Pre-Health Advising Program
Viterbo
University offers a pre-health advising program for dentistry, medicine,
optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, podiatry, and
veterinary medicine. All of the pre-professional programs help students meet
the science requirements of the graduate programs. Listed below are the science
courses required for admittance to each type of science-oriented professional school.
There is some variation in the course requirements at different schools,
particularly in the specific biology and math courses required. Therefore, the
specific requirements of the individual professional school of interest should
be examined. For more information on the pre-health advising program, see the
pre-professional handbook.
In
addition to completing the required sciences courses, a student should work
toward a bachelor’s degree, even though only two or three years of pre-health
training are planned. Although each student is free to choose from any Viterbo
University major, Viterbo University has identified majors in biochemistry,
biology, chemistry, and natural sciences that satisfy the pre-professional
admission requirements of most schools in a four year major sequence. See a
pre-professional advisor for program details.
Pre-Chiropractic
A
minimum of three years (90 credits) is required for admittance to most
chiropractic schools. Science courses required by most chiropractic schools:
- BIOL 160, 161, CHEM 120, 121, 240, 340,
PHYS 250/270 and 251/271, or 260 and 261, PSYC 171
Pre-Dentistry
Although
the minimum requirement for entrance to a dental school is three academic years
of pre-professional education, most students now being admitted to dental
schools have a bachelor’s degree. Science courses required by most dental
schools:
- BIOL 160, 161, 370/371, CHEM 120, 121,
240, 340, MATH 112, 113, PHYS 250/270 and 251/271, or 260 and 261
The
Dental Admission Testing Program (DAT) is required of students before
acceptance to a dental school and is usually taken in the junior year.
Pre-Medicine
Although
the minimum requirements for admission to most medical schools is still three
years of undergraduate work, few students now being admitted to medical schools
have had less than four years of university preparation. Science courses
required by most medical schools:
- BIOL 160, 161, CHEM 120, 121, 240, 340,
MATH 230 (220 highly recommended), PHYS 250/270 and 251/271, or 260 and 261
The
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) prepared by the Association of American
Medical Colleges is required of students before acceptance to a school of
medicine and is usually taken in the junior year.
Pre-Optometry
A
minimum of two years (60 credits) is required for admittance to optometry
schools. Most students now being admitted to optometry schools have a
bachelor’s degree. Science courses required by most optometry schools:
- BIOL 160, 161, 296, 370/371, CHEM 120,
121, 240, MATH 112, 113, 220, 230, PHYS 250/270 and 251/271, or 260 and 261,
PSYC 171
The
Optometry Admission Test (OAT) may be required before acceptance by some
optometry schools.
Pre-Pharmacy
A
minimum of two years (60 credits) is required for admittance to pharmacy
school. Science and non-science courses required by most pharmacy schools:
- BIOL 160, 161, 347, 370/371, 482, CHEM
120, 121, 240, 340, COMM 150, ECON 102, ENGL 104, MATH 220, 230, PHYS 250/270
and 251/271, or 260 and 261, PSYC 171
The
Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) may be required of students before
acceptance to a school of pharmacy.
Pre-Physical
Therapy
Admission
into DPT programs is very competitive and requirements vary. Most physical
therapy programs require the following science courses:
- BIOL 160, 161, 250, 338, PHYS 250, 251,
270, 271, SPSL 331, eight credits of CHEM.
Pre-physical
therapy students should keep up to date on school specific prerequisite
requirements.
Pre-Veterinary
Medicine
All
veterinary schools require a minimum of two years of pre-veterinary college
study for entrance. One-third of the successful applicants have acquired
academic degrees prior to entering veterinary school. Science courses required
by most veterinary schools –
- BIOL 160, 161, 370/371, 376, 430, CHEM
120, 121, 240, 340, MATH 112, 113, 220, PHYS 250/270 and 251/271, or 260 and
261
The
Veterinary Aptitude Test (VAT) and/or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) may
be required before acceptance by some veterinary schools.