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KGI Offers Summer Undergraduate Courses for Graduate School Applicants

KGI Summer Program Info

Keck Graduate Institute (KGI), a member of The Claremont Colleges and a WASC accredited institution, is offering upper level undergraduate science courses this summer that meet prerequisite needs of undergraduate students applying for graduate schools in the sciences and healthcare fields.

The eight-week summer session at KGI will start on June 5 and ends on August 5. This summer’s course offerings include: Human Anatomy with a Virtual 3D anatomy Lab; Human Physiology with Lab; Microbiology with Lab and Biochemistry.

Each of the courses utilize cutting-edge technology and teaching strategies. For example, the anatomy course uses Z-space, an innovative cyber-anatomy technology using a “virtual cadaver” in a simulated 3D space. In addition, the course designs offer flexibility and employ hybrid-teaching models of online lecture material and in-class lab sessions.

“At KGI we have something special and we embrace any opportunity to share that with the larger community,” said KGI President Sheldon Schuster.

These courses are open to all undergraduate students seeking careers in healthcare and/or the sciences. The courses fulfill the prerequisite requirements for entrance into KGI’s School of Pharmacy and many other science and healthcare graduate programs across the United States. KGI encourages students to visit their local academic advising center to confirm transferability of credits.

Historically, students accepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at KGI would take these summer courses to meet the prerequisites of the PharmD program.

“The vast majority of students accepted to the PharmD program are conditional acceptances pending completion of the prerequisites,” said KGI School of Pharmacy Director of Admissions Marcia Parker.

Parker shared that although a number of students applying to KGI have undergraduate backgrounds in biology and other science related fields, there are exceptional students that apply with undergraduate degrees in fields like English. Many of the students accepted into the PharmD program will want to enroll in the summer courses.

Although the courses meet a need for future KGI students, according to Parker, KGI’s vision and hope is that any student, whether they plan to attend KGI or not, interested in science or the healthcare industry can take these summer courses. These courses can help strengthen the student’s graduate school applications, especially those who plan to apply for medical school, which is why Postbaccalaureate Premedical Certificate (PPC) students also take the summer courses.

Most of KGI’s summer courses are taught partially or fully online, which makes them a flexible option for students in and out of the Claremont area.

“I took Biochemistry online with Dr. Han in the summer of 2014 as a prerequisite for enrolling into the KGI PharmD program,” alumnus Christian Thompson said. “I found the course fairly convenient. It was nice to eliminate the commute. The primary benefit was that, not only was the class a prerequisite, but it was taught well by a good professor.”

Rolling admission is open until Monday, June 5, or until classes are filled. Limited seats are available. Contact SummerPrograms@kgi.edu for additional information.