Podiatric Medicine specializes in the study and care of the foot, including its anatomy, pathology, and medical and surgical treatment. A student participating in this dual-degree program spends three years at New Jersey City University as Biology major pursuing a B.S. degree. During the third year, the student takes the Medical College Admissions test (MCAT) and applies to New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM). If accepted, the student pursues a doctoral program at the NYCPM. After the successful completion of the first year at NYCPM, New Jersey City University will grant the student a B.S. degree in Biology. After completing the fourth year of study at NYCPM the student is granted the degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.).

This program is designed for students entering NJCU from high school, with placements into college-level composition and math courses. Transfer students are not guaranteed to have completed coursework appropriate to join the combined B.S./D.P.M. program.

• Applications and MCAT scores must be submitted to NYCPM by December 1st of the year preceding NYCPM enrollment. Applicants who meet the objective academic criteria noted above may be invited to an interview with the NYCPM Admissions Committee. However, an invitation to an interview does not guarantee acceptance into the podiatry program.
• Applicants not invited to an interview, or not selected for admission to NYCPM, shall be notified as early as possible, and may reapply for regular admission to NYCPM in the following year.
• Courses intended for transfer from NYCPM to NJCU must be completed during the first year of study at NYCPM.
• Students will not be granted duplicate credit for courses taken at New Jersey City University if the equivalent course is required at NYCPM. New Jersey City University courses that are not acceptable for NYCPM credit are: Anatomy & Physiology I, Anatomy & Physiology II, Histology, Developmental Biology, and General Physiology.
• Any student who does not complete the first year of study at NYCPM may return to NJCU to complete the BS degree in Biology.

English Composition I & II, Principles of Biology I & II, General Chemistry I & II and Organic Chemistry I & II must be completed by the end of the second year of study at NJCU to ensure proper preparation for the MCAT. All prerequisite science and math courses and their labs will be completed at NJCU after the time of first enrollment at NJCU.

A minimum of five (5) biology major courses must be completed at NJCU. A minimum grade of “B” must be attained in each Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math course, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and a minimum science GPA of 3.0 are required for acceptance to and retention in the program. A minimum of 36 credits must be completed in NJCU’s General Education Program courses.

No withdrawal or incomplete grades are permitted in any podiatry school prerequisites.

Student Learning Outcomes 

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the factual and theoretical basis of biology including mechanisms on the molecular, cellular, organismal, and systems levels.
2. Demonstrate understanding of scientific inquiry and explain how scientific knowledge is discovered and validated.
3. Apply quantitative knowledge and reasoning to describe or explain phenomena in the natural world.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of chemistry and their application to understanding living systems.
5. Communicate scientific information in written and/or oral formats.