Students interested in pre-professional 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 into those programs become more stringent.  One of the universal requirements for admission is a high grade point average.  For this reason, students declaring interest in a health profession and entering K-State for the first time as freshmen will be admitted to the pre-health professions program (PHPP) or a specific pre-health curriculum.  Students who have previous academic work at K-State or elsewhere must have a 2.75 or higher GPA to declare PHPP or a specific pre-health curriculum.  For purposes of declaring pre-health, GPAs will be based on all courses attempted at colleges or universities.

After completing 24 semester hours, students with a GPA below 2.75 or who no longer have an interest in pursuing a health profession are required to find an alternative to a pre-health curriculum.

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 only the completion of a bachelor’s degree before entering the professional program, while others require only the completion of specific course work.  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-dental hygiene
• Pre-dentistry
• Pre-health information management
• Pre-medicine
• Pre-nursing
• Pre-occupational therapy
• Pre-optometry
• Pre-pharmacy
• Pre-physical therapy
• Pre-physician assistant
• Pre-respiratory care
• Pre-veterinary medicine

DAS 240 Practicum in Pre-Health (1) I, II, S.  Forty hours spent observing the practice of dentistry, medicine, or optometry.  Students are under the supervision and direction of individual dentists, physicians, or optometrists. Pr.: Sophomore standing, permission of the health professions advisor.

Clinical laboratory science (medical technology)

The clinical laboratory science curriculum requires 94 semester hours of preclinical courses and 10 to 18 months at one of the affiliated clinical programs in Kansas City or Wichita.  Admission into the clinical portion of the training is by application; students are expected to have a minimum GPA of 2.0 to 2.5 for both overall work and for the required science courses.  All the requirements for a bachelor’s degree must be completed before a student is allowed to sit for the certification examination.

In addition to the general requirements for a bachelor’s degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, the following courses are required:

 Preclinical courses:

DAS 001 Clinical Laboratory Science (Medical Technology). (Var.) I, II, S.  Enrollment in this course allows students attending a hospital-based clinical program to complete the 30 credit hours of clinical work required for the bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science (medical technology).  Pr.: Completion of the 94 credit hours of undergraduate course work required for the clinical laboratory science (medical technology) degree.

Clinical courses (taken during internship)

DAS 401 Clinical Microbiology (6-8) I. The theory and laboratory study of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, richettsiae, fungi, and parasites.  Includes morphology, physiology, taxonomy, and medical significance.

DAS 402 Clinical Chemistry (6-8) I. Theory and laboratory study of analytical biochemistry, incorporating both routine and special chemical procedures.

DAS 403 Clinical Hematology (4-6) S. Study of blood cell derivation, maturation, and function, principles of hemastasis, and blood coagulation.  Methodology used in routine and special hematology studies.

DAS 404 Clinical Immunology (2-6) I. Immunohematology, the study of fundamentals of antigen-antibody reactions, blood groups and types, crossmatches, blood components, and the laboratory methods used in immunohematology studies; and serology, the theory of immunologic responses and procedures used in determination of serological studies.

DAS 405 Topics in Clinical Laboratory Science (Medical Technology) (3-6) II.  Basic principles and practices of the medical laboratory, techniques and special projects.

Because requirements for admission into clinical programs may change or vary, consultation with a clinical laboratory science advisor is recommended.

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

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:

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

Pre-dental hygiene

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

Students interested in dental hygiene studies declare pre-dentistry but are no longer advised by the pre-dentistry advisor. 

Upon completion of an accredited dental hygiene program, students are qualified to sit for the national and state licensing exams. In this region, there are four dental hygiene programs. Johnson County Community College, Colby Community College, and Wichita State University offer Associate degrees. The University of Missouri-Kansas City and Wichita State University offer Bachelor’s degrees.

Prerequisites for each program vary considerably so working with an advisor is strongly recommended.

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

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).  The majority of entrants earn bachelor’s degrees prior to entering dental school.  The courses listed below satisfy the admission requirements for most dental schools:

Requirements for dental schools vary, so consultation with the pre-dental advisor is recommended.

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

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.  Since prerequisites for other programs may vary, consultation with an advisor is recommended.

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

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

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

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 requisite science courses, students are expected to include a broad range of humanities and social sciences in their undergraduate studies, to show leadership and an interest in the delivery of health care, and to present acceptable scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).  Kansas residents are given preference at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. The courses listed below fulfill the science and mathematics requirements at most U.S. medical schools:

Requirements for medical schools vary, so consultation with the pre-medical advisor is recommended.

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

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:

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

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

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.  Prerequisites may change.  Since requirements of other occupational therapy programs will vary, consultation with an advisor is recommended.

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.

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

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:

Requirements for optometry schools vary, so consultation with the pre-optometry advisor is recommended.

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

Pre-pharmacy

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

Pharmacy schools require 65-70 hours of courses prior to application to their program and acceptable scores on the (PCAT) Pharmacy college Application Test.  The pharmacy school at the University of Kansas gives preference to applicants who are Kansas residents.  The following courses constitute their requirements.  Requirements for other pharmacy schools vary, so consultation with an advisor is recommended.

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

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

Pre-physical therapy

Individual advising is strongly recommended.

Most physical therapy education programs require completion of a bachelor’s degree before making application to their program. The following are core requirements needed for most physical therapy education programs:

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 physical therapy schools vary, so consultation with the pre-physical therapy advisor is recommended.

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

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, student must complete the following core requirements:

Additional humanities, social sciences, and other electives may be required and may vary, so consultation with an advisor is recommended.

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

Pre-respiratory care

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

Pre-respiratory care students take prerequisite course work before application to professional programs. The following classes are applicable:

Requirements for respiratory care programs vary, so consultation with the pre-respiratory therapy advisor is recommended.

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.

Pre-veterinary medicine

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

The pre-veterinary program in the College of Arts and Sciences prepares students for application to veterinary school. The following preprofessional courses must be included as a minimum preparation for admission:

Most students pursue a bachelor’s degree while working toward admission to vet school, although it is not required. 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 undergraduate advising should be chosen based on the individual student’s academic interests, should they choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

The College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State does not recommend or give preference to students based on the college in which they receive undergraduate advising or through which they earn a bachelor’s degree.

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.

For more information on Pre-Veterinary Medicine go to K-State Pre-Health Professions Program. For more information on pre-vet advising, contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office.