 |
PRE-PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONUniversity of Wisconsin Oshkosh offers opportunities for students to obtain pre-professional training in most of the major professional fields. The student will enroll in courses that are required by the appropriate professional school and then transfer to that school for the professional training required in such areas as architecture, dentistry, engineering, law, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy and many others. In some areas such as law and medicine, students complete the baccalaureate degree before being admitted to a professional school. Other pre-professional programs provide the first, second or third year of study for students who will then transfer to a professional school.
The following summaries cover some of the more popular pre-professional interests of the students enrolled in pre-professional studies.
PRE-ARCHITECTUREAfter one year of pre-professional study, students transfer to a university having an architectural school and after three years of professional courses may obtain a bachelor's degree in architecture. In Wisconsin, the architectural school is located at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Students planning to attend the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee should complete 30 credits of required general education distribution credits prior to transfer. A list of recommended courses is available in the advisor's office.
Recommended UW-Oshkosh Courses (for transfer to Pre-Architecture program at UW-Milwaukee Arts
Natural Sciences
Van Beane (Dempsey 130)
PRE-CHIROPRACTICStudents wishing to train for the chiropractic profession may take the required two years (60 credits) of pre-chiropractic studies at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and then transfer to a college which offers a degree in that field.
The professional education that's required to become a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) takes five plus years, including two years at Oshkosh. Contact the chiropractic school you plan to attend for additional information. The following is a typical two years of study for a pre-chiropractic student:
Advisor: Van Beane (Dempsey 130)
PRE-DENTISTRY90 credits of pre-dental work is generally required for admission to dental school, although many students enter dental school upon completion of a Bachelor's degree. An aptitude test (D.A.T.) and good college grades are required. In Wisconsin, the dental school is at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Because there is no state-supported dental school, a student wishing to attend dental school at Marquette can get tuition support.
A typical program of study is given below. It includes only those courses required for dental school. Students should fill out the rest of their program with courses from the list of suggested electives.
Advisor:
PRE-ENGINEERINGStudents with ability in mathematics and the physical sciences (chemistry and physics) can prepare for the various engineering fields (chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, etc.) by taking two years of basic courses at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and then transferring to a university having an engineering college. The following public state universities have engineering programs: University of Wisconsin Madison, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin Platteville and University of Wisconsin Stout. Generally, two to three years of study at an engineering college will be necessary to satisfy degree requirements.
Given below is a sample generic first year program indicative of the type of schedule pre-engineering students would have. Because of differences in requirements for different engineering specialties and differences at the various engineering schools, pre-engineering students should see an engineering advisor for planning both first and second year classes and should contact the university to which they plan to transfer during their freshman year.
Advisor(s):
PRE-FORESTRY, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, WATER RESOURCES, ETC.The student with a broad interest in conservation but no definite field of study in mind should consult local professionals in the various professions for their help in deciding on a major. Such persons as soil conservationists, foresters, county agents, wildlife managers, game wardens and specialists in fisheries can usually be located by inquiring at the county courthouse or Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources district office. Private foresters may be contacted at paper mills and other wood-using industries.Typical programs of study are available from the advisor.
Advisor: PRE-LAW A Bachelor's degree (4 years) is required for entrance to most American law schools, and the degree may be earned in any major a student chooses. There are no prescribed courses required for admittance to law school, which is a three year program. In Wisconsin, there are law schools at the University of Wisconsin Madison and Marquette University.
A student planning to apply to law school should be aware to the following deadlines:
1. Most law schools require applicants to take the Law College Admissions Test (LSAT). The test is administered four times a year. A mock LSAT is available at our Testing Center.
2. Nearly all law schools require first year students to begin their studies in the fall semester.
3. Some law schools make admission decisions as early as October of the year prior to student entry.
4. A student who plans to graduate in May and enter law school that same year (September) should plan to take the LSAT in June after the junior year and complete the law school application forms during that summer after receiving the results of the June exam.
Advisor:
PRE-MEDICINEAdmission to a medical school is based for the most part on two requirements: 1) a Bachelor's degree with excellent grades; and 2) high scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Medical school includes four years of training and a hospital internship of one or two years. In Wisconsin, medical schools are located at the University of Wisconsin Madison and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
Medical schools generally require the following pre-medical courses as a requirement for acceptance into their program:
- one year of general biology or zoology - one semester of advanced biology - one year of general chemistry - one year of organic chemistry - one year of English - mathematics through college algebra and trigonometry - one year of physics - one semester of quantitative analysis
In addition, one semester of calculus and one semester of biochemistry are recommended.
All medical schools require applicants to take the MCAT, which is given each October and April. The MCAT scores are submitted with the student's application to medical school in early fall of the year prior to entrance.
Advisor(s):
PRE-OCCUPATIONAL THERAPYThe occupational therapist is a health professional who aids people in acquiring and maintaining life tasks which include motor skills, interpersonal skills, self-care abilities, work-related skills, and the use of leisure time. When these skills fail to develop or are limited due to illness or injury, occupational therapy may be utilized to train or restore some of these functional abilities.
Pre-occupational therapy students take some science courses along with a number of General Education courses. Accredited occupational therapy programs in Wisconsin are located at University of Wisconsin Madison, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Mount Mary College (Milwaukee) and Concordia University Wisconsin (Mequon). Both UW Madison and UW Milwaukee award Bachelor's degrees in occupational therapy as do Mount Mary and Concordia. Beginning in the fall of 1999, Concordia will offer an OT master's degree and will discontinue the undergraduate OT degree. UW LaCrosse has a program and is in the development/accreditation process now. Students beginning their course work at UW Oshkosh who plan to become occupational therapists should plan to transfer to one of the above programs after one year. This is important as certain pre-professional courses are not available at UW Oshkosh. All students are encouraged to contact the school they will transfer to early in their college careers.
The following is a sample freshman year for those students planning to transfer to the University of Wisconsin Madison.
Pre-occupational therapy students planning to transfer to UW Milwaukee should contact the School of Allied Health Professions. During their freshman year at UW Oshkosh they should plan to complete courses which will fulfill some of Milwaukee's distribution education requirements. These could include English 38-101 (3 cr.), mathematics through 67-104 (3 cr.), two humanities courses (6 cr.), two natural science courses (biology), psychology 86-101 (3 cr.), and psychology 86-205 or sociology 92-151 (3 cr.). See an academic advisor for other pre-professional course suggestions.
Advisor:
PRE-OPTOMETRYStudents interested in optometry as a profession can take their three years (90 credits) of pre-optometry course work at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and then transfer to one of 17 optometry schools for four years of professional optometry training leading to a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.). Some schools give preference to students who have completed a Bachelor's degree.
There is no requirement that a student major in a particular area as long as the program of study includes the following courses: - one year of general chemistry (32-105 and 32-106) - one year of physics (82-107 and 82-108) - two years of biology (include 26-105 and a semester of microbiology 26-233 or 26-309; genetics 26-343 and cellular physiology 26-323 are recommended) - organic chemistry (32-235) - statistics (course taken depends on mathematics background) - calculus (67-171) - psychology (86-101) - other social science electives In addition, applicants for admission to schools and colleges of optometry in the United States are required to take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). Many schools would like this to be taken in the spring semester of the year before application is made. Students are also encouraged to contact the school at which they plan to complete their Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree early in their academic career.
Advisor:
PRE-OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINEThe field of osteopathic medicine is very similar to the field of medicine. The difference between the degree of Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) and the M.D. degree lies primarily in the emphasis placed during the training years on palpatory diagnosis and manipulative treatment in conjunction with all other recognized diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in total health care management.
Acceptance into one of the 18 colleges of osteopathic medicine is very competitive. The student will need high grades and should score well on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is required before application. All colleges of osteopathic medicine require that at least 90 semester hours be completed at the time of application. In addition, certain basic science courses are required. While only 90 semester hours are the minimum requirement for entrance to osteopathic medical colleges, most students will enter with either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
Colleges of osteopathic medicine generally require the following courses as the minimum requirement for acceptance into their program:
- one year of general biology - one year of general chemistry - one year of organic chemistry - one year of English - one year of physics Additionally, courses in the social sciences, humanities, mathematics and advanced biology are highly recommended.
Advisor:
PRE-PHARMACYBecoming a pharmacist usually requires six years of study: two years in pre-professional study at a school like the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and four years at a pharmacy school. The pharmacy school in Wisconsin is at the University of Wisconsin Madison.
The following program of study will fulfill the pre-pharmacy requirements of the University of Wisconsin Pharmacy School. Students must have a minimum of 70 credits to enter the Pharmacy program. This may require interim or summer courses and could take more than two years depending on math placement.
Advisor:
PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPYThe profession of physical therapy serves individuals whose ability to function has been impaired by disease or injury. Physical therapy programs in Wisconsin are located at the University of Wisconsin Madison, University of Wisconsin LaCrosse, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (as of fall 1999), Concordia University, and Marquette University. Each of these universities awards a Master's degree in physical therapy.
A Bachelor's degree is required of students applying for admission to one of these Master's degree programs. Since some of the prerequisite courses for the Master's program can be completed while earning a Bachelor's degree at the universities listed above, students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh should transfer to a school having a physical therapy program after one year of course work. Students should contact the school where they will complete their undergraduate degree early in the first semester of their freshman year.
The following are suggested first year classes for those students who will be transferring to either the University of Wisconsin Madison or the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse. - one year of general chemistry (32-105 and 32-106) - mathematics (complete mathematics through 67-171 calculus, beginning the math sequence according to the math placement test results.) - one year of biology (26-105* and 26-230) - English composition 38-101 - psychology 86-101 - literature 38-xxx - other humanities electives Other suggested courses include: physics (82-107 and 82-108), statistics, and additional psychology courses. *Biology 26-105 is the prerequisite for 26-230.
Advisor:
PRE-PODIATRYThe field of podiatric medicine is an area of medicine which is concerned with prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders affecting the human foot and its related structures.
Acceptance into one of the seven colleges of podiatry is very competitive. The pre-podiatry student will need excellent grades and will also have to score well on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is required before application. All colleges of podiatry require that a minimum of 90 semester hours be completed at the time of enrollment. Recent statistics show most entering students have obtained the Bachelor's degree prior to entering podiatry school. Colleges of podiatry generally require the following courses as the minimum for acceptance into their program:
- one year of general biology (26-105 is a prerequisite to other biology courses) - one year of general chemistry (32-105 and 32-106) - one year of organic chemistry (32-235 and 32-335) - one year of English composition (38-101 and an advanced composition course) - one year of physics (82-107 and 82-108) - mathematics (through 67-108 or 67-104 and 67-106) Additional courses in advanced biology as well as social sciences, humanities and mathematics are highly recommended. Please see an advisor for assistance in selecting courses. Also, students are strongly encouraged to contact the podiatry school they plan to attend for information regarding that school's specific requirements.
Advisor:
PRE-VETERINARY MEDICINEVeterinarians work in small and/or large animal practices, public health agencies, research settings, and a variety of other positions. While two years of pre-veterinary study are the absolute minimum, some veterinary medical colleges give priority to applicants if they are a candidate for the baccalaureate degree.
Acceptance into one of the 27 veterinary medical schools in the United States is extremely competitive. The student will need very high grades and should score well on the admission test required by the school. Veterinary medical schools require four years of professional training in order to receive the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (D.V.M.)
In Wisconsin, the veterinary medical school is located at the University of Wisconsin Madison.
Please see advisor for sample required courses for the university you plan to attend.
Advisor:
Please Email registrar@uwosh.edu Last Updated July 1, 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||