Health Professions Advising Office

Interim Director
Michele Mouttapa

Program Office
University Hall 223
657-278-3980
fullerton.edu/healthprofessions

Introduction

In the 50-plus years of its existence, the Health Professions Advising Office has assisted thousands of students in gaining admission to health professional schools. Past students have gained entry into Harvard University, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the majority of UC campuses. The Health Professions Advising Office is well-situated to assist Latino students in their successful matriculation into professional schools, as CSUF was ranked No. 17 nationally in the number of Latino students graduating with bachelor’s degrees in health-related majors in 2014-15.

From its original mission of preparing pre-medical students to become competitive applicants for medical school, the HPAO’s mandate has expanded in recent years to prepare, inform and advise CSUF students about the following careers: medicine (allopathic, osteopathic, podiatric), dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, physician assistant and veterinary medicine. Since 2017, the HPAO also has begun advising students who are interested in allied health careers, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, public health, counseling and social work. Preparation for success begins early and continues throughout the students’ academic career at CSUF. Overseen by the Health Professions Committee, the HPAO fosters students’ success through its support of several pre-health student organizations, mock interview practice, personal statement reviews and full support through the professional school application process. The Health Professions Advising Office also offers the pre-health professions minor. The minor provides students who are non-science majors with a structured pathway to complete several prerequisite science courses, and offers science majors the opportunity to complete coursework in the social sciences, population health and cross-cultural studies. Through its community engagement initiatives, the HPAO has established early conditional acceptance (linkage) agreements with professional schools including Lake Erie College of Medicine, Marshall B. Ketchum University, St. George’s University, American University of Antigua and Western University.

Programs

Non-Degree

Pre-Health Professions Minor