Mar 28, 2024  
2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Pre-Health


Students interested in pre-health programs are advised in the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office.

As careers in health professions continue to be plentiful, applicants to the professional training programs become more numerous and requirements for admission become more stringent. One of the universal requirements is a high grade point average (GPA). Therefore, after completing 24 or more semester hours at K-State, students with a K-State GPA below 2.75 are required to find an alternative to pre-health curriculum. To remain in a pre-health curriculum a student must continue to take the prerequisite coursework appropriate to that curriculum and maintain a 2.75 K-State GPA. To be competitive, at the point of application to professional schools students must have earned a GPA above a 3.0.

Students who have previous academic work at K-State or elsewhere must have a 2.75 or higher GPA to declare a pre-health curriculum. For purposes of declaring a pre-health curriculum, GPAs will be based on all college or university courses attempted.

Academic prerequisites for successful application to health professions schools and programs are different for each profession and vary from program to program within individual professions. Some programs require completion of a bachelor’s degree before matriculation while others require only the completion of specific coursework. Programs that require completion of a bachelor’s degree accept students with a wide variety of degrees. No specific degree is required.

Creating a competitive applicant profile takes time and includes more than academics. Therefore, all students who are considering a health profession should consult with the appropriate health professions advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office early in their undergraduate career.

Programs:

Pre-chiropractic medicine

Pre-chiropractic medicine  is not a degree-granting program. Individual advising is strongly recommended.

Most chiropractic colleges abide by the prerequisite course recommendations of the Council on Chiropractic Education. This list of courses can be found on the website of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges and is used as a guideline when advising students. Individual colleges, however, may have additional specific requirements not listed here.

The following courses satisfy the admission requirements for most chiropractic colleges:

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology (lab included) 4
BIOL 340  Structure and Function of the Human Body (lab included) 8
CHM 210  Chemistry I (lab included) 4
CHM 230  Chemistry II (lab included) 4
ENGL 100  Expository Writing I 3
ENGL 200  Expository Writing II 3
PHYS 113  General Physics I (lab included) 4
PHYS 114  General Physics II (lab included) or alternative 4
PSYCH 110  General Psychology 3
One of the following options:    
CHM 531  Organic Chemistry I 3
CHM 532  Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
CHM 550  Organic Chemistry II  3
or    
CHM 350  General Organic Chemistry 3
CHM 351  General Organic Chemistry Lab 2
BIOCH 521  General Biochemistry 3
Humanities and social sciences electives    15
Electives To bring the total to at least 90 hours  
Overall requirements    At least 90
semester hours

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.

 

Pre-dentistry

Pre-dentistry  is not a degree-granting program. Individual advising is strongly recommended.

Dental Schools in the United States require applicants to satisfactorily complete a specified set of courses and to present acceptable scores on the Dental Admission Test (DAT).  Although not generally required, the majority of successful applicants earn bachelor’s degrees prior to entering dental school.  The courses listed below satisfy the admission requirements for most dental schools:

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology (lab included) 4
BIOL 340  Structure and Function of the Human Body (lab included) 8
BIOL 450  Modern Genetics 4
BIOL 541  Cell Biology 3
CHM 210  Chemistry I (lab included) 4
CHM 230  Chemistry II (lab included) 4
CHM 531  Organic Chemistry I 3
and    
CHM 532  Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
and    
CHM 550  Organic Chemistry II 3
ENGL 100  Expository Writing I 3
ENGL 200  Expository Writing II 3
MATH 100  College Algebra 3
MATH 150  Plane Trigonometry 3
PHYS 113  General Physics I (lab included) 4
PHYS 114  General Physics II (lab included) 4

 

Requirements for dental schools vary. Consultation with a health professions advisor is strongly recommended.

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.

             

Pre-health information management

Pre-health information management  is not a degree-granting program. Individual advising is strongly recommended.

The pre-health information management curriculum is a based on prerequisites for the professional program at KU Medical Center.

The following course work must be completed to qualify for admission to KU’s program:

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
ACCTG 231  Accounting for Business Operations 3
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology (lab included) 4
BIOL 340  Structure and Function of the Human Body (lab included) 8
COMM 106  Public Speaking I 3
ENGL 100  Expository Writing I 3
ENGL 200  Expository Writing II 3
PSYCH 110  General Psychology 3
SOCIO 211  Introduction to Sociology 3
A business communications course   3
Electives   24
Humanities   6

There are specific course recommendations and suggestions to fulfill the humanities and general elective requirements.

Prerequisites are subject to change. Consultation with a health professions advisor is strongly recommended.

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.     

 

Pre-medicine

Pre-medicine  is not a degree-granting program.  Individual advising is strongly recommended.

Medical schools in the United States require completion of a bachelor’s degree before entering medical school. No specific degree is preferred. In addition to the prerequisite courses, students are expected to include a broad range of humanities and social sciences in their undergraduate studies. Leadership and physician shadowing experiences are expected. Acceptable scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) are required and vary among medical schools. Kansas residents are given preference at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.  The courses listed below fulfill the requirements at most U.S. medical schools: 

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology 4
BIOL A second Biology course (lab included) 4
CHM 210  Chemistry I (lab included) 4
CHM 230  Chemistry II (lab included) 4
CHM 531  Organic Chemistry I 3
CHM 532  Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
CHM 550  Organic Chemistry II 3
ENGL 100  Expository Writing I 3
ENGL 200  Expository Writing II 3
MATH 220  Analytic Geometry and Calculus I 4
PHYS 113  General Physics I (lab included) 4
PHYS 114  General Physics II (lab included) 4

Requirements for medical schools vary, so consultation with a health professions advisor is strongly recommended. 

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.

 

Pre-nursing

Pre-nursing  is not a degree-granting program.  Individual advising is strongly recommended.

Pre-nursing students take prerequisite course work in preparation to transfer to a school that offers a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).

The following are core requirements of most BSN programs:

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology (lab included) 4
BIOL 340  Structure and function of the Human Body (lab included) 8
BIOL 455  General Microbiology (lab included) 4
COMM 106  Public Speaking I 3
CHM 110  General Chemistry  3
and    
CHM 111  General Chemistry Laboratory 1
ENGL 100  Expository Writing I 3
ENGL 200  Expository Writing II 3
HN 132  Basic Nutrition 3
MATH 100  College Algebra 3
FSHS 110  Introduction to Human Development 3
or    
PSYCH 110  General Psychology 3
PSYCH 520  Lifespan Personality Development  3
SOCIO 211  Introduction to Sociology 3
STAT 325  or STAT 340  or STAT 350  Statistics Course 3

Additional humanities, social sciences, and other specific courses and elective hours vary considerably; therefore consultation with a health professions advisor is strongly recommended. 

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.

 

Pre-occupational therapy

Pre-occupational therapy  is not a degree-granting program.  Individual advising is strongly recommended.

The pre-occupational therapy curriculum prepares students for application to the master’s program in occupational therapy at the University of Kansas Medical Center.  Successful completion of 90 semester hours is required before entering.

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology (lab included) 4
BIOL 340  Structure and function of the Human Body (lab included) 8
COMM 106  Public Speaking I  3
or    
COMM 322  Interpersonal Communications  3
ENGL 100  Expository Writing I 3
ENGL 200  Expository Writing II 3
ENGL A third English course transferable at 200 level or above 3
MATH 100  College Algebra 3
PHILO 130  Introduction to Moral Philosophy  3
or    
PHILO 365  Medical Ethics 3
PSYCH 110  General Psychology 3
PSYCH 505  Abnormal Psychology 3
PSYCH 520  Lifespan Personality Development  3
or    
FSHS 110  Introduction to Human Development 3
SOCIO 211  Introduction to Sociology 3
or    
ANTH 200  Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3
or    
ANTH 204  A General Education Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3
STAT 325  Introduction to Statistics 3
or    
STAT 350  Business and Economic Statistics I 3
  Diversity course 3
Restricted Electives 4 courses/electives chosen from complementary disciplines with a focus on
behavioral and/or social sciences such as, but not limited to, psychology,
sociology, family studies, special education, community health/wellness,
and multicultural studies.
12
General Electives

Electives must bring the prerequisite hours to a total of 90.  Suggested courses include but are
not limited to, multicultural classes, foreign language, sign language, kinesiology, technical
or professional writing, sociology or psychology relating to family dynamics, and additional
humanities of interest to the student.

 

Since prerequisites may change and the requirements of other occupational therapy programs will vary, consultation with a health professions advisor is strongly recommended.

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.

 

Pre-optometry

Pre-optometry  is not a degree-granting program.  Individual advising is strongly recommended.

In order to apply for admission to a school of optometry, students are expected to complete successfully at least three years of college work including a set of specified science and mathematics courses and to present acceptable scores on the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). Students must earn a bachelor’s degree before the optometry degree will be granted.

The following courses satisfy the admission requirements at most optometry schools:

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
BIOCH 521  General Biochemistry 3
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology (lab included) 4
BIOL 201  Organismic Biology (lab included) 5
BIOL 340  Structure and Function of the Human Body (lab included) 8
BIOL 455  General Microbiology (lab included) 4
CHM 210  Chemistry I (lab included) 4
CHM 230  Chemistry II (lab included) 4
CHM 350  General Organic Chemistry 3
CHM 351  General Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
MATH 100  College Algebra 3
MATH 150  Plane Trigonometry 3
MATH 220  Analytic Geometry and Calculus I 4
PHYS 113  General Physics I (lab included) 4
PHYS 114  General Physics II (lab included) 4
PSYCH 110  General Psychology 3
STAT 325  Elements of Statistics 3

Requirements for optometry schools vary, so consultation with a health professions advisor is strongly recommended.

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.

 

Pre-pharmacy

Pre-pharmacy  is not a degree-granting program.  Individual advising is strongly recommended.

Pharmacy schools in the United States require applicants to satisfactorily complete a specified set of courses and to present acceptable scores on the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).  The pharmacy school at the University of Kansas gives preference to applicants who are Kansas residents. Although not generally required, the majority of successful applicants have earned the bachelor’s degree prior to entering pharmacy school. The following are specific course requirements for the KU School of Pharmacy and will satisfy admission requirements for most others:

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology (lab included) 4
BIOL 340  Structure and Function of the Human Body (lab included) 8
BIOL 455  General Microbiology (lab included) 4
CHM 210  Chemistry I (lab included) 4
CHM 230  Chemistry II (lab included) 4
CHM 531  Organic Chemistry I 3
CHM 532  Organic Chemistry Laboratory  2
CHM 550  Organic Chemistry II 3
CHM 551  Advanced Organic Laboratory 2
COMM 106  Public Speaking I 3
ENGL 100  Expository Writing I 3
ENGL 200  Expository Writing II 3
MATH 205  General Calculus and Linear Algebra  3
or    
MATH 220  Analytic Geometry and Calculus I 4
PHYS 101  The Physical World I* 3
Humanities and social sciences free-choice electives   21

*Students who have completed high school physics with a grade of B or better may be exempt.

Requirements for other pharmacy schools vary. Consultation with a health professions advisor is strongly recommended.

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.

 

Pre-physical therapy

Pre-physical therapy  is not a degree-granting program. Individual advising is strongly recommended.

In addition to completing the courses listed below, students must complete a bachelor’s degree before making application to their programs.

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology (lab included) 4
BIOL 340  Structure and Function of the Human Body (lab included) 8
Upper level biology with a lab, BIOL 455  recommended  General Microbiology (lab included) 4
CHM 210  Chemistry I (lab included) 4
CHM 230  Chemistry II (lab included) 4
COMM 106  Public Speaking I 3
ENGL 100  Expository Writing I 3
ENGL 200  Expository Writing II 3
MATH 100  College Algebra 3
MATH 150  Plane Trigonometry 3
or    
MATH 220  Analytic Geometry and Calculus I 4
PHYS 113  General Physics I (lab included) 4
PHYS 114  General Physics II (lab included) 4
PSYCH 110  General Psychology 3
SOCIO 211  Introduction to Sociology 3
STAT 325  or STAT 340  or STAT 350  One introductory statistics course 3

Additional humanities, social sciences, and other electives are required and vary with each program. Many programs require satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Exam. Observation hours are usually required.

Requirements for pre-physical therapy schools vary, so consultation with a health professions advisor is strongly recommended.

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.

 

Pre-physician assistant

Pre-physician assistant  is not a degree-granting program. Individual advising is strongly recommended.

The Pre-physician assistant curriculum prepares students for application to master’s physician assistant studies. Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree (any major) is required before entering. In addition to the requirements of the major, students must complete the following core requirements:

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology (lab included)  4
BIOL 340  Structure and Function of the Human Body (lab included)  8
BIOL 455  General Microbiology (lab included)  4
BIOL 609  Cellular and Molecular Biology of Human Diseases  3
CHM 210  Chemistry I (lab included)  4
CHM 230  Chemistry II (lab included)  4
STAT 325  Elements of Statistics  3
or    
STAT 340  Biometrics I  3
or    
STAT 350  Business and Economic Statistics I 3

 Additional humanities, social sciences, and other electives are required and vary with each program. Many programs require satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Exam. Observation hours are usually required.

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.

 

Pre-respiratory care

Pre-respiratory care  is not a degree-granting program. Individual advising is strongly recommended.

The pre-respiratory care curriculum is based on prerequisites for the professional program at KU Medical Center. Since prerequisites for other programs may vary, consultation with a health professions advisor is strongly recommended.

The following courses must be completed to qualify for admission to KU’s program:

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology (lab included) 4
BIOL 340  Structure and Function of the Human Body (lab included) 8
BIOL 455  General Microbiology (lab included) 4
CHM 110  General Chemistry 3
and    
CHM 111  General Chemistry Laboratory 1
COMM 106  Pubic Speaking I 3
ENGL 100  Expository Writing I 3
ENGL 200  Expository Writing II 3
MATH 100  College Algebra 3
PHYS 115  Descriptive Physics 4
STAT 325  or STAT 340  or STAT 350  One introductory statistics course 3
Electives   6
Humanities electives   9
Math and science electives   3-5
Social science electives   3

Requirements for pre-respiratory care programs vary, so consultation with a health professions advisor is strongly recommended.

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.

 

Pre-veterinary medicine

Pre-veterinary medicine  is not a degree-granting program. Individual advising is strongly recommended.

The pre-veterinary curriculum specifically prepares students for application to the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. Satisfactory completion of the courses listed below plus acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are requirements for application. Although not generally required, most successful applicants have earned the bachelor’s degree prior to beginning veterinary school.

 

Courses Course Title Credit hours
BIOCH 521  General Biochemistry 3
BIOL 198  Principles of Biology (lab included) 4
BIOL 450  Modern Genetics 4
BIOL 455  General Microbiology (lab included) 4
CHM 210  Chemistry I (lab included) 4
CHM 230  Chemistry II (lab included) 4
CHM 350  General Organic Chemistry 3
CHM 351  General Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
COMM 106  Pubic Speaking I 3
ENGL 100  Expository Writing I 3
ENGL 200  Expository Writing II 3
PHYS 113  General Physics I (lab included) 4
PHYS 114  General Physics II (lab included) 4
Free choice of electives   9
Humanities and Social sciences   12

 

Students interested in veterinary medicine may be advised through the College of Arts and Sciences or the College of Agriculture. Prerequisites, established by the College of Veterinary Medicine, are the same. The college in which students receive undergradate advising should be chosen based on the individual student’s academic interests. The College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State does not recommend or give preference to one undergraduate college over the other.

The Veterinary Scholars Early Admission Program provides an admission opportunity for high school seniors. Students with a 29 or higher composite ACT score or a 1280 or higher SAT combined score qualify for application to the Veterinary Scholars Early Admission Program. For more information about the early admission program contact the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Regular consultation with a pre-veterinary advisor is strongly recommended and is of particular importance for students considering application to other veterinary schools.

For more information go to K-State Pre-health.