Pre-Professional Opportunities

If you are interested in applying to a physical therapy (PT) school, students often major in biology or pre-medical science, while others major in exercise science. Whatever major is selected, you need to complete the necessary minimum requirements for the physical therapy schools in which you are interested.

Much of this prerequisite work is in the natural sciences, and it is critical if you are considering PT School to excel in these courses to ensure a strong admission application. Additionally, you need to demonstrate appropriate experience, leadership and communication skills necessary to be a successful physical therapist. These requirements will surely include substantial exposure to the practice of physical therapy by means of working with a licensed therapist. A variety of clinical experiences such as in-patient, out-patient, rehabilitation, long-term care, geriatrics, and pediatrics is suggested.

The necessary minimum requirement for most PT schools usually includes eight semester hours each in general chemistry and physics, and 12 semester hours in biology, including general biology and physiology. Prospective PT students should also take two courses in mathematics (one in statistics) and a course in psychology. Accordingly, given the substantial science requirements, students often will major in a natural science (biology, particularly) to prepare for PT school. A strong GPA (overall and in these pre-requisites) is essential.

Dentistry offers stimulating career options. In addition to private practice, excellent opportunities exist in teaching and research, careers with government agencies or in industry.

If you are interested in applying to dental school, students sometimes major in biology or pre-medical science. It is important to realize, however, that you may major in any college subject, so long as you satisfy the necessary minimum requirements for the dental schools to which application is to be made.

The necessary minimum requirement for most dental schools is usually eight semester hours each in general biology (including an anatomy course which includes dissection), general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics, as well as one semester of biochemistry.

Prospective dental students should consider also courses in molecular biology, math, statistics, business writing, computer science, sculpture and art. You are encouraged to take as many courses as possible in social science, history, literature, economics, philosophy and psychology. As specific requirements may differ from school to school, you should specifically check for the prerequisite requirements for the dental schools in which you are interested.

Each applicant to dental school must take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) sponsored by the Association of American Dental Universities. Most dental schools participate in the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service. For a fee, you can subscribe to this service and complete a single application to apply to multiple dental schools.

Applicants to dental schools may be expected demonstrate the following skills, experiences or potentials:

• Satisfactory academic abilities, as evidenced by having successfully completed the required pre-dental courses and the Dental Admission Test at an acceptable level of performance.
• Psychomotor skills sufficient to perform the necessary technical tasks in dentistry, as shown by an acceptable performance on the perceptual ability exam of the DAT, and by enrollment in drawing or sculpting courses or participation in hobbies that require psychomotor activity outside the normal college curriculum.
• A demonstrated service commitment and a desire to help others, shown by participation in extracurricular and volunteer activities, and activities that demonstrate social sensitivity.
• The potential to be a self-directed, lifelong learner. The dental profession requires practitioners to learn continually in order to provide the highest level of patient care, so strong applicants may be engaged in appropriate self-learning activities and other experiences that indicate a high level of independent, intellectual curiosity.
• A knowledge of the dental profession through talking with or observing dentists and reading appropriate dental literature. Strong applicants should have a firm grasp of what the dental profession is and the important issues facing the profession.

Students interested in applying to a school of veterinary medicine often major in biology or pre-medical science. It is important to realize, however, that you may major in any college subject, so long as you satisfy the necessary minimum requirements for the veterinarian schools to which application is to be made. You do not need to be a pre-veterinary major to get into or excel in veterinary school; the key is ensuring the right prerequisite coursework is completed and done well. You also need to be able to demonstrate that you have the experience, leadership and communication skills necessary to be a successful veterinarian.

The necessary minimum requirement for most vet schools usually includes eight semester hours each in general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics. Prospective veterinary students should also take a course in genetics, biochemistry, calculus or logic and statistics. LR’s B.S. in Biology is viewed as the most direct route to obtaining these prerequisite courses.

A course in animal nutrition is also a requirement at many veterinary schools. Since this course is not offered at LR, you should consider taking one via distance learning, offered by an accredited college or university. You may also expect to complete a substantial number of hours of clinical, medical, agribusiness, health science or medically related scientific research experience by the time of application. As programs may vary, it is essential that you carefully review the specific prerequisite requirements for the vet schools in which you are interested.

Each applicant to vet school must take a standardized test. Most veterinary schools require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and some also require the Biology GRE. Some schools, in place of the GRE, also accept the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) is a centralized application program for participating veterinary medical colleges.

Students interested in applying to medical school often major in biology or pre-medical science. It is important to realize, however, that you may major in any college subject, so long as you satisfy the necessary minimum requirements for the medical schools to which application is to be made.

The necessary minimum requirement for most medical schools is usually eight semester hours each in general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics. Some medical schools require one full year of calculus (Duke, for example), and one full year of English. Some schools also require two semesters of psychology. Please check the prerequisite requirements for the medical schools in which you are interested. Note also that biochemistry is now a requirement at a majority of medical schools.

Applicants are urged not to enroll in undergraduate or graduate courses which are likely to be repeated in the medical school curriculum. For example, human anatomy and physiology (Bio 281, 282) is not recommended since this is a non-majors course taken most often by health science undergraduates.

Medical schools value a pattern of preparation for medicine that shows serious and mature use of the undergraduate years. Course work in the humanities and social sciences as well as advanced work in the sciences and mathematics is most often preferred, and you should plan college courses to achieve a broad educational background. Scholarly interest and achievement in both science and the humanities should be demonstrated. Many medical schools have decided that prerequisite course work from community colleges will not be accepted.

Each applicant to medical school must take the Medical University Admission Test (MCAT) sponsored by the Association of American Medical Universities—normally in the spring of your junior year. It is critical that applicants abide by the standard timelines established by AMCAS. Interviews for admission to medical school will normally occur in the late fall or winter.

If you are interested in attending pharmacy school, there are several options available to you at Lenoir-Rhyne. You can either complete a B.S. degree in chemistry, or meet the pharmacy school requirements in three years and apply directly without completing your undergraduate degree. You may also complete the B.S. in Biology degree if planning to attend pharmacy school.

Faculty members recommend students majoring in chemistry select the biochemistry track if planning to pursue this pharmacy option. The degrees cited allow you to meet all of the prerequisites for pharmacy school, while increasing your chance of admission into pharmacy school, and affording you greater career flexibility.

As demands for the world's forest resources continue to increase, so does the need for forestry and environmental professionals. LR’s pre-forestry program provides you with the opportunity to seamlessly articulate into a graduate-level program.

Lenoir-Rhyne University is part of the Cooperative College (3-2) Program with Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, which offers you the opportunity to proceed directly from three years of undergraduate study at Lenoir-Rhyne to two years of study at the Nicholas School’s Master of Forestry (MF) program.

In the program, you typically earn your bachelor’s degree after your first year at Duke and your master’s degree after your second year at the Nicholas School, thus earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a total of five years of study. Students interested in this program must be able to handle rigorous coursework at an accelerated pace, and be accepted into the Duke program during the junior year at Lenoir-Rhyne in order to continue in the program.

Students graduating with the Master of Forestry degree receive a broad, interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental and conservation issues and processes, complemented by course work in the natural sciences. Graduates work in a variety of sectors: private/industrial forestry, state and federal agencies; nonprofits such as land trusts that steward working forests; and in private consulting. You also have the option to complement your Master of Forestry degree with a Master of Environmental Management also through Lenoir-Rhyne and the Cooperative College (3-2) Program, allowing you to become even more competitive in the job market.

If you decide not to proceed directly to Duke after your junior year, you may decide to complete the biology major or the environmental studies major in your senior year at Lenoir- Rhyne before continuing to the Master's level.

Visit the University Catalog for more information and program requirements. 

In the continuous struggle to find a balance between human needs and the welfare of our planet, there remains a growing demand for strong leaders dedicated to environmental and conservation issues.

Pre-environmental management is a dual-degree program offered at Lenoir-Rhyne University, which teaches students how to analyze and manage natural environments for human benefit and ecosystem health. It provides a broad, interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental and conservation issues and processes, complemented by course work in the natural sciences.