Admission

Admission to the School of Health Professions is contingent upon acceptance to one of the programs. Each program has specific prerequisite course requirements to graduate with a Certificate or Bachelor of Science Degree. Students seeking a baccalaureate degree from the School of Health Professions must complete a minimum of 130 semester credit hours of which 42 general education "core" semester credit hours must be transferred to the School of Health Professions from an accredited college or university with acceptable transferability of credit.

Admission criteria includes previous grade point average, personal references, and personal interviews. Admission is competitive. Achieving the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission into the School of Health Professions.

Texas Core Curriculum Requirements

Students receiving their first baccalaureate degree from the School of Health Professions must successfully complete the Texas Core Curriculum requirements. The core curriculum consists of 42 semester credit hours in specified component areas.

If a student's transcript from another Texas public college or university indicates that the student has completed that institution's core curriculum, no additional core curriculum requirements will be imposed. If a student has not completed the core requirement at another Texas institution prior to entering the School of Health Professions, the student will be required to earn academic credits from a Texas public college or university to fulfill the School of Health Professions core curriculum course requirements.

The School of Health Professions does not offer lower division core curriculum courses, but has developed a core curriculum in order to accommodate students who transfer from other states or private institutions. If a student enrolls at the School of Health Professions prior to completing the core curriculum requirements elsewhere, the student is responsible for completing the core curriculum requirements listed below, and should obtain approval from his or her advisor prior to registering for courses intended to fulfill these requirements. The same requirements also apply to out-of-state students.

General Requirements

Consideration for admission to one of the School of Health Professions Programs is not based on race, religion, national origin, veteran status, sex, age or disability. The School of Health Professions is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Students who can fulfill the non-academic technical standards and who have disabilities, will need to disclose those disabilities at the beginning of the program, if reasonable accommodation is to be requested. The student should initiate the disclosure process with his or her discipline-specific Program Director. Other resources within the institution may be consulted if appropriate. Documentation may be required to verify certain disabilities.

The following are required for admission to the School of Health Professions programs:

• Application to the program, including submission of official transcripts, three letters of recommendation (preferably submitted on the appropriate forms) and a personal interview.
  
  
• Completion of all prerequisite course work:
  1. Required courses must be acceptable toward a major in the respective field of study. Survey courses will not fulfill these requirements.
  2. Candidates who completed the prerequisite courses seven or more years before admission may be required to update their academic skills. For specific information, contact the program director.
  3. A minimum overall grade point average and science (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is required.  Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance.
      
• For all international students whose native language is not English, proof of English language proficiency must be submitted. The School of Health Professions accepts the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers. A minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the internet-based format or 550 on the paper exam is required.
  
  The TOEFL Designated Institution Code for MD Anderson is 6906.
  
  Applicants meeting any criteria below are exempt from the TOEFL:
  • If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, regardless of your native language.
  • If you have earned a high school diploma from an accredited U.S. high school.
  • If you have earned an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science,  Bachelor's degree or higher level degree from an accredited U.S. college or university.
  • If you have obtained a secondary school degree or higher level degree from a country where English is spoken as the native language.
     
• Texas Success Initiative (TSI) - In accordance with Texas Education Code, Section 51.3062, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions will comply with the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). All applicants must provide proof of successful attainment of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI), unless they fall into the following categories:
  1. Graduation from an accredited Texas public institution of higher education with an associate or baccalaureate degree.
  2. Completion of 60 hours of the prerequisites for any SHP program with a grade of C (75) or higher
  3. Acceptable scores (within five years of the application) on any of the following:
     • SAT (combined verbal and mathematics score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on both the verbal and math test)
       OR
     • ACT (composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on both English and mathematics)
       OR
     • TAAS exams (with a minimum scale score of 1770 on the writing test, a Texas Learning Index of 86 on the mathematics test and 89 on the reading test).
        
• Proof of an applicant's readiness to enroll in college level course work, as related to TSI, will be determined by the Registrar's Office based upon review of official transcripts from previously attended institutions. Satisfactory performance on an acceptable testing instrument is a requirement for admission to the baccalaureate program or to non-degree-seeking admission status.

For additional information, please contact the Registrar's Office at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, PO Box 20036, Houston, Texas, 77225. Telephone: 713-500-3361.

Additional requirements and/or considerations are listed on the specific program web pages of the School of Health Professions Student Catalog.

Nonacademic Requirements:
School of Health Professions Technical Standards

Sensory/Observational Skills

• Candidates for admission to the School of Health Professions must be able to observe demonstrations and participate in laboratory or clinical experiments and practices as required by the program of interest.
• Candidates must have visual acuity corrected to 20/20 and visual perception with respect to color. A color blindness test will be administered during orientation.
• Candidates must be able to visually identify probe colors on slides, computer readout and monitor, interpret reactions on slides, microwells, and test tubes, and visually identify cellular components and microorganisms under a microscope.
• Candidates must be able to view images for accuracy, view computer screens for extended periods, visually monitor patients during treatment and treatment-planning procedures in dim light.
• Candidates must be able to hear various equipment alerts, sounds and signals and background sounds during equipment operations, distinguish phonetic sounds either mechanically or form conversation to perform procedures in low light, and monitor patients via audio monitors during treatment and treatment-planning procedures.

Physical and Motor Skills

• Candidates for admission to the School of Health Professions must have sufficient motor function to operate/manipulate and maintain a microscope and/or microtome and other laboratory equipment.
• Candidates must have the ability to obtain and/or verify patient samples, ambulate sufficiently to collect blood specimens from patients and possess sufficient stamina to tolerate physically taxing workloads.
• Candidates must be able to demonstrate manual dexterity required to process samples, operate, maintain, and repair laboratory equipment or maintain balance while positioning patient and adjusting x-ray tube and/or perform all aspects of clinical laboratory testing or radiological procedures.
• Candidates must be able to lift 30 pounds of weight over head, be able to reach up to six feet off floor, be able to move immobile patients from stretcher to treatment table, and/or push wheelchair from waiting area to treatment room.
• Candidates for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging program must not have foreign bodies or medical implants that are contraindicated for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Environment.
• Candidates must be able to stand for long periods of time, maneuver through congested areas to perform positioning procedures, and move and adjust medical equipment such as x-ray tubes.

Communication Skills

• Candidates for admission to the School of Health Professions must be able to communicate in English and medical terminology in oral and written form to faculty, staff, colleagues, other health care professionals, patients and visitors.
• Candidates must have the ability to participate in discussions in the classroom and clinical areas.
• Candidates must be able to complete and maintain written assignments and reports.

Intellectual/Conceptual, Integrative and Qualitative Skills

• Candidates for admission to the School of Health Professions must have the ability to measure, calculate, analyze, interpret, synthesize, and evaluate data.
• Candidates must be able to comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships on a computer monitor or under a microscope and monitor and input clinical data.
• Candidates must have the ability to learn, prioritize, and perform laboratory or radiologic testing.
• Candidates must have the ability to make sound judgments and correlate disease states with clinical data.
• Candidates must possess organizational skills and be able to problem solve in a timely manner and under stressful conditions.

Social Behavior and Professionalism

• Candidates for admission to the School of Health Professions must demonstrate the ability to follow instructions/procedures with accuracy and precision.
• Candidates must possess the ability to maintain intellectual and emotional stability and maturity under stress, while maintaining appropriate performance standards.
• Candidates must have the ability to manage time, organize workload and meet deadlines.
• Candidates must be able to function as a part of a team and learn to delegate responsibilities appropriately.
• Candidates must be able to exhibit respect of self and others and project an image of professionalism, including appearance, dress, and confidence and maintain complete personal integrity and honesty.
• Candidates must be able to interact appropriately with diverse personalities and populations.
• Candidates must adhere to safety guidelines for self and others and be able to comply with standards and regulations required by external agencies.

Transferability of Credit

The Registrar's office will evaluate all official transcripts from regionally accredited institutions on an individual basis to determine if coursework is acceptable for transfer credit. Official transcripts of credit earned from all institutions of higher education previously attended must be submitted as part of the admissions requirement. The official transcript must include semester credit hours and a grade symbol that reflects satisfactory performance. Not all credit earned by equivalency will be used in the calculation of the student admission GPA. The SHP does not consider a grade of D in program-specific prerequisite courses to be acceptable performance. Program-specific pre-requisite courses taken at other institutions in which a grade below C was earned are not transferable or applicable toward degree requirements.

Students who satisfactorily completed an accredited health sciences program that holds current licensure/certification may be allowed up to 30 hours of transfer credit. The number of credit hours will be determined by the curriculum committee of the School of Health Professions.

Accepted students should meet with their program director or designated faculty to complete a degree plan at the beginning of the program. Their degree plan should be reviewed and updated periodically throughout the program. The student is responsible for tracking and completing all course requirements for graduation.

International Students

Students who complete all or part of their college course work outside the United States (US) must submit their transcripts to an approved accredited U.S. evaluation agency. Students who are seeking a certificate of completion from the School of Health Professions should refer to the corresponding organization below for a list of acceptable agencies for course-by-course and grade-by-grade evaluations:

• For Clinical Laboratory Science, Cytogenetic Technology, Cytotechnology, Histotechnology (HT/HTL), Molecular Genetic Technology - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
  
• For Diagnostic Imaging, Medical Dosimetry, Radiation Therapy - Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or the Registrar's Office at 713-500-3361

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

International students whose native language is not English must submit proof of English language proficiency. A minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the internet-based format or 550 on the paper exam is required. If you are U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you are not required to provide proof of English language proficiency, regardless of your native language.  The TOEFL Designated Institution Code for MD Anderson is 6906.

Applicants are exempted from the TOEFL if either criteria is met:

• Have earned a high school diploma, AA, AS or bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited U.S. high school, college or university.
• Have obtained a secondary school degree or higher from a country where English is spoken as the native language.

Transfer Students

The School of Health Professions does not accept students who are, or have been, enrolled in a similar program and wish to transfer into one of the Health Professions Programs. All students must take and complete all required courses shown in the current Health Professions Student Catalog. If School of Health Professions student prefers to change programs, the student will need to withdraw from the current program and formally apply to the new School of Health Professions program of choice.

Orientation

All students who have fulfilled all the requirements for admission, and have been granted admission status required to attend an orientation program. Information about orientation is mailed directly to students who have been admitted to the School of Health Professions.

During orientation, students have an opportunity to interact with faculty and university staff members. The program is designed to prepare students for the first semester and to acquaint them with the classroom facilities and all the additional resources and services available to them.

Required check-in and orientation sessions for international students are organized by the Visa and Immigration Services Administration (VISA) Office. For additional information contact:

Visa and Immigration Services Administration (VISA)
1MC17.3439
7007 Bertner Ave
Houston, Texas 77030
Telephone 713-794-1257
Fax 713-792-6229
VISA@mdanderson.org

Any general questions about orientation should be directed to:

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
School of Health Professions
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 2
Houston, Texas 77030-4009
Telephone 713-745-1205
Fax 713-792-0800

Instructions for Applicants

The Registrar's office at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston serves as the Registrar for School of Health Professions. To access the School of Health Professions on-line Application Form and also the on-line Recommendation Letter Form for admission into the program, visit the relative How to Apply page.