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University and SHRS COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements and Information

The application for Fall 2023 will open in September 2022.

We welcome applicants of all abilities/disabilities, religions, marital statuses, familial statuses, sexes, ages, sexual orientations, veteran statuses, national origins, all ethnic and racial backgrounds, genetic information, and gender identities and expressions.

Admission Requirements

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (based on 4.0) is required for admission.
  • Credits required to begin the program
    • To enter the program as a junior, 60 credits are required.
    • To enter the program as a senior, 51 credits are required. Credits taken towards paramedic certification/licensure are not included towards these required college credits.
  • Certification/Licensure requirements
    • EMT certification is required to enter the program as a junior. Applicants are encouraged to take EM 1102 with lab (4 credits) or may provide a copy of their EMT card with their application. Admitted students who have not taken EM 1102 will be required to complete the credit by course examination process.
    • Current certification as a paramedic is required to enter the program as a senior.
    • Currently serving military (ADM) applicants entering the program as seniors are required to have current certification/licensure as a paramedic, Advanced Tactical Paramedic (ATP), or equivalent.
  • Prerequisites must be completed for a letter grade, minimum grade of C- (C for transfer) unless otherwise noted; with the exception of AP/IB credits and/or exemptions awarded by the University of Pittsburgh. Courses listed below are offered at the Pittsburgh Campus. Courses taken at the regional Pitt campuses or external institutions must be evaluated as equivalent to satisfy these requirements. Applications may be submitted while prerequisite coursework is in progress.
    • Seminar in Composition*, 1 course
    • Writing Intensive, 1 course. ENGCMP 0400, 0450, 0530, or 0535 recommended.
    • Oral Communication, 1 course. COMMRC 0520 preferred; 0500, 0510, 0530 acceptable.
    • Algebra*, 1 course. Exemption accepted.
    • Statistics, 1 course. STAT 0200 or STAT 1000 preferred.
    • Diversity*, 1 course
    • Literature*, The Arts*, Creative Work* or Philosophical Thinking and Ethics*, 1 course
    • Social Sciences*, 1 course
    • Natural Sciences*, 1 course
    • Cross-Cultural Awareness*, Global Issues*, or Specific Geographic Region*, 1 course
  • *See the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences General Education Course Catalog

Application Requirements

  • Complete the application for admission
    • The application for Fall 2023 will open in September 2022.
  • Submit a one- to two-page personal essay discussing how you became interested in the field, any work or volunteer experience you have that demonstrates your awareness of the field, and your long-term professional goals. Also include other areas of interest, extracurricular activities and leadership experiences;
  • Submit one letter of recommendation: college instructor or supervisor preferred;
  • Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended are required prior to review. Pitt students do NOT need to supply their Pitt transcript. However, if you have earned college credit from any other schools, we will require those transcripts. If you are a student in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, we should have access to the transcripts for any non-Pitt coursework that already appears on your Pitt transcript as Transfer Credit. If you have non-Pitt coursework that does not already appear on your Pitt transcript, you must send us an official transcript. Otherwise, we will contact you if any transcripts are required;
  • Have a personal interview with the Emergency Medicine faculty.

Application Deadline

  • Students entering as juniors: March 15.
  • Students entering as seniors: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Senior applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Tom Platt prior to applying to the EM program.

Admission Timeline

Once your application is complete, the EM program will contact you to schedule an interview. Application review begins in January. Interviews take place in the spring term. Decisions are typically available in late April.

Please note that admission to the program is competitive and meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission.

Financial Information for students entering the program as juniors

A non-refundable program fee of $1,500 covering both the fall and spring terms of the junior year will appear on the fall tuition invoice. Student tuition rates for the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences can be found here. This program also requires students to complete clinical education at facilities external to the University, and such facilities will require a criminal background check, an Act 33/34/73 clearance, physical examination, and a drug screen to determine whether the student applicant is qualified to participate in the clinical education. Students are required to maintain health insurance throughout the entire junior year and strongly recommended for senior year. Students are required to purchase and maintain classroom and clinical uniforms. In order to become certified/licensed, many states will inquire as to whether the applicant has been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony.

Students enrolling in the EM Program must meet the technical standards as established in the PA DOH Functional Position Description for Paramedics.