Post-Baccalaureate Programs

  1. Programs of Study
  2. Post-Baccalaureate Programs
GSAS students in seminar

Are you a recent college graduate who is highly motivated to pursue a research career? See if one of our post-baccalaureate programs is right for you.

To participate in any of the post-baccalaureate programs:

  • You must be a US citizen or US permanent resident.
  • You must have earned your bachelor’s degree in a relevant field prior to the mid-June start of the program, but no more than three years before the start of the program.

If you are from a background that has been underrepresented in your chosen field of study, you are strongly encouraged to apply. This includes first-generation college graduates, students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and women in some STEM fields.

 

Post-Baccalaureate Programs

National Institutes of Health Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program

The NIH PREP at Yale is a program that helps recent bachelor’s degree recipients gain the research skills and academic credentials needed to become competitive applicants to, and successful students in, highly selective PhD programs in the biological and biomedical sciences. Participants conduct independent laboratory research under the supervision of a faculty mentor, take Yale courses, and participate in program-specific seminars and workshops, as well as institutional training activities with beginning graduate students in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences. All NIH PREP participants are expected to apply to PhD programs to begin graduate study immediately following successful completion of the program. 

Note: The NIH PREP is intended to be a one-year program and is primarily for participants interested in pursuing a PhD. If you plan to pursue an MD, you are not eligible to participate. If you plan to pursue an MD/PhD, at the mid-June start of the Yale NIH PREP you must have completed the MCAT exam with a competitive score and you should be well into the application process for MD/PhD programs.

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Emerging Scholars Initiative (ESI) Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program

The ESI PREP is intended to be a one-year program and provides participants the knowledge and skills necessary for success in PhD programs. Participants experience life as graduate students at a major research university, taking courses, doing research, and receiving mentoring alongside first year PhD students. This initiative is open to recent college graduates in all divisions (i.e., humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and engineering) who have a strong desire to pursue a PhD.

NEW: History of Art Two-Year ESI PREP:
The History of Art Two-Year ESI PREP is for individuals who plan to pursue careers as academics or museum curators. These two-year positions are designed to prepare participants for PhD programs in the history of art. The first year will focus on GRE preparation (if necessary), research and library skills, and coursework at Yale designed to strengthen transcripts and help ensure the completion of graduate school prerequisites. The second year of the program will consist of a seminar each semester and a research project in the field of interest. The knowledge and skills that participants develop during this two-year program will prepare them for success in PhD programs in art history and regional studies, which lead to careers in broad fields that span the arts, humanities, and sciences, including academic positions, museum leadership roles, conservation, and library sciences.  

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Cultural Heritage Research and Practice (CHRP) Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program

The Cultural Heritage Research and Practice (CHRP) Two-Year Post-Baccalaureate Program is intended for individuals with an interest in pursuing careers as cultural heritage professionals. These two-year positions are designed to prepare participants for PhD programs in fields relating to cultural heritage research and practice. The first year will focus on GRE preparation (if necessary), research and library skills, and coursework at Yale designed to strengthen transcripts and help ensure the completion of graduate school prerequisites. The second year will be a practicum during which participants work with specific museum and library collections based on their interest, aptitude, and career goals. The knowledge and skills that participants develop during this two-year program will prepare them for success in PhD programs in fields that span the arts, humanities, and sciences, including art history, conservation, library sciences, chemistry, ecology and evolutionary biology, and other sciences. 

Program Details and Application

Application

The PREP online application opens on November 1 and is due by 11:59 PM on February 28 unless otherwise stated on the application.

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Post-baccalaureate program participants receive a stipend of $42,000 over 12 months for living expenses. Participants also receive financial support that covers tuition for one or more courses per semester during the academic year, health insurance, GRE preparation material provided by Kaplan Review (if necessary), $1,100 for a new laptop computer, and up to $2,000 for expenses related to attending at least one conference in the US.

Participants are required to live in New Haven and use a portion of their stipend to cover housing and other living expenses.

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) PREP and the Emerging Scholars Initiative (ESI) PREP are typically one-year programs that run from mid-June to mid-May. The NEW History of Art Two-Year ESI PREP and the Cultural Heritage Research and Practice (CHRP) Post-Baccalaureate Program are two-year programs that both begin in mid-June. 

NIH PREP participants may only take one course per semester and will spend 75% of their time conducting independent research supervised by a faculty mentor. The balance of their time will be devoted to the activities listed below.

ESI PREP, History of Art Two-Year ESI PREP, and CHRP Two-Year Post-Baccalaureate Program participants are not limited to one course per semester. Research projects and coursework will be determined with input from faculty mentors and program directors based on individual assessments. Participants’ experiences will be similar to NIH PREP participants for the first year and as described below for the second year. 

Summer:

•    GRE Preparation Boot Camp (If necessary)
•    Graduate Workshop I
•    Research Literature Seminar

Fall semester:

•    Yale course(s)
•    Graduate Workshop II
•    Research Presentations (Research-in-Progress)

Spring semester:

•    Yale course(s)
•    Career Workshop
•    Journal Club
•    Research Presentations (Symposium)

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NIH PREP participants choose their faculty mentors in consultation with the program directors. 

ESI PREP, History of Art Two-Year ESI PREP, and CHRP Two-Year Post-Baccalaureate Program participants choose a faculty mentor in collaboration with the program director from the faculty within their department or program. 

During the second year, History of Art Two-Year ESI PREP, and CHRP Two-Year Post-Baccalaureate Program participants have a faculty mentor and also work closely with conservators, curators, and scientists, as determined by the program directors based on interests, aptitude, and career goals.
 

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2024-2025

  • Alison Carranza, Vassar College
  • Phoebe Demers, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Aliyah Efotte, Texas Tech University
  • Brianna Graham, Fayetteville State University
  • Rachael Hatchett, University of Texas at Austin
  • Victor Miranda, Stanford University
  • Sapphire Moore, Connecticut College
  • Marissa Perez, Hampshire College
  • Margarita Rodriguez Matos, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
  • Lorraine Tabales-Hernández, University of Puerto Rico at Humacao

Program Directors

Dr. Michelle Nearon

Sr. Associate Dean for Graduate Student Development and Diversity; Director, ESI PREP; Co-Director, CHRP PREP; Co-Director, NIH PREP

Dr. Anton Bennett

Professor of Pharmacology and of Comparative Medicine; Co-Director, NIH PREP