Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Premedical Studies

Only students in the premedical program — on either pre-doctoral or pre-PA tracks — are eligible for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Premedical Studies. This certificate is a supplementary credential specifically designed for students taking a majority of core prerequisite courses with the premedical program. All premedical program students will receive a Harvard transcript with the annotation that they have completed the program as long as they reach their credit assignment in good academic standing, irrespective of certificates.

To earn the premedical studies certificate, you will complete 32 undergraduate credits of premedical coursework with a grade of B or higher. Of these, 24 credits must come from core courses (see below) and at least eight credits in biology.

Students who receive a credit assignment below the 32 credits required for this certificate may opt to pursue additional credits beyond what is required for program completion in order to receive this certificate.

Doing so is only advisable if taking the core prerequisites is helpful for your overall application to health professions programs. If you are unsure, we recommend meeting with a premedical program advisor. If you initially opted to pursue the certificate, you can revert back to your previous credit assignment if approved by the premedical program office.

All premedical program enrollment and academic standing policies still apply.

Sample Pathways to Earn the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

These sample pathways are representative, and as with all students in the premedical program, your curriculum is customizable as long as you meet certificate requirements.

Sample pathways outline finishing the certificate in two years.

Topics in Biomedical Science Graduate Certificate

If you are entering the Premedical Program with most of your core prerequisites completed, or need fewer than 32 credits to complete the program, and are pursuing the program to enhance your academic record, the Topics in Biomedical Science Graduate Certificate may be appropriate for you.

As you will mostly take advanced biology coursework to complete the Premedical Program, you could opt to take four elective courses for graduate credit to earn this graduate certificate.

Note: Completing the graduate certificate alone does not equate to completing the premedical program credit assignment. You must still complete your premedical program credit assignment to remain eligible for sponsorship, and all enrollment and academic standing policies still apply.