Undergraduate Catalog

PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS

A carefully-crafted baccalaureate degree can prepare a student for entrance to a professional school. The following information will guide students toward the major field programs and supplementary courses that will prepare them for the various professional schools. 

Preparation for the Catholic Priesthood

Cross-College Program

Preparation for entering a postgraduate seminary takes place best in a college-level seminary. St. John Vianney College Seminary, located on the University of St. Thomas campus, provides an integrated program of spiritual and apostolic formation, along with the academic coursework available through the university.

All seminarians major in Philosophy, with the possibility to double major in a variety of fields.  In addition, seminarians must complete prerequisites of theology and languages, according to the direction of their diocese, as well as the graduation requirements of the University of St. Thomas.  All of these together provide in large measure the balance needed for the future study of theology at the major theologate. St. John Vianney students will be expected to complete the following academic requirements in compliance with the Program of Priestly Formation:

  • Forty credits of philosophy
  • Twelve credits of theology
  • Language requirements: Latin or Spanish if determined by the student’s diocese.

Interested students should contact the rector, Rev. Michael Becker, at St. John Vianney Seminary: beck8065@stthomas.edu

Pre-Engineering (EN32)

Cross-College Program

The School of Engineering at the University of St. Thomas is home to several engineering programs. These degrees offer students career paths into most fields of engineering and opportunities to specialize in graduate school. 

Liberal Arts – Engineering Dual Degree Program (Pre-Engineering)

  • CHEM 109 General Chemistry for Engineers (4 credits)
    or CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • CISC 130 Intro to Programming and Problem Solving in the Sciences (4 credits)
  • ENGR 150 Introduction to Engineering (1 credit)
  • MATH 113 Calculus I (4 credits)
  • MATH 114 Calculus II (4 credits)
  • MATH 200 Multi-Variable Calculus (4 credits)
  • MATH 210 Introduction to Differential Equations and Systems (4 credits)
  • PHYS 211 Introduction to Classical Physics I (4 credits)
  • PHYS 212 Introduction to Classical Physics II (4 credits)

At least three additional courses are required, which will depend upon the field of engineering.

Students must discuss their program with the Pre-Engineering advisor. Each student, field, and school has different needs and requirements.

Pre-Health Professions

Medically oriented professional schools recognize the desirability of a broad liberal education that includes a strong foundation in the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics), well developed communication skills, and a background in the social sciences and humanities. The common curriculum of St. Thomas’ liberal arts and sciences program incorporates courses that provide all of these perspectives.

Students interested in health-related careers will need to declare a major as well as take specific courses required for admission to the professional graduate programs of their choice. Courses for selected areas of study are shown below. 

Information on additional pre-health areas not listed below can be found at Pre Health Professions Department Page.

Students are encouraged to research the programs at each professional school and to seek the guidance of their faculty advisor, as well as the program manager of pre-health professions advising located in the Center for Student Achievement.  

Pre-Dentistry

Most schools of dentistry require a minimum of three years of college coursework prior to admission to their programs. However, the majority of first-year dental students complete four or more years of college.

Specifically required or highly recommended courses vary from one dental school to another. Most dental schools require study in each of the following subjects:

  • two semesters of biology
  • two semesters of general chemistry
  • two semesters of organic chemistry
  • one semester of biochemistry
  • two semesters of physics
  • two semesters of English
  • one semester of psychology
  • college algebra, pre-calculus, computer science or statistics

Pre-Medicine

Most medical schools require a baccalaureate degree before entrance into their programs. Medical schools generally do not require a specific undergraduate major. 

Two semesters of study in each of the following subjects are required for admission to most medical schools:
  • Biology
  • General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Physics
  • English
In addition, courses in the following subjects are highly recommended:
  • Biochemistry
  • Ethics
  • Genetics
  • Psychology
  • Statistics
  • Foreign Language
  • Independent learning courses involving small group discussion
  • Social and behavioral sciences and humanities

Pre-Pharmacy

Required courses vary from one school to another, and students are encouraged to research various programs early in their undergraduate program.

Most Pharm D. programs require completion of the following courses:
  • one semester of biology
  • two semesters of anatomy and physiology
  • one semester of microbiology
  • two semesters of general chemistry
  • two semesters of organic chemistry
  • two semesters of physics
  • one semester of calculus
  • two semesters of behavioral science
  • two semesters of English
  • one semester of economics
  • one semester of public speaking

Pre-Veterinary

Required courses vary from one school to another, and students are encouraged to research various programs early in their undergraduate program.

Most veterinary programs require completion of the following coursework: 
  • two semesters of biology
  • two semesters of general chemistry
  • one semester of organic chemistry
  • one semester of biochemistry
  • one semester of mathematics
  • one semester of statistics
  • two semesters of physics
  • one semester of genetics
  • one semester of microbiology
  • two semesters of English
  • three to four semesters of history and social sciences, arts and humanities are also typically required. No more than two of these courses should be from one single department. 

Pre-Physical Therapy

Required courses vary from one school to another, and students are encouraged to research various programs early in their undergraduate program.

Typical requirements include:
  • two semesters of biology
  • two semesters of general chemistry
  • two semesters of physics
  • two semesters of psychology
  • one semester of statistics
  • two semesters of college mathematics or one semester of calculus
  • Other specific coursework and experiential learning are required by many programs

Pre-Law

Cross-College Program

Caleb Goltz advisor

The best preparation for the study of law is a rigorous undergraduate program that combines depth of study in a major field with breadth of study in the liberal arts. The only true criterion for choice of a major is that it challenge the student’s intellectual capabilities.

Regardless of major, pre-law students should include as wide a selection of the following courses, listed alphabetically by departmental designation, as their degree program allows. Each is beneficial for:

A. Increasing the student’s knowledge of law

  • BLAW 301 Legal Environment of Business (4 credits)
  • BLAW 303 International Business Law (4 credits)
  • BLAW 304 Real Estate Law (4 credits)
  • BLAW 351 Environmental Law (4 credits)
  • BLAW 352 Gender Issues and the Law (4 credits)
  • BLAW 353 Employment and Labor Law (4 credits)
  • BLAW 401 Legal Research, Advocacy, and Dispute Resolution (4 credits)
  • BLAW 403 Marketing Law (4 credits)
  • COJO 336 Media Law (4 credits)
  • ECON 321 Law and Economics (4 credits)
  • ECON 332 Industrial Organization (4 credits)
  • HIST 365 U.S. Constitutional History (4 credits)
  • POLS 205 Citizen Participation and Public Policy (4 credits)
  • POLS 312 Judicial Process and Politics (4 credits)
  • POLS 313 Constitutional Powers of Government (4 credits)
  • POLS 314 Constitutional Rights and Liberties (4 credits)
  • POLS 326 International Law and Organizations (4 credits)
  • POLS 414 Seminar in Judicial Politics (4 credits)

B. Fostering critical thinking about society

  • ENGL 402 Writing Literary Nonfiction (4 credits)
  • PHIL 357 Political Philosophy (4 credits)
  • PHIL 359 Philosophy of Law (4 credits)
  • POLS 373 Political Thought from Marx to the Present (4 credits)
  • POLS 370 Exploration in Poli Theory(4 credits)

C. Providing useful skills and improving analytical ability

  • ACCT 210 Introduction to Financial Accounting (4 credits)
  • ACCT 215 Managerial Accounting (4 credits)
  • COMM 100 Public Speaking (4 credits)
  • COJO 276 Argumentation and Advocacy (4 credits)
  • COMM 366 Persuasion & Social Influence (4 credits)
  • ECON 251 Principles of Macroeconomics (4 credits)
  • ECON 252 Principles of Microeconomics (4 credits)
  • ECON 355 Game Theory (4 credits)
  • ENGL 251 Writing in the Academy (4 credits)
  • ENGL 252 Writing Nonfiction Prose (4 credits)
  • ENGL 304 Analytical and Persuasive Writing (4 credits)
  • MATH 101 Finite Mathematics (4 credits) or MATH 113 Calculus I (4 credits)
  • PHIL 220 Logic (4 credits)