College Admission Criteria

The College offers rigorous programs seeking high school graduates who demonstrated notable academic and co- curricular accomplishments, and an interest in serving society in the health professions. The goal of the admission process is to identify and select applicants that have an excellent chance of success, are most likely to thrive at our campus, and will enhance the university's academic and cultural community.

The CHS Admissions Committee employs a holistic review, relying on both quantitative and qualitative indicators, to admit the most qualified applicants. A holistic review tool, scoring guide and a rubric were jointly developed by the Admissions Committee and the Assessment Committee of the College. The Admissions Committee reviews applications and makes admission recommendations based upon the qualifications of the applicant pool.

Admission Criteria for First-Time College Student

First-Time College student must have earned a high school diploma or equivalent before registering for classes at CNUCHS. Besides the high school diploma requirement, the Admissions Committee has established the following criteria for selecting and enrolling qualified students.
Admission Requirements for Traditional Students

Min HS GPA 2.70
Min SAT (after 03/2016)*

1130

Min ACT

23

Admission Criteria for Transfer Students

Transfer students are those with 24 or more transferrable college credits. Admission of transfer students requires a 2.70 or higher in college coursework.

Admission Requirements for Transfer Students

Min HS GPA

2.70

Min SAT (after 03/2016)*

NA

Min ACT

NA

Interview

NA

*Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (M+ERW) **Math and Reading
Guidelines for Evaluation of Transfer Student Coursework
For applicants seeking to matriculate to CNUCHS as a transfer student from another college or university, the following general standards apply to the acceptance and award of transfer credits:

  • CNUCHS will consider transfer of credit for college-level (not remedial) courses in which the student has earned a minimum grade of “C” (2.0 = “C” Grade Point Equivalent) (4.00 = “A”) or higher from accredited colleges and universities.
  • A maximum of 60 credit hours will be considered for transfer from regionally accredited community colleges, junior colleges, two-year and/or four-year colleges, and other accredited colleges, with the exception of certain unrecognized programs.
  • Acceptance of any course for transfer credit granted toward the BS is subject to evaluation of the course topic, content, and teaching methodologies/pedagogy by expert faculty in that discipline.
  • Credit for equivalent courses and/or AP/IB exams will be awarded from only one source toward a course equivalency. CNUCHS does not award duplicate credit. Students are advised to speak with an academic advisor to determine which course or exam credit will provide the greatest benefit.
  • Course credits earned at other institutions based on different credit hours than used by CNUCHS are subject to conversion and possible decrease in credit hour value. Transfer students are subject to the same graduation requirements as CNUCHS for the B.S. degree.
  • The CHS cumulative grade point average (GPA) is based solely upon coursework taken at CNU.

Types of Transfer Credits NOT Accepted by CNU:

  • Courses in which the student earned below “C” (2.0 = Grade Point Equivalent) (4.0 = “A”) as the final grade
  • Credit awarded by post-secondary schools in the United States that lack candidate status or are not accredited by a regional accrediting association
  • Credit awarded by post-secondary schools for life experience
  • Credit awarded by post-secondary schools for courses taken at non-collegiate institutions and society workshops (e.g., governmental agencies, corporations, industrial firms, etc.)
  • Credit awarded by postsecondary schools for noncredit courses, workshops, and seminars offered by other postsecondary schools as part of continuing education programs

Admission Criteria for International Students

California Northstate University accepts applications from graduates of foreign institutions. California.
Transcripts and coursework from foreign institutions must be evaluated by WES, ECE or IERF. Evaluations must be sent directly to the College of Health Sciences Admissions Office, PharmCAS (for COP), AMCAS (for COM) and must include semester units and letter grades for each course, as well as a cumulative GPA and, if possible, a science GPA. If accepted, the applicant must provide an official copy of their transcript directly to the Office of Admission. If a copy of their official transcript is not received prior to the start of school, the offer of admission will be revoked and the seat will be offered to another candidate.

Applicants who receive their degree from a non-English speaking country will be requested to submit scores from the TOEFL Examination or the TSE. This will not apply, if an additional degree is obtained at a U.S. institution.

  • A completed California Northstate University College of Health Science (CNUCHS) Application Form CHS Application.
  • A high school diploma (or international equivalent) with a minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.70 on a 4.00 scale.
  • Transcripts of all schools attended showing completion of the courses shown below. If the original document is not in English, please include a certified English translation.
    • 4 years of English
    • 3 years of mathematics at the level of Algebra I and higher (4 years recommended)
    • 2 years of laboratory science (3 years recommended)
    • 2 years of social science
  • Standardized College Entrance Exam Scores:
    • Official SAT (College Code 7669) or ACT (College Code 7032) dates taken and scores
    • The College of Health Sciences may also take into account the following when considering

Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency by submitting test scores from one of the following:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): minimum 510 paper/88iBT
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic): minimum 6.5

Applicants must have the test score sent directly to the College of Health Sciences at:
International Undergraduate Admissions College of Health Sciences
California Northstate University 2910 Prospect Park Drive Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

TOEFL: The official TOEFL score report can be sent directly to CNUCHS from the Educational Testing Service. For information about this test and registration procedures, contact ETS at PO Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541‐6151, USA or visit www.toefl.org.
IELTS: For information about this test and registration procedures, contact the IELTS Office, University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge/CB1 2EU, UK or visit www.ielts.org.

Admission Criteria for Pre-Med Post Baccalaureate Students (PHPB)

The Pre Health Post Baccalaureate (PHPB) coursework is designed to enhance the academic credentials and application portfolio of students aiming for a professional degree in the health professions. The post-baccalaureate provides a comprehensive 1-year educational experience that includes coursework in biomedical science and standardized test preparation for medical and dental school admission (i.e., MCAT or DAT exams).

In order to be admitted into the PHPB experience, the applicant must show proof of having earned a bachelor's degree. Students will complete a minimum of 27 credit hours of advanced undergraduate coursework in the physical and social sciences over the course of two semesters. Students can also enroll in elective courses to engage in a community service learning project or serve as a standardized patient in role-play mode with medical and pharmacy students as supervised by medical school faculty.

Topics covered in career-building workshops for professional school admission include health professions seminars, MCAT/DAT exam skill-building and practice testing, application procedures (AMCAS, PHARMCAS, etc.), interview coaching, and portfolio fine-tuning. A comprehensive letter of recommendation will be provided for all students who complete the program. Fall admission is open through August 31.


Complete details can be found in the General Catalog