Pre-Professional Programs
Law
All accredited law schools require a four-year bachelor’s degree for admission. The general program of the pre-law student should be planned with this fact in mind. The pre-law student, even more than other students, should be broadly versed in languages, literature, philosophy, history, religion and other traditional liberal arts. Although the pre-law student may choose a major in any field, a strong knowledge of history and economics is essential. The B.S. in History & Political Science emphasis is recommended for the pre-law student. The student should counsel with the pre-law advisor or with the heads of the departments of economics and history.
Law schools differ in admissions requirements, but the following course suggestions are representative of what a student interested in law should take in addition to the major.
BA 315 Legal Environment of Business 3 hours
G-HI 201 U.S. History to 1865 3 hours
G-HI 202 U.S. History since 1865 3 hours
PS 356 American Diplomacy 3 hours
G-PS 102 U.S Government 3 hours
*G-PR 104 Ethics 3 hours
PY 308 Counseling 3 hours
SO 206 Social Problems 3 hours
*CM 130 Interpersonal Communication 3 hours
CM 140 Public Speaking 3 hours
G-PR 201 Introduction to Philosophy 4 hours
Medicine, Osteopathy, or Dentistry
Students who prepare for application to medical, osteopathic or dental school should complete a baccalaureate degree in any field. The recommended degrees are biology or biochemistry, which provides the best collection of courses suggested by most medical or health professional schools. The required courses include a minimum of the following:
G-BI 111 College Biology I 4 hours
BI 112 College Biology II 4 hours
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I 5 hours
CH 112 College Chemistry II 5 hours
CH 251 Organic Chemistry I 5 hours
CH 252 Organic Chemistry II 5 hours
BI 310 Statistical Data Analysis 4 hours
G-PH 215 General Physics I 4 hours
PH 216 General Physics II 4 hours
Other advanced courses recommended include:
BI 225 Human Anatomy
BI 315 Human Physiology
BI 325 Human Ecology, Epidemiology and Public Health
BI 360 Cell Physiology
BI 364 Cell and Molecular Biology
CH 370 Biochemistry
A faculty member of the natural science department serves as pre-health advisor and should be consulted when planning a program to meet a specific school’s admission requirements.
Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant
A transition is under way in the physical therapy and physician assistant fields from training that culminates in a master’s degree to programs that grant the master’s or doctoral degree. Therefore, pre-physical therapy and pre-physician assistant students should first complete a baccalaureate degree at McPherson College. The recommended major is biology, which provides the best collection of courses suggested by most health professional schools. The recommended courses include a minimum of the following:
G-BI 111 College Biology I 4 hours
BI 112 College Biology II 4 hours
BI 225 Human Anatomy 4 hours
BI 315 Human Physiology 4 hours
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I 5 hours
CH 112 College Chemistry II 5 hours
G-PH 215 General Physics I 4 hours
PH 216 General Physics II 4 hours
BI 310 Statistical Data Analysis 4 hours
A faculty member of the natural science department serves as pre-health advisor and should be consulted when planning a program to meet a specific school’s admission requirements.
Nursing
McPherson College has prepared many students for entrance into professional nursing programs. Nursing education varies greatly, from nine-month L.P.N. programs to two-year B.S.N. programs to even more rigorous master’s or M.S.N. programs. Therefore, it is impossible to outline a generic program to prepare all pre-nursing students for these various programs. Pre-nursing students should identify what type of professional program they aspire to and then meet with McPherson College’s pre- health advisor to develop a plan for completing the admission requirements of that program.
Optometry, Podiatry
Three years of college are the minimum requirement to be considered for admission to optometry or podiatry school; however, the vast majority of students admitted have completed a college degree, majoring in one of the sciences. The recommended degree at McPherson College is biology, which provides the best collection of courses suggested by most health professional schools. The basic admission requirements in the sciences may usually be met with the following courses:
G-BI 111 College Biology I 4 hours
BI 112 College Biology II 4 hours
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I 5 hours
CH 112 College Chemistry II 5 hours
CH 251 Organic Chemistry I 5 hours
CH 252 Organic Chemistry II 5 hours
BI 310 Statistical Data Analysis 4 hours
G-PH 215 General Physics I 4 hours
PH 216 General Physics II 4 hours
Other advanced courses recommended include:
BI 225 Human Anatomy
BI 234 Microbiology
BI 315 Human Physiology
CH 370 Biochemistry
A faculty member of the natural science department serves as pre-health advisor and should be consulted when planning a program to meet a specific school’s admission requirements.
Pharmacy
Students preparing for a career in pharmacy may attend McPherson College for at least two years during which the following courses must be taken: 20 hours chemistry, 16 hours biology, four hours mathematics, four hours physics, and 16 hours English, economics, and other electives in the social sciences and humanities. A faculty member of the natural science department serves as pre-health advisor and should be consulted when planning a program to meet a specific school’s admission requirements.
Social Work
McPherson College has well prepared its students majoring in the Behavioral Sciences for entrance into Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree programs. The pre-professional program at McPherson College commits itself to fostering student learning in career-oriented liberal arts so that students are prepared for community service and/or graduate study in social work. Students who have acquired knowledge and skills requisite for entry into the field of social services and graduate social work education demonstrate proficient knowledge, understanding, and application of psychological and sociological theories and concepts.
All accredited graduate programs in social work require a four year bachelor’s degree for admission. The pre-social work student should plan the liberal arts program to include courses in arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and biological sciences. Although the pre-social work student may choose a major in any field, a strong knowledge of human services, personality theory, counseling, and social problems is strongly recommended. The B.S. in psychology or sociology, with the health and human services emphasis is recommended.
M.S.W. programs require evidence of relevant paid/volunteer work experience related to human services organizations. The pre-social work student should therefore be prepared to complete at least one one internship or field experience related to community/social services. (The College’s Career Connections program is highly recommended.)
The M.S.W. Degree prepares graduates for advances social work practices in one of three areas—clinical social practice with individuals, families, and groups; social work administration/community practice aimed at social service administration and social policy development; and school social work. With such diverse professional practice concentrations, it is difficult to outline a generic program to prepare all pre-social work students for admission to these practice areas. Students should counsel with the pre-social work advisor to help them identify the type of professional program they are considering, and to assist them in developing a plan for completing the graduate admission requirements of that program. internship or field.
Although M.S.W. programs differ in admissions requirements, the following courses, in addition to the major, are recommended for students interested in entering the social work profession at the graduate level:
PY 405 Personality Theories 3 hours
PY/SO 308 Counseling 3 hours
SO 206 Social Problems 3-4 hours
Courses in the Health & Human Services Emphasis:
| SO 260 | Introduction to Human Services | 3 hours |
| SO 365 | Social Work in American Society | 3 hours |
| PY 430 | Health Psychology | 3 hours |
| SO 470 | Social Gerontology | 3 hours |
PY/SO 388 Career Connections 1-12 hours
PY/SO 295/495 Field Experience 1-4 hours
Veterinary Medicine
At least two years of college are required to be considered for admission into a college of veterinary medicine; however, the vast majority of students admitted have completed a college degree, majoring in one of the sciences. The pre- veterinary medicine student will plan an appropriate course of study with the help of a faculty advisor. Courses are selected to meet requirements of the specific college of veterinary medicine to which the student plans to apply The following courses are representative of those required by colleges of veterinary medicine for students seeking admission:
G-BI 111 College Biology I 4 hours
BI 112 College Biology II 4 hours
BI 234 Microbiology 4 hours
BI 383 Genetics 4 hours
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I 5 hours
CH 112 College Chemistry II 5 hours
CH 251 Organic Chemistry I 5 hours
CH 252 Organic Chemistry II 5 hours
CH 370 Biochemistry 4 hours
G-EN 110, G-EN 111 College Rhetoric 6 hours
G-PH 215 General Physics I 4 hours
PH 216 General Physics II 4 hours
It is common for pre-veterinary medicine students to complete the bachelor of science degree before applying for admittance to veterinary school. A student electing to do so should pursue one of the programs at McPherson College that lead to a major in biology, chemistry, or biochemistry.