Southern Adventist University offers preprofessional and pretechnical programs in a wide variety of fields that may prepare students for admission to professional schools or to enter technical careers.
Detailed requirements for non-degree preprofessional curricula are outlined by department or in the section on "Non-degree Preprofessional Programs".
Associate degrees in Allied Health are available to students who fulfill preprofessional requirements for programs designated in the Allied Health section. Because preprofessional and technical admission requirements may vary from one professional school to another, students should become acquainted with the admission requirements of their chosen school.
Below are listed the preprofessional and pretechnical curricula most frequently chosen. If other programs are desired, faculty advisers are prepared to assist the student in working out a satisfactory sequence of courses needed to meet the admission requirements of the chosen professional school.
Adviser: Joelle Wolf
Registered nurses who are experienced and comfortable working in critical care areas may become registered nurse anesthetists. Graduation from an approved baccalaureate program of nursing and a valid nursing license is required. Additional requirements may be determined by consulting the School of Nursing.
Adviser: Keith Snyder
Most dental schools now require a bachelor's degree as a prerequisite for entering. Students may major in the field of their interest, but those weak in ACT/SAT scores should seriously consider majoring in a science area. Although a thorough background in the biological and physical sciences is essential to the study of dentistry, a broad educational background in the humanities is desirable. Upper division biology courses are recommended to prepare for the Dental Admissions Test and for the first two years of basic science courses in dental school.
Application to dental school should be made one year previous to the year for which admission is desired. Successful applicants should have a minimum GPA of 3.40 in both science and non-science courses as well as satisfactory performance on the Dental Admissions Test. Early application is strongly encouraged. Information regarding the Dental Admission Testing Program may be obtained from the American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 69611 or on the web at www.ada.org.
The following courses must be included to meet the minimum requirements for admission to Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
*Waived if equivalent math was taken in high school with minimum grade of B.
Strongly recommended courses
or
Adviser: Mark Hyder
Students interested in the study of law as a profession should become acquainted with the entrance requirements of various law schools. This will make possible the planning of a preprofessional program which will qualify the student for admission to several schools.
It is a general requirement that students complete a bachelor's degree before entering law school. Although no particular major is required, five fields should be especially considered by the student serious about law school. These are: business, history, English, journalism, and behavioral science. Certain courses recommended by all law schools include American history, freshman composition, principles of accounting, American government, principles of economics, English history, business law, and mathematics. Pre-law students should concentrate on developing their analytical, verbal, and writing skills.
Information about preparation for law school may be obtained from the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, American Bar Association, 1155 East 60th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637. For information about the Law School Admissions Test, see the pre-law adviser.
As preparation for law school entry and success, the following legal studies minor is recommended in keeping with the American Bar Association list of Core Skills, Value, Knowledge, and Experience for pre-law students. The ABA suggests these pre-law components:
Please refer to the pre-law Legal Studies Minor in the History and Political Studies Department if you are interested in the full preprofessional course of study.
Recommended courses for Law School
or
Select three (3) hours from the following:
Select three (3) hours from the following:
Advisers: Joyce Azevedo, Aaron Corbit, Ann Foster, Brent Hamstra, David Nelsen, Keith Snyder, Ben Thornton, Tim Trott
Secondary school students who look forward to a career in medicine are advised to include as many mathematics and science courses during their high school years as possible.
Most applicants complete a Bachelor's Degree prior to entrance into medical school. Applicants for admission to medical schools such as the Loma Linda University School of Medicine should maintain a grade point average of at least 3.50 in both science and non-science courses.
Applicants are also encouraged to obtain experience where they are directly involved in the providing of health care. The Biology Department collaborates with Chattanooga's Erlanger Medical Center in a premedical preceptorship program. This program provides the opportunity for upper division pre-medical students to shadow resident physicians in the hospital.
The applicant is required to have taken the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) prior to consideration by the admissions committee. For entrance into medical school following graduation, the student should plan on taking the MCAT by September of the senior year. However, earlier applications get better results. All of the below required science courses should be completed by this time to insure maximum performance on the MCAT exam. To register for specific dates, see the aamc.org/mcat website. Early submission of application is encouraged.
Twice each year representatives from LLU visit the campus to interview prospective students. Premedical students are encouraged to make appointments to speak with them even if not planning to attend LLU.
Most medical schools are members of the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Applications must be submitted through this service. The AMCAS application may be obtained directly from AMCAS, or filled out electronically on the web. Applications are available between May 1 and November 1 for entry into medical school the following year (aamc.org). Early submission (application) is encouraged. Completed application submission early in June is really the optimal time even if the MCAT has not been taken yet.
The following courses without an asterisk must be included in the applicant's academic program
Medical schools generally do not accept CLEP or AP credits for these basic science courses. Classes with (*) asterisks are recommended. Please check the specific requirements for individual medical schools.
*Waived if equivalent math was taken in high school with minimum grade of B.
Strongly recommended courses
NOTE: These are listed in order of preference to take before the MCAT. The last three are not covered on the MCAT.
Adviser: Joyce Azevedo
The admission requirements to colleges of optometry vary, so the student should follow the catalog from the school of his/her choice. (See the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry's website for a list of accredited optometry programs-opted.org). However, all place emphasis on biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. Additional courses in the areas of fine arts, language, literature, and the social sciences are usually necessary.
A minimum of two years of pre-optometric study is required. However, additional study increases the prospects of acceptance into professional training.
Direct individual inquiries are welcomed by the American Optometric Association (aoa.org).
Following is a list of pre-optometry courses required by most schools
Advisers: Joyce Azevedo, Ann Foster, Lucinda Hill, Rick Norskov, Keith Snyder, Ben Thornton
An alternative to allopathic medical schools, which grant the M.D. degree, are the osteopathic medical schools whose graduates receive the D.O. degree.
Many Seventh-day Adventists have attended the University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri, one of nineteen osteopathic medical colleges in this country.
Requirements for admission are similar to those for allopathic medical schools such as Loma Linda University School of Medicine. We also have had several students at DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tennessee. Students apply to schools of osteopathic medicine through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) (aacomas.aacom.org/).
For a reasonable chance of acceptance, a minimum grade point average of 3.30 should be maintained in both science and non-science subjects.
Adviser: Bruce Schilling
Pharmacy is an excellent, lucrative career with an expected shortage of qualified pharmacists as the general population ages. Although this is great for a future career in pharmacy, it has led to much more competition for the available positions in pharmacy schools. The average GPA for accepted students is trending upward toward 3.50. In addition, for those schools that require it, a satisfactory score must be achieved on the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).
Those students interested in a career in the field of pharmacy may take their prepharmacy classes at Southern Adventist University before applying to a school of pharmacy. The doctor of pharmacy degree (PharmD) is a four year program. Prepharmacy requirements take from two to four years to complete depending on the pharmacy school and the student, and many pharmacy schools are now giving admissions preference to students with a bachelor's degree.
Admission requirements to colleges of pharmacy vary from school to school so the student should consult the catalog or web page of the school of his/her choice for specific course requirements. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy maintains links to all schools of pharmacy at its web page www.aacp.org. Since a lot of pharmacy involves the study of the action of drugs in the body, students need to be especially familiar with organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physiology and so all schools place a high emphasis on chemistry and biology
Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy
Loma Linda University is the only Seventh-day Adventist school with a program in Pharmacy. Loma Linda indicates that preference will be given to students who have completed a baccalaureate degree and specifically recommend a degree in chemistry, biology, physics, or a related scientific field. Please consult pharmacy.llu.edu to check for any possible changes to the following requirements.
Minimum admission requirements for the Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy include the following courses:
or
Additional recommended science classes include BIOL 102, BIOL 103, BIOL 311, BIOL 329, BIOL 340, BIOL 417, and BIOL 418. PHYS 221 and PHYS 223 may be substituted for PHYS 211 and PHYS 213. Other general education course requirements are covered if the student graduates with a degree from Southern Adventist University. For those applying without a 4-year degree, consult Loma Linda for the general education courses that must be completed.
Adviser: Randy Bishop
Physician assistants are trained to perform many of the essential tasks involved in patient care. They take medical histories, perform physical evaluations, order laboratory tests, make preliminary diagnoses, prescribe appropriate treatments, and recommend medications and drug therapies. They also treat minor problems such as lacerations, abrasions, and burns. Physician assistants work in a variety of practice settings and specialty areas. The most important practice setting is in a physician's office. They also work at hospitals and clinics. Specialties using PA's are family practice, internal medicine, general and thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and various medical sub-specialties.
The entrance requirements to physician assistant clinical programs vary considerably from school to school. Prerequisite course requirements vary, but generally require an undergraduate baccalaureate degree. Prior patient care requirements also range from being recommended through two years of direct clinical work experience.
SDA programs offering the Physician Assistant degree are:
AdventHealth University-ahu.edu
Kettering College of Medical Arts-kcma.edu
Loma Linda University-llu.edu
Union College-ucollege.edu/pa
Students may obtain information on these programs by contacting the schools directly, or from the Southern Adventist University pre-PA adviser. A complete list of PA programs can be found on the American Academy of Physician Assistants website at aapa.org. Southern Adventist University can structure a course of study to meet the requirements of any clinical program to which a student wishes to apply. Students are advised to begin early in their academic studies to gather information on prospective PA schools and the prerequisite course work required.
Adviser: Keith Snyder
An alternative to allopathic (M.D.) and osteopathic (D.O.) medical schools are the podiatric medical schools whose graduates receive the D.P.M. degree. Doctors of podiatric medicine are physicians trained in the medical and surgical treatment of the human foot and ankle.
To gain acceptance to a school of Podiatric Medicine, a bachelor's degree is highly desirable. Pre-professional course work, with a minimum of 90 semester hours, is required of all students. Applicants are required to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). In addition, most D.P.M. schools require the same prerequisite science classes as the M.D. and D.O. schools.
There are seven colleges of podiatric medicine, six of which participate in the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service (AACPMAS). The six schools in the AACPMAS are located in California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. An application packet can be obtained thru the website http://www.e-aacpmas.org.
Adviser: Joyce Azevedo
Competition for admission to colleges of veterinary medicine is keen. Consequently, most successful applicants have completed a degree rather than the minimum requirements listed below. It should also be noted that it is often more difficult to be accepted in a veterinary institution other than the school in the state where the applicant resides.
The applicant must make a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) in addition to meeting grade point average (often above 3.50) and personal qualifications for admission. Professional training involves four years of veterinary school beyond college.
Admission requirements will vary among veterinary schools; therefore, it is recommended that the pre-veterinary student work closely with his/her adviser in assuring that the specific requirements for the schools of his/her choice are met.
Information on veterinary schools and applications, through the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, are available online aavmc.org.
Minimum admission requirements to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville are:
Additional requirements include
Strongly Recommended
Additional courses in the biological and physical sciences, especially comparative anatomy, mammalian physiology and microbiology with laboratory.