students will be invited to move to the second step, the interview. GPA and MCAT scores are most often used to choose students to advance to the interview. The average GPA for students admitted to Texas medical schools in 2017 was 3.75, and the average MCAT score was 509.1 for the new MCAT and 27.8 for the old MCAT. Competitive students are encouraged to fulfill all course prerequisites during their first two-and-a-half years, take the MCAT by the spring of their junior year, and apply to medical school during the summer after their junior year. If students do not have a competitive GPA and MCAT score, we recommend postponing application until the student gains competitive scores.

    • Clinical Experience Medical and dental schools are looking for evidence that you are already involved in medical service. Begin by volunteering for one shift a week at a local hospital, clinic, dental office or similar setting. Add shadowing a physician or dentist, or going on an HCU medical mission trip.
    • Participate in Campus Activities Medical schools will be interested in what you did during your undergraduate years inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to AED, participate in Student Government, student groups, service organizations or any other area where you have an interest.
    • Leadership Experience Medical schools will want to know about your leadership experience, so become a chairman of an AED committee, a Scout leader, a leader in your place of worship or your community.
    • Research Students at HCU can apply for an opportunity to do research with a professor during their junior and senior years. If you are interested, talk to your science professors or apply to a summer research program.