College of Arts and Sciences

Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medical, Pre-Optometry, Pre-Pharmacy, and Pre-Veterinary

Any student interested in seeking admission to a professional program after earning a degree at UAFS should note the following information:

Selection of a Major

Professional programs recognize the importance of a broad educational background to include a solid foundation in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities with good communication skills. Almost any academic major with appropriate course selection sufficient to include the necessary prerequisite courses required for admission to the professional program can provide this background. UAFS offers a number of majors that provide adequate flexibility.

Required Courses

Each professional program will have a list of courses required for admission; students are advised to review those requirements. In general most programs require at a minimum that students seeking admission complete eight hours of biological sciences, eight hours of general chemistry, eight hours of organic chemistry, and eight hours of physics. Other courses such as biochemistry, calculus, genetics, microbiology, and courses in psychology or sociology may also be required. CLEP and AP credits will not generally substitute for required courses. Students with such credits will be required to take courses beyond those earned through CLEP or AP credit.

Extracurricular Activities

Experiences outside of the classroom can enhance a student’s chances of gaining admission to a professional program. Involvement in such activity can help develop a student’s organizational and time management skills, help develop his or her leadership skills, and give the student a broader perspective. UAFS offers a wide range of student organizations from which to choose. Additionally, there are a number of internship opportunities available designed to help familiarize the student with their chosen career path.

Advising

UAFS has a strong commitment to student advising. The Pre-Medical Advisory Committee, which consists of local health professionals and pre-professional faculty advisors, serves students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare. Their role is to assist students in making informed decisions in their pre-health planning, secure relevant, impactful experiences, avoid and overcome obstacles, and navigate the application process. Th e pre-professional faculty advisors are readily available to discuss each student’s curriculum and career plans and to help students:

Explore their decision to pursue a career in the health professions.
Prepare academically and non-academically to become a competitive applicant.
Understand how to secure medically-related experience, volunteer opportunities, and research.
Improve their overall competitiveness and health profession program application.
Decide the best time to take the MCAT and to apply to schools of health professions.
Successfully navigate the application process.
Learn about the different health professions - i.e. medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, veterinary medicine, and a range of other health careers.
Prepare for the pursuit of MD-PhD programs.

Students are strongly encouraged to join the Pre-Health Professions Association (Alpha Epsilon Delta) to keep current with changes in the admissions landscape and to better avail themselves of opportunities to enhance their portfolios.

All courses taken for credit are used for computing the GPA on professional program applications. Students should consult with the pre-professional advisor prior to repeating courses.