Pre-Professional Programs
Degree ProgramsSCSU offers a number of programs which prepare students for post graduate work in professional areas. Preparation requires a baccalaureate degree. Some, such as pre-medicine are very specific; others are more liberal arts oriented, such as pre-law. Students should meet with advisers who will assist them in selecting the program best suited to their graduate school and career goals. Undergraduate preparation and advising is available for the following: |
Non-degree ProgramsIn some instances students may elect to begin study in areas for which SCSU has no degree program. Preparation for transfer then is required. Some areas of pharmacy, etc., fall into this category. Students should be aware of requirements selected by the institution to which they will transfer, and should meet with an academic adviser well versed in these requirements. Advising and specific course recommendations are available in the following areas: |
Pre-Agriculture
Adviser: Oladele
Gazal/227 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3045
Schools of agriculture have many and varied curricula. The following list should
be followed until the student has selected a particular program within the
field of agriculture: ENGL 191; CMST 211; BIOL 151, 152, 212; CHEM 210, 211;
MATH 115; PHYS 231, 232. Contact the adviser for more detailed description
of the courses and requirements.
Pre-Chiropractic
Adviser:
Timothy Schuh/224 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-5433
Students should consult the pre-chiropractic adviser during their first semester
at St. Cloud State University. It is advisable that students get a baccalaureate
degree; the biomedical science major is recommended.
Pre-professional course requirements generally include: 2 semesters animal biology with labs, 2 semesters general chemistry with labs, 2 semesters organic chemistry with labs, 2 semesters general physics with labs, 1 semester general psychology, 1 semester English, 1 semester Speech, and 15 additional credits of humanities and social sciences.
Pre-Dental Hygiene
Adviser: Gordon Schrank/274 Robert H. Wick Science Buildingl/308-3047/gdschrank@stcloudstate.edu
Pre-Dental Hygiene is not a major. You will select courses appropriate to
the program or programs in dental hygiene offered at other institutions.
Options include associate degree and baccalaureate degree programs. It is
very important that you review the requirements for the program of interest
to you. There are at least seven MnSCU institutions that offer associate
degree programs in dental hygiene; Argosy University - Twin Cities also offers
an associate degree. The University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and Minnesota
State University - Mankato offer baccalaureate degree programs. More information
is available from the MnSCU, University of Minnesota and Argosy University
Web sites.
Courses required for most programs include BIOL 202, 204, 206; CHEM 140; HLTH 210; ENGL 191; CMST 192; and PSY 115. Prerequisite courses may be required for BIOL 202, 204, and 206.
Pre-Dentistry
Adviser:
Gordon Schrank/274 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3047/gdschrank@stcloudstate.edu
Courses specified for admission to the University of Minnesota include: English:
8 semester credits (composition courses preferred); biology: 8 semester credits;
physics: 8 semester credits; chemistry: inorganic and organic chemistry and
at least 1 semester biochemistry; math: minimum of 3 semester credits of
college algebra, pre-calculus, computer science or statistics; applied human
psychology: 3 semester credits. Suggested courses to fulfill those requirements
include: BIOL 151, 152, 262, 360; CHEM 210, 211, 310, 311; 241 or 480, 481;
ENGL 184, 191, 331, 332, 333; MATH 112 or 115; PHYS 231, 232; PSY 115. Courses
such as CMST 192, ART (100-level courses in beginning drawing) are highly
recommended. Requirements do change and interested students should
check with the dental school(s) where they plan to apply.
Pre-Forestry
Adviser:
Jorge Arriagada/219 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3456
BIOL 151, 152, 212, 214; CHEM 210, 211; EAS 220; MATH 115, 211 or 221; STAT
239; PHYS 231, 232; ENGL 191; ECON 205, 206; CSCI 169; CMST 211; SOC 160. Select
8 credits from: ART, ENGL, MUSM, MUSP, TFSD Some of the University of Minnesota
forestry programs require a summer session between either the freshman and
sophomore or between the sophomore and junior years. Since forestry programs
vary, students should consult the pre-forestry adviser during the first semester
at St. Cloud State University.
Pre-Horticulture
Adviser:
Jorge Arriagada/219 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3456
St. Cloud State University does not offer a horticulture program as such. Students
who select from the following courses should have few problems transferring
during, or at the end of, their second year to a school with a major in horticulture:
ENGL 191; CMST 211; MATH 115; CHEM 210, 211, 240, 241 (310, 311 may be substituted
for 240, 241); PHYS 231, 232; EAS 220; ECON 205 or 206; BIOL 151, 152, 212,
330, 447. Since horticulture curricula vary, students should, during their
first year at St. Cloud State University, contact the school to which they
wish to transfer in order to plan their second year's program.
Pre-Law
Adviser: Kathleen Uradnik/51B 309/308-4132
Students must complete a bachelor's degree before law school and may major
in any field. Law schools prefer a broad-based course of study that emphasizes
analytical thinking and writing. Although pre-law is not a major, new students
who have not declared a major may write "pre-law" on the appropriate
forms to be assigned to the SCSU Pre-Law Advisor. She will work with you
to find an appropriate major. Students are encouraged to contact the Pre-Law
Advisor regularly, starting early in their academic careers. The Pre-Law
Advising Office offers extensive information about all stages of the law
school application process; stop by to pick up Professor Uradnik's pre-law
advising CD-Rom, a comprehensive advising tool distributed free to SCSU students.
Pre-Medicine
Advisers (Biological Sciences):
Marina Cetkovic-Cvrlje/268 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3490
Oladele Gazal/227 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3045
Timothy Schuh/224 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-5433
Maureen Tubbiola/226 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3035
Advisors (Chemistry):
Latha Ramakrishnan/358 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3031
Lakshmaiah Sreerama/372 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-2080
Pre-medicine is not a major; students should plan to complete a bachelor's
degree before entering medical school and may elect to major in a variety of
fields. Most medical schools require that certain basic courses be completed
before entering medical school. These include one year of biology, inorganic
and organic chemistry, one year of physics, mathematics through calculus, 6
semester credits of English composition as well as courses in the humanities
and behavioral sciences. Examples of science courses would be BIOL 151, 152,
262, 360; CHEM 210, 211, 310, 311; and PHYS 231, 232. At least one semester
of biochemistry is now required by some schools. Some students who do not have
any background in one of the science areas may elect to take general education
courses before beginning the 200 level courses that do meet the medical school
requirements for admission. The behavioral science requirement is usually 8
semester credits in areas such as psychology, sociology, or anthropology. The
basic requirement for humanities is also 8 semester credits. The required courses
may vary from year to year and students are strongly urged to meet with the
adviser.
Pre-Mortuary Science
Adviser:
Timothy Schuh/224 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-5433
The pre-mortuary program is that suggested by the University of Minnesota,
where most students transfer after two years at SCSU. Credits taken here apply
toward the B.S. degree in mortuary science at the University of Minnesota.
Pre-professional requirements include at least one course in each of the areas of English composition, general biology with lab, human anatomy and physiology, statistics, general chemistry with lab, introduction to sociology, speech, general psychology, and accounting plus sufficient electives to total the equivalent of 60 semester credits. Contact your adviser for a more detailed description of the courses.
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Advisers: Timothy Schuh/244 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-5433
Pre-occupational therapy is not a major; students should plan to complete
a bachelor's degree before applying to an advanced degree program in occupational
therapy.
Pre-professional course work typically includes courses in human anatomy, human physiology, statistics, general psychology, medical terminology, abnormal psychology, life span developmental psychology, introductory sociology and studio/applied arts.
Pre-Optometry
Adviser:
Oladele Gazal/227 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3045
Two years of college is the minimum required for admission to optometry school.
However, the trend is for most entering students to have a four-year bachelor's
degree in biology, chemistry or physics. The following courses should be included:
BIOL 151, 152, 262, 360, 362, 366, 478; CHEM 210, 240, 241; ENGL 191, 332; MATH
115, 211, 212; STAT 319; PHYS 231, 232; PSY 115. Electives should include 8-12
credits in the social sciences. CHEM 270, 271 may be substituted for CHEM 240,
241 and MATH 221, 222 may be preferred at some schools over MATH 211, 212.
Applicants should contact the schools they are interested in for details on
course requirements.
Students should apply to take the optometry college admission test during the year before they apply to an optometry school.
Pre-Pharmacy
Advisers:
Tamara Leenay/WSB 363/308-3948
Jack McKenna/WSB 364/308-3032
Students must complete at least two years of college before applying to a pharmacy
program, but most students accepted have completed a 4-year undergraduate degree.
The courses listed below comprise typical pre-pharmacy courses. Different colleges
of pharmacy have slightly different pre-pharmacy requirements. Students should
consult early with the advisers for specific requirements.
BIOL 151, 206 or 362, 366, 478; CHEM 210, 211, 310, 311; 2 social/behavioral science courses; ECON 205 or 206; ENGL 191, 332; MATH 221; STAT 319; PHYS 231, 234; CMST 192.
In addition, 30 credits of general education courses are required which includes two courses in behavioral sciences and an upper level composition course.
Pre-Physical Therapy
Advisers:
Timothy Schuh/Robert H. Wick Science Building 224/308-5433
Pre-physical therapy is not a major; students should plan to complete a bachelor's
degree before applying to a university which offers an advanced degree in
physical therapy. Many students elect to complete a Biomedical Science degree
at SCSU with additional pre-professional courses as required for admission
by the graduate programs in Physical Therapy. Pre-professional courses generally
include 2 semesters general biology with labs, 2 semesters general chemistry
with labs, and 2 semesters general physics with labs. In addition, one course
each in human physiology, human anatomy, general psychology, abnormal psychology,
and statistics is typically required. Some programs also require one calculus
course. For specific details, please contact the adviser.
Pre-Physician Assistant
Adviser:
Maureen Tubbiola/226 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3035
Pre-physician assistant is not a major at SCSU; however, students should plan
to complete a bachelor's degree before entering a university which offers a
master's degree. In preparation
for any physician assistant program the following courses should be included:
BIOL 151, 152, 262, 266, 360, 366, 478; CHEM 210, 211, 310, 311, 480; MATH
221; STAT 319; PSY 115, 490. English composition skills and courses in the
humanities and behavioral sciences are needed. Health care experience with
some direct patient contact is required for most programs. Applicants should contact the schools they are interested in for details on course requirements. Contact the adviser
for more detailed description of the courses and requirements.
Pre-Podiatry
Adviser:
Maureen Tubbiola/226 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3035
Pre-podiatry is not a major at SCSU; however, students should plan to complete a bachelor's degree before entering a university which offers a master's degree. The following courses should be included:
BIOL 151, 152, 262, 360, 362, 366, 478; CHEM 210, 211, 310, 311, 480 or CHEM 210, 240, 241; ENGL 191; PHYS 231, 232.
Applicants should contact the schools they are interested in for details on
course requirements. Students should apply to take the podiatry college admission
test during the year before they apply to a podiatry school.
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Adviser:
Anthony Marcattilio/221 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-1500
Oladele Gazal/227 Robert H. Wick Science Building/308-3045
BIOL 151, 152, 214 (or 441 or 446), 262, 360, 362; MATH 112 or 221; CHEM 210, 211, 310, 311, 489;
PHYS 231, 232; ENGL 191; CMST 192; and 12-18 credits in the Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities. All pre-veterinary students should consult with the program advisers as soon as possible upon admission to construct an academic plan.
