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Preprofessional Programs

Health programs

Preprofessional Training

Because of the very large number of students interested in the health professions and the limited number of spaces in professional schools, the competition for admission to professional programs is great. Students interested in the health professions are directed into degree programs so that they can make progress toward meeting requirements for bachelor's degrees while at the same time completing course requirements for admission to the desired health professions. By doing this, a student who is not successful in gaining admission to a professional program may complete a degree program without prolonging study beyond eight semesters.

Academic Advising

Since students who are interested in the health professions are expected to enter degree programs of their choice, their academic advising is provided by the departmental offices of the curricula or majors that they have selected. Generally, students interested in medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry are advised to enter the biological science program as freshmen and to seek academic advising from the Biological Sciences Academic Advising Office as well as The Career Center. Students interested in occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, and professional nursing are advised to elect the General Curriculum.

Professional School Advising

Advising for professional schools and career advising for dentistry, allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, optometry, and podiatry may be obtained from The Career Center. The office serves as a resource center for information concerning careers in the health professions, provides personal and individual career counseling and guidance for students who are interested in those professions, and coordinates the visits of deans and admissions officers to the campus to interview prospective applicants and to acquaint students with the unique educational features of their institutions.

The office provides standard faculty evaluation forms to students who are planning to apply to professional schools in the health professions listed above. A student may request letters of evaluation from faculty members at any time during his or her college career. The office will maintain the letters in a confidential file and will forward them, unedited, to the professional schools designated by the student.

Information on the University of Illinois Dietetics program is available in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Office of Academic Programs, 101 Mumford Hall, 1301 West Gregory, Urbana, IL 61801.

Information about application to the University of Illinois at Chicago occupational therapy, physical therapy, and pharmacy is available at The Career Center. Information on nursing is also available at the College of Nursing, 408 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801.

Transfer Credit from Professional Schools

If a student has satisfied both college and major residence requirements, it is possible to transfer basic medical science credit satisfactorily completed at a fully accredited medical, dental, or veterinary medical school for courses acceptable to the major and to apply that credit to the requirements for the baccalaureate degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The amount of transfer credit cannot exceed 30 semester hours and duplication of courses completed on this campus will not be permitted. Credit will be counted only upon completion of one year's professional study.

A student planning to complete the baccalaureate degree requirements by attendance at a medical, dental, or veterinary medical school must obtain an evaluation of credit before attending that school. Because it is quite possible that less than the maximum amount of credit may be acceptable as transfer credit, it is essential that the student consult the admissions and records officer in the college office as early as possible.

If there is any question about whether a course meets the criteria for acceptability or about the amount of credit to be granted, the student will be responsible for providing the necessary information upon which the head of the appropriate department (or his or her designate) on this campus will make a recommendation to the college regarding the acceptance of credit. Final determination of the credit will be made by the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or his or her designate.

The prior agreement regarding transfer credit from professional schools must be included in the student's major contract form.

Preprofessional Requirements for Dentistry

Preprofessional training for dentistry is ordinarily a four-year program, although a small percentage of the students who are admitted to dental schools have completed a minimum of 90 hours. It is essential for students to know the specific requirements for admission to each of the dental schools to which they apply. These requirements are listed in Admission Requirements of the American Dental Schools, published by the American Association of Dental Schools, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036-2212.

Requirements of U.S. and Canadian dental schools include: (1) All applicants take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) by registering at www.adea.org. (2) All applicants must submit faculty letters of evaluation (a folder should be opened in The Career Center). (3) An interview may be requested by the committee of admissions. A centralized application service (AADSAS) can be accessed at www.adea.org

Contact The Career Center, (217) 333-0820 for professional school advising questions.

Web address: www.careercenter.uiuc.edu

Preprofessional Requirements for Medicine

Contact The Career Center, (217) 333-0820 for professional school advising questions.

Web address: www.careercenter.uiuc.edu

The completion of a bachelor's degree is highly desirable by medical schools, however a small percentage are admitted after completing 90 hours. Therefore it is advisable to pursue the completion of a degree program. The majors in biological sciences, chemistry, and biochemistry are especially suitable as requirements in these curricula overlap to some extent with medical school requirements. However, students should choose a major based on their academic interest and competency. Since students who are planning to apply to medical schools will need a number of science courses (even if they are majoring in nonscience areas), it is important that students elect mathematics during the first year since calculus is a prerequisite for some courses in chemistry, physics, and the biological sciences.

Requirements of most American and Canadian medical schools include ¹: (1) All applicants must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) which must be taken no later than August of the year prior to enrollment. For information concerning the test, write to Medical Colleges Test, American Testing Program, Box 414, 2255 North Dubuque Road, Iowa City, IA 52243. The web-based application form can be obtained at www.amcas.org/students/mcat. (2) All applicants must submit faculty letters of evaluation (a folder should be opened in The Career Center), and (3) An interview may be requested by the committee on admissions.

The American Association of Medical Schools sponsors a centralized application service, (AMCAS). Applications are available on line at www.aamc.org. Students who anticipate careers in medicine are advised to obtain additional information from those medical schools in which they are interested. Specific admission requirements for individual medical schools are listed in Medical School Admission Requirements, published by the Association of American Medical Colleges, 2450 N Street N.W., Washington DC 20037.

Preprofessional Requirements for Optometry

Preprofessional training for optometry is a four year program earning an O.D. degree. Since there are 17 optometry schools, which may have slightly different admissions criteria, it is strongly recommended that students contact each school at www.opted.org as well as visiting The Career Center for up-to-date admission information.

Students will be expected to take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) by registering at www.opted.org, complete separate applications for each school, and complete each school's supplemental information with complete transcripts and personal statements.

Contact The Career Center, 217-333-0820 for professional school advising assistance.

Web address: www.careercenter.uiuc.edu

Please note that many schools require additional courses in chemistry or biochemistry. Check individual school criteria at www.opted.org. Highly suggested courses: MCB 354/450 and CHEM 332.

Preprofessional Requirements for Nursing

The University offers a degree program leading to the bachelor of science in nursing for students with two or more years of selected general education courses and for registered nurses who meet a specific set of requirements. Students are eligible for admission to the College of Nursing upon successful completion of 57 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses that meet graduation requirements. Students transferring from community colleges are required to have only 54 semester hours of liberal arts and science courses as an additional 3 semester hour upper division course will be taken once enrolled at the University of Illinois in order to complete the required 57 hours.

The program is made up of two phases: two preprofessional years at UIUC or at any other accredited college or university and the professional phase which is offered at the Chicago and Urbana sites of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing. Students in the BSN program are required to complete 63 semester hours of nursing courses, which may be completed in 4 semesters (two academic years). The RN/BSN program for registered nurses earning a BSN may be completed in two semesters of full time study. The exact length of the program will be determined by the general education courses completed prior to admission, the number of courses successfully validated through the National League for Nursing (NLN) Mobility Profile II exams, or articulation, and the number of nursing courses taken each semester after enrollment.

Admission to the professional phase is on recommendation of the Admissions Committee of the College of nursing after completion of the following requirements with an overall grade of 2.5 (A=4.0) and a minimum grade of C in required courses.

For additional information about the programs in nursing, write to the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing (M/C 802), Office of Student Services, 845 S. Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612-7350, or to the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing-Urbana Regional Program, 408 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801.

Web address for most current program requirements: www.uic.edu/nursing

Prerequisite General Education Requirements¹

Preprofessional Requirements for Pharmacy

Preprofessional training for pharmacy requires a minimum of 60 semester hours of pre-pharmacy coursework. Most students complete at least three academic years of undergraduate coursework before entering a Pharm D program. Because pharmacy programs may have slightly different admissions criteria, students are highly encouraged to research individual pharmacy program requirements as early as possible to allow time to complete any additional prerequisites. A directory of all accredited Colleges of Pharmacy is available at www.aacp.org.

Contact The Career Center, (217) 333-0820 for professional school advising questions.

Web address for most current program requirements: www.careercenter.uiuc.edu

NOTE: Applicants must have completed all prerequisite course work before entering a College of Pharmacy.

Preprofessional Requirements for Veterinary Medicine

Contact the Asst. Dean for Academic and Student Services at the College of Veterinary Medicine mkelm@cvm.uiuc.edu for academic advising questions.

Web address for current program requirements: www.cvm.uiuc.edu

Students wishing to complete the preprofessional requirements for veterinary medicine may do so within a variety of curricula. Science course prerequisites are somewhat equivalent to those recommended for students majoring in the life sciences.

Because of the competition for admission, students should strongly consider completing a bachelor's degree. In recent years, there have been approximately three qualified applicants for each space available in the entering class for the D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) program. The mean grade point average of recently admitted students has been in the area of 3.5.

Specific information about graduate programs (M.S., Ph.D.) in the veterinary sciences (veterinary medical sciences, veterinary clinical medicine, or veterinary pathobiology) including admission requirements, may be found in the Graduate Programs Section.

Preprofessional Requirements for Occupational Therapy

A bachelor's degree is required for Master's level or Doctoral level occupational therapy programs. Because occupational therapy programs may have slightly different admission requirements, students are encouraged to research individual programs as early as possible to allow time to complete any additional prerequisites. A complete list of all occupational therapy programs is available at www.aota.com.

Contact The Career Center, (217) 333-0820 for professional school advising questions.

Web address for most current program requirements: www.careercenter.uiuc.edu

NOTE: Current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is required upon entrance into the professional program.

Preprofessional Requirements for Physical Therapy

A bachelor's degree is required to enter a Master's level or Doctoral level physical therapy program. Because physical therapy programs may have slightly different admission requirements, students are encouraged to research individual programs as early as possible to allow time to complete any additional prerequisites. A directory of accredited physical therapy programs is available at www.apta.com.

Contact The Career Center, (217) 333-0820 for professional school advising questions.

Web address: www.careercenter.uiuc.edu

NOTE: A current or up-to-date Red Cross First Aid and CPR card also will be required prior to enrollment.

Teacher Education Curricula (Secondary)

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Education have developed a coherent set of experiences on campus, in schools, and in communities that will prepare our students to become skilled, knowledgeable, and committed teachers. There are two ways that students may obtain teacher certification through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Students preparing for teacher certification in biology, chemistry, earth science, English, mathematics, physics, and social studies: These students complete a teaching concentration offered through an LAS major and the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching. Upon completion of the concentration and the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching, students will earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as teaching certification. Conferral of the degree of Bachelor of Science or Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences prior to completion of the minor requires approval by petition to the LAS Student Affairs Office.

Students preparing for teacher certification in any of seven foreign languages (French, German, Latin, Russian, and Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese): Students following these programs complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of French (or German, etc.) or the Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Languages and Cultures (Chinese or Japanese). Education courses and other courses required for teacher certification are integrated within each curriculum.

More detailed information pertaining to specific course requirements for each of the programs in both groups is provided by academic advisers. Only through regular communication with the teacher education adviser may the student be assured of the appropriateness of his or her program. Students are advised that certification requirements may be altered at any time by the State Teacher Certification Board or by the legislature. In such cases, students may be compelled to satisfy the new requirements to qualify for the University's recommendation for certification. Also see the Council on Teacher Education section for information pertinent to all teacher education and specific areas of teacher education listed in the LAS Programs of Study section of this catalog.

Teaching of Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, Mathematics, Physics, and Social Studies

Students following any of the teaching concentrations in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum must complete all the course requirements for that curriculum. When they select their major, they may also select a "Pre-Teaching professional attribute," which reflects their intent to complete the requirements for teacher certification as part of their undergraduate program.

Transfer into the Teaching Concentration within a major can be made only by students who have received approval to complete the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching. Approval for the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching is gained by successful application to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education.

Two prerequisite courses must be completed before transfer to the Teaching Concentration in any major: EPSY 201 and EPS 201 or EPS 202. Additionally, each major stipulates other prerequisite courses that must be completed before admission to the Teaching Concentration. Interested students should see the academic advisers in the major for information on prerequisite courses.

Illinois law and Council on Teacher Education policy require that all candidates for admission to a teacher preparation program pass the Illinois Certification Testing System test of Basic Skills prior to admission.

Many students will be able to complete all the prerequisite courses for transfer into the Teaching Concentration of their major by the spring of their sophomore year; those students may be able to complete the requirements for the Bachelor's degree in LAS, the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching and all other requirements for teacher certification in four years.

Students who establish eligibility to transfer into the teaching concentration of their major in the spring of their junior year will need five years to satisfy the requirements for teacher certification.

General Education Requirements

Students in LAS undergraduate programs leading to secondary certification will be expected to complete the LAS general education requirements as well as any program-specific course work. Students should contact the Director of Secondary Education Programs for general education advising.

Teaching of Foreign Languages

This section contains a description of the requirements for programs leading to the bachelor's degree in teacher education. More detailed information pertaining to specific course requirements for each area of specialization is provided by departmental advisers. It is essential that the student fulfill the specific course requirements of his or her program in order to be eligible for the bachelor's degree in teacher education. Only through regular communication with the teacher education adviser may the student be assured of the appropriateness of his or her semester program. Students are advised that certification requirements may be altered at any time by the State Teacher Certification Board or by the legislature. In such cases, students may be compelled to satisfy the new requirements to qualify for the University's recommendation for certification. Also see the Council on Teacher Education section for information pertinent to all teacher education curricula.

Illinois law and Council on Teacher Education policy require that all candidates for admission to a teacher preparation program pass the Illinois Certification Testing System test of Basic Skills prior to admission. Illinois law and Council on Teacher Education policy require that all candidates for certification pass an oral proficiency test in their content major language prior to student teaching.

General education requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must be fulfilled by students pursuing teacher education curricula in that college (see General Education requirements listed above). If the requirements of the teaching major satisfy the general education requirements in an area, they will be noted in the curriculum statement. For more information, consult the certification officer (505 East Green Suite 203).