Admissions

Admissions Requirements for Dual Track Applicants

To be considered for admission to the PGCert in Precision Medicine Program, applicants must submit the following documented evidence: 

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, and acceptance to a Midwestern University primary degree program.
2. A completed Midwestern University application for the Precision Medicine Program.
3. For current Midwestern University students whose primary degree program has already started, a letter of support must be provided from the Dean for their primary degree. This letter is automatically requested by the online application system.
4. Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check.

Admission Requirements for Stand Alone Applicants

To be considered for admission to the PGCert in Precision Medicine Program, applicants must submit the following documented evidence: 

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.
2. A graduate level healthcare or biomedical/biological sciences degree from an accedited institution (if not already awarded, must be completed prior to matriculation).
3. A completed Midwestern University application for the Precision Medicine Program.
4. Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check.

Application Process and Deadlines

To be considered for admission to the PGCert in Precision Medicine Program, applicants must submit their applications online through the Midwestern University direct application process.

The PGCert in Precision Medicine program uses a rolling admission process in which completed applications are reviewed and decisions are made at regular intervals during the admissions cycle. Admission to the Program is considered on a competitive basis for applicants submitting completed applications. Multiple criteria are used to select the most qualified candidates, including selection of those students the Admissions Committee determines would benefit the most from the Program based on their planned programs of study and/or professional goals.

Due to the nature of the Precision Medicine curriculum, students with prior graduate or undergraduate courses in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Computer Science, Genetics, and Genomics will receive preference for admission to the Program.

Selection decisions for the Program are determined by the College of Graduate Studies (CGS) Precision Medicine Admissions Committee, which is comprised of faculty members and the Precision Medicine Program Director, with the approval of the Dean of the CGS. To maximize their competitiveness within this rolling admission process, candidates are advised to submit their completed applications early in the admission cycle. The deadline for dual track applications is April 15 or the first business day thereafter. The deadline for stand-alone applicants is May 1 or the first business day thereafter. The Program begins in the summer quarter. 

Selection Process

After receiving completed application packets, the Midwestern University Office of Admissions verifies the information provided to determine whether all admissions requirements have been completed satisfactorily or will be completed prior to potential matriculation and to verify the cumulative GPAs for all completed courses. Applicants are notified either electronically (i.e., through their admissions portal or by e-mail) or by letter of admissions decisions. Please note that applicants may track the receipt of their application materials and the status of their files on the University's website using instructions for accessing account information sent by the Office of Admissions after receipt of their applications. Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their telephone number, mailing address, or e-mail address. All requests for application withdrawals must be made in writing to the Office of Admissions:

Midwestern University Office of Admissions,
19555 N. 59th Avenue Glendale, AZ 85308; 
admissaz@midwestern.edu;
888/247-9277 or 623/572-3215.

Midwestern University Office of Admissions,
555 31st Street Downers Grove, IL 60515; 
admissil@midwestern.edu;
630/515-6171 or 800/458-6253.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students must pass all required Certificate courses with a grade of "C" or higher and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher in the Certificate program.  For dual track students, regardless of satisfactory academic progress in the Certificate program, the CGS Student Promotion and Graduation Committee may determine that a dual track student who experiences academic difficulty in the primary degree must take a leave from the Certificate program until satisfactory academic progress in the primary program is achieved.  Separate criteria for achieving satisfactory academic progress in the primary degree program are listed in the catalog under the respective degree program.

Advanced Placement

The PGCert in Precision Medicine Program allows the transfer of up to six quarter-credits (applicable only to core program courses) from recent (within the last five years) equivalent graduate-level coursework completed at other institutions prior to matriculation at Midwestern University. Generally, transfer credits would only be given to students who satisfactorily completed course-work with a minimum of a B grade from an accredited graduate degree program.  Prior to matriculation, students must submit a letter of request and relevant course materials, including syllabi, to the Program Director. The Program Director will consult with the appropriate course director to evaluate the submitted course materials and determine whether the course is an appropriate substitute for one of the core Precision Medicine Program courses. If the request for transfer credits is denied, students may appeal this decision to the CGS Dean. If a course is accepted for credit, the equivalent Midwestern University course and the Advanced Placement notation will be recorded on the transcript along with the name of the institution at which the credit was earned. Any earned letter grade will not be included on the transcript or used in the GPA calculation.

Transferring Between Program Tracks

Students wishing to transfer between the Master of Science and Post-Graduate certificate, or vice versa, must request the approval of the Program Director. These requests are granted at the discretion of the Program Director based on the circumstances and needs of individual students.

Students in primary programs that do not allow their students to initially apply to the M.S. due to the primary program structure may be eligible to transfer from the PGCert to the M.S. at a later time. Interested students should contact the Program Director to discuss this option. 

Graduation Requirements

To be awarded the PGCert in Precision Medicine, students must: 

1. Satisfactorily complete all courses with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5.
2. Satisfactorily complete the required minimum number of 22 credit hours in the curriculum.
3. Receive a favorable recommendation for PGCert conferral from the CGS Student Promotion and Graduation Committee.
4. Receive a favorable recommendation for PGCert conferral from the University Faculty Senate.
5. Settle all financial accounts with the University.
6. Complete all graduation clearance requirements as instructed by the Office of the Registrar.

PGCert will be conferred upon candidates who have completed all academic requirements, satisfied all financial obligations, and completed all graduation requirements for the relevant PGCert Program.

PGCert earned through the dual track program will be awarded at the commencement for the College of Graduate Studies if all requirements have been met at that time.  

Timeframe for Completion of Curriculum

The curriculum can be completed in as little as two years. Dual track students in the PGCert Program must satisfactorily complete the full curriculum within six years of the starting date of their Precision Medicine Program in order to be awarded the Certificate.