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-Law

Cross-College Program

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 300: Law for Business Leaders I (2 credits)
BLAW 304 Real Estate Law (4 credits)
BLAW 310 Law for Business Leaders II (2 credits)
BLAW 311 Advanced Business Law for Accounting (2 credits)
BLAW 313 Essentials of Intellectual Property Law (2 credits)
BLAW 314 Employment Law (2 credits)
BLAW 315 Law and Ethics of Data (2 credits)
BLAW 320 Compliance in Business Organizations (4 credits)
BLAW 321 Law for Entrepreneurs and Innovators (4 credits)
BLAW 322 Law for International Business (4 credits)
BLAW 323 Health Care Law and Ethics (4 credits)
BLAW 351 Environmental Law (4 credits)
BLAW 352 Gender Issues and the Law (4 credits)
CJUS 342 Criminal Law and Procedure (4 credits)
ECON 321 Law and Economics (4 credits)
HIST 365 U.S. Constitutional History (4 credits)
JOUR 336 Media Law (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)
THEO 229 Professions: Faith and Law (4 credits)
THEO 300 Signature Work: Faith and Law (4 credits)

B. Fostering critical thinking about society

AMCD 200 American Culture: Power/Identity (4 credits)
CATH 340 Church & Culture: Social Dimensions of Catholicism (4 credits)
COMM 328 Communication of Race, Class Gender (4 credits)
ENVR 151 Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Solutions (4 credits)
PHIL 357 Political Philosophy (4 credits)
PHIL 359 Philosophy of Law (4 credits)
PHIL 398 Advanced Critical Thinking (4 credits)
POLS 370 Exploration in Political Theory(4 credits)
PSYC 207 Drugs, and Behavior
SOCI 130 Homicide (4 credits)
SOCI 200 Introduction to Criminal and Juvenile Justice (4 credits)
SOCI 280 Hate Crimes (4 credits)
SOCI 312 Crime and Delinquency (4 credits)
SOCI 344 Police and Society (4 credits)
SOCI 346 Corrections in America: Prisons, Probation and Parole (4 credits)
SOWK 291 Anatomy of Violence (4 credits)
THEO 225 Faith & Ethics: Love & Justice, Social Thought, Incarceration, or Immigration (4 credits)

C. Providing useful skills and improving analytical ability

ACCT 100 Principles of Accounting I (4 credits)
BLAW 401 Legal Research, Advocacy, and Dispute Resolution (4 credits)
COMM 100 Public Speaking (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 256 Introduction to Professional Writing (4 credits)
ENGL 304 Analytical and Persuasive Writing (4 credits)
ENGL 314 Professional Editing (4 credits)
MATH 101 Finite Mathematics (4 credits)
or MATH 113 Calculus I (4 credits)
PHIL 220 Logic (4 credits)
POLS 115 Legal Research and Writing (4 credits)

Pre-Health Professions: Common Pre-Requisites

People train to be physicians, physician assistants, dentists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other “allied health professionals” during two or more years of post-baccalaureate training.

These graduate training programs do not require applicants to have completed specific undergraduate majors. They value a broad education that includes the life sciences, well developed communication skills, and rigorous training in the social sciences and humanities.

Students interested in graduate training programs will need to take specific courses required for admission, which can be completed as part of a major in the life sciences or separately from a major. Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Neuroscience are common majors, as are Exercise Science, Psychology, and disciplines in the humanities. Visit the Pre-Health Professions Department page for information on additional pre-health areas not listed below.

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

Pre-Dentistry

Dental schools do not require a specific undergraduate major. 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 organic chemistry
one semester of biochemistry
two semesters of physics
two semesters of English
one semester of psychology
statistics

Pre-Medicine

Medical schools do not require a specific undergraduate major. 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
at least one semester of organic chemistry
one semester of biochemistry
two semesters of physics
two semesters of English
one semester of psychology
one semester of sociology
one semester of statistics

Pre-Nursing (MS in Nursing for Non-Nursing Majors)

Schools that award master’s degrees in nursing for non-nursing majors (also known as “entry level master’s of science in nursing” programs) do not require a specific undergraduate major. Required courses vary from one school to another, and students are encouraged to research various programs early in their undergraduate program.

Typical requirements include:

one semester of chemistry
one semester of anatomy with lab
one semester of physiology with lab
one semester of microbiology
two semesters of psychology (including lifespan psychology)
one semester of statistics

Pre-Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy programs do not require a specific major. Required courses vary from one school to another, and students are encouraged to research various programs early in their undergraduate program.

Typical requirements include:

one semester of anatomy with lab
one semester of physiology with lab
one semester of physics
at least two semesters of psychology
one semester of statistics
one semester of medical terminology
one semester of sociology

Pre-Optometry

Optometry programs do not require a specific major. 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
one semester of microbiology
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
one semester of statistics
one semester of calculus

Pre-Pharmacy

Pharmacy schools do not require a specific undergraduate major. 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
one semester of anatomy with lab
one semester of physiology with lab
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

Pre-Physical Therapy

Physical therapy programs do not require a specific major. 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
one semester of anatomy with lab
one semester of physiology with lab
two semesters of physics
two semesters of psychology
one semester of statistics

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary schools do not require a specific undergraduate major. 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
one semester of organic chemistry
one semester of biochemistry
one semester of statistics
two semesters of physics
one semester of genetics
one semester of microbiology
two semesters of English