Collaboration program with New York College of Podiatric
Medicine (3:4)
Bachelor of Arts in Biology
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) from the New York College of
Podiatric Medicine
Overview
In this articulation program, an interested student can complete
the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree in seven years rather
than eight years. Mount Saint Mary College offers a 3:4
collaboration program in podiatry in conjunction with the New York
College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM).
The student completes the core requirements for a bachelor of
arts in biology at the Mount in 3 years. After 4 years of
professional studies at NYCPM, the student earns a doctor of
podiatric medicine (DPM) degree. After the successful completion of
the first year of professional studies, 30 credits of course work
will be transferred to the Mount, who will award the student a
bachelor of arts in biology.
Podiatry / Biology at the Mount
Opportunities outside of the classroom. You
could be a student rep at division meetings, an officer in the
biology and chemistry honor societies, or participate with the
American Chemical Society student affiliate chapter on campus.
Students organize speakers, museum tours, hiking trips, campus
activities like faculty vs. student quiz bowl, and science night
for elementary school students.
A strong peer group. Biology majors quickly
become a part of the science community at the Mount. Students who
have majors within the Division of Natural Science take their math
and science classes together and quickly form study groups,
supporting one another in their courses.
Peer tutoring. Science majors work together
toward a successful college career as upper-classmen serve as peer
tutors, and all students have the opportunity to get help to
support their learning efforts. Tutoring can provide you with
income, but it will also help you to build your resume and
strengthen your knowledge base.
Research. All full time faculty members have
PhD degrees in a variety of different fields and can offer you the
opportunity to develop a research project which will help you to
apply your coursework to real problems. A research project will
enhance your knowledge and ability to integrate your learning and
will impress graduate schools and future employers.
Learning science as a process. Many of our
laboratory courses use inquiry-based collaborative learning to
introduce students to the process of science and give you an idea
of what scientific research is all about.
Mentoring. All science students are assigned a
full-time faculty advisor to help you explore career options, plan
your course schedule and follow your academic progress. New
freshmen are assigned a “science sibling” before coming to campus
so that they have the opportunity to ask questions of an
upperclassman student to student.
Program requirements
The student interested in the 3 + 4 podiatry program spends 3
years at Mount Saint Mary College and 4 years at the New York
College of Podiatry. To enroll in the program, the student must
fulfill the entrance requirements as listed below.
Student Responsibilities
The student must:
- maintain a 3.0 grade point average in their undergraduate
course work.
- achieve a grade of B in all science courses.
- discuss academic progress each semester with their academic
advisor.
- demonstrate an interest in podiatry by spending time in a
podiatrist’s office and/or visiting the NYCPM campus and speaking
with students or representatives of the college.
- interested students should visit the NYCPM campus (125th St. in
Manhattan) some time during their freshman year.
- make application to the program by sophomore year.
- interview with the Pre-professional Advisory Committee and
obtain a letter of recommendation.
- complete a timely and satisfactory formal application.
- interview with the Admissions Committee of NY College of
Podiatry.
- take the MCAT tests no later than April of their junior year
and achieve scores that meet NYCPM’s current minimum.
After acceptance into the program, the student must:
- maintain the acceptable grade point average of the college
- transfer courses completed at NYCPM with a grade of C in the
freshman year to MSMC and they will be regarded as fulfilling the
senior year requirement for the bachelor's degree in biology at
MSMC.
* The student may also prepare for acceptance to any school of
podiatry by meeting the student responsibilities as outlined for
the pre-professional programs.
Career Options
Podiatry is a health care profession that involves a variety of
activities related to patient care. The Doctor of Podiatric
Medicine (DPM) performs surgical procedures that include removal of
heel spurs and soft tissue masses as well as bunion and hammer toe
corrections. Primary podiatric care usually involves corns,
calluses, and ingrown toenail problems. However, the podiatrist
also performs physical exams, cultures, blood testing, and
urinalysis. There are a number of specialty areas related to
different clinical problems.
Podiatric medicine relates to treatment of infections and skin
conditions of the foot, sprains, and arthritis, early diagnosis of
diabetes, and other systemic conditions. Podiatry or Orthopedics is
concerned with deformities of bones, muscles, tendons, and
ligaments. Biomechanical problems can result in specialty areas of
sports medicine if related to athletes and pediatrics if related to
infants through adolescence. The podiatrist also utilizes
radiological analysis to study the structural condition of the
foot.
Students who choose this option can easily switch their major to
a biology major without any change in course requirements that
would keep them from graduating in 4 years.
Career Outlook
The projected 2004-2014 national employment outlook predicts a
25.8% increase in jobs for healthcare practitioners and those in
technical occupations. The occupational outlook for New York State
from 2004-2014 predicts a 6.4% increase in jobs in podiatry.