Delbert L. Kilgore (Professor of Biological Sciences), Director
Health care continues to be one of the most rapidly expanding
areas of our society. Careers in the health professions have
expanded, both in numbers and in the variety of opportunities.
The rewards of a career in health care include excellent salaries,
stability of employment, geographic mobility, and the opportunity
to help other people. The pre-medical sciences program is an
advising program that helps students become well-informed, well-prepared
applicants to programs in allopathic medicine, chiropractic
medicine, dentistry, naturopathic medicine, optometry, osteopathic
medicine, physician assistant, podiatry and veterinary medicine.
Students may select any major as a field of study which must
include specific preprofessional courses. When selecting a major
consider that your undergraduate years may be your last opportunity
to pursue in depth a nonscience subject of interest. Professional
schools are most concerned with the overall quality, scope and
difficulty of undergraduate work and not the major.
Preprofessional courses are designed to provide a strong foundation
in the sciences, highly developed communicative skills and a
solid background in the social sciences and humanities. Curriculum
guide outlining minimal course requirements established by professional
schools are available from the Pre-medical Sciences Director.
The minimal requirements should be completed by the end of the
third year of study or prior to taking the admission test required
by professional schools. Since specific subject requirements
vary among institutions, students should discuss their academic
plans with the Pre medical Sciences Director. Individuals with
weak math and science preparation should consider a five year
undergraduate program beginning with remedial courses in math,
English, and reading skills.
Admission to a professional school is very competitive. Students
must maintain a B plus grade point average in college if they
expect to be admitted. All required courses must be taken for
letter grades. In addition, the applicant must place high on
an admissions test which has been designed to measure basic
academic ability in the natural sciences, reading ability and
problem solving skills. These examinations are ordinarily taken
during the junior year.
Besides their academic accomplishments and admission exam scores,
acceptance by a professional school is also dependent upon letters
of recommendation by the University's Pre professional Advisory
Committee and personal interviews conducted by the professional
school. It is important that students consult with the Pre medical
Sciences Director and with an academic advisor in their major
each year to make sure that he or she can satisfy the necessary
requirements for graduation within the time available. The Director
can also discuss procedures, counsel and support the student
during the process of applying to a professional school.
High School Preparation: High school students contemplating
a career in the health professions should have three to four
years of mathematics, experience in chemistry and physics and
considerable background in literature and social science.