Back to undergraduate degree chart
Note: The online catalog is for informational purposes only. read full disclosure
Pre-Professional Studies
Mission
Prepares students for entry into professional programs in both the health sciences and law. Students will develop skills that are required for admission into the professional program while pursuing a liberal arts education.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop deductive reasoning, analytical, and problem solving skills related to their professional goals.
- Learn broad concepts from many different disciplines for entry into their profession of choice.
- Acquire a liberal arts education while pursuing a professional education.
Students interested in any of the pre-professional programs in the health sciences should not use just the listed courses in the catalog to construct their class schedules. A faculty adviser with expertise in each of these programs is available and must be consulted before building a class schedule. Please contact the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division office at 503-838-8206 for the name and phone number of the faculty adviser for the pre-professional program of interest to you.
Dental Hygiene (101-104 credits)
Recommended course work is listed below; students should consult with adviser for program-specific options.
First Year
ANTH 216 Cultural Anthropology (4)
Choose one of the following sequences: (12-15)
BI 101, 102, 103 General Biology
BI 211, 212, 213 Principles of Biology
CH 104, 105, 106 Introductory Chemistry (12 )
PSY 201 General Psychology (4)
SP 111 Fundamentals of Speech (3)
WR 135 English Composition (4)
Physical Education activity courses (3
Electives (8)
Second Year
BI 318 Microbiology for the Health Sciences (4)
HE 250 Personal Health (3)
HE 325 Nutrition (4)
SOC 225 Social Problems (3)
Writing Elective (6)
Humanities courses (6)
Electives (26)
Note: Many programs require math proficiency exams at the time of entry.
Pre-Dentistry and Pre-Medicine
The following curriculum is based on the entrance requirements of the professional schools. Admission to all of these schools is highly competitive. Students should contact the schools of their choice as early as possible. Moreover, WOU students should take advantage of the help the pre-professional adviser can provide in preparation for, and during, the admission process.
These professional schools strongly urge the undergraduate student to complete 1 to 3 credits of BI 409, Practicum. Each credit of practicum requires 33 hours of observation of an appropriate professional and prior approval of the appropriate WOU adviser. Very few students are admitted to these professional schools at the end of their third year. Therefore, all students should arrange their courses so that they may receive a bachelor’s degree of their choice from WOU.
Pre-dental and pre-medical students may major in biology, natural science (including customized options) or other disciplines. WOU students who plan to enter dental school before receiving their bachelor’s degree should arrange their courses so that they may qualify for the WOU bachelor’s degree in natural sciences after they enter dental school. This can be accomplished if the three-year pre-dental program includes at least 144 credit hours and meets all degree requirements except for upper-division sciences courses. These may be transferred from the OHSU Dental School to complete the natural sciences major and the total number of hours needed for graduation.
First Year
WR 135 English Composition (4)
BI 211, 212, 213 Principles of Biology (12)
CH 221, 222, 223 General Chemistry (12)
MTH 111 College Algebra (4)
MTH 112 Elementary Functions (4)
SP 111 Fundamentals of Speech (3)
Physical Education activity courses (3)
Electives (9)
Second Year
CH 334, 335, 336 Organic Chemistry (12)
Sequence in Creative Arts (9)
Sequence in Literature (8)
MTH 252 Calculus II (5)
PH 201, 202, 203 General Physics (12)
PE 131 Individual Health and Fitness (2)
Electives (3)
Third Year
Sequence in Social Science (9)
BI 311 Genetics (4)
CH 450, 451 Biochemistry (6)
Coursework in anatomy and physiology determined in consultation with a faculty adviser (8)
Upper division writing elective (3-4)
Courses counting toward a major (18)
Pre-Law: four-year preparation
The minimum requirement for admission to a recognized law school is a bachelor’s degree. Most law schools value intellectual maturity and a broad educational background, such as is provided by majors in the social sciences, natural sciences or humanities, rather than narrow specialization. Well-developed research, analysis, oral and written communication skills are considered desirable.
It is suggested that students take the legal studies minor with additional course work in the following areas: accounting, economics, history, political science, philosophy, psychology, sociology, speech and writing. For more specific information on an appropriate course of study, see the pre-law adviser, who is assigned by the Social Science Division.
Admission to law schools is highly competitive. Applicants are usually expected to achieve an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 and perform well on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), although strength in one of these areas may compensate for weakness in the other. The LSAT should be taken early in the senior year. More information about preparatory materials is available from the pre-law adviser.
Pre-Medical Technology-Clinical Lab Science
WOU offers the courses required for application for admission into the Oregon Health Science University’s Clinical Lab Science/Medical Technology Program. The OHSU program requires successful completion of at least 113 quarter hours (about three years) before entrance into the 15-month, 40-hour per week, Clinical Lab Science/Medical Technology Program at the OHSU campus in Portland.
A student interested in this program must submit a completed application to OHSU by December 1 of his/her third year at WOU.
Medical technology schools strongly urge the undergraduate student to complete 1 to 3 credits of BI 409 Practicum. Each credit of practicum requires 33 hours of observation of an appropriate professional and prior approval of the appropriate WOU adviser.
Interested students should contact WOU’s pre-medical technology adviser for information on recommended elective courses.
First Year
BI 211, 212, 213 Principles of Biology (12)
CH 221, 222, 223 General Chemistry (12)
WR 135 English Composition (4)
Writing Elective (4)
Humanities and/or Social Science electives (7)
Second Year
BI 311 Genetics (4)
BI 313 Cell Biology (4)
CH 334, 335, 336 Organic Chemistry (12)
MTH 111 College Algebra (4)
MTH 112 Elementary Functions (4)
MTH 251 Calculus I (5)
Humanities and/or Social Science electives (6)
Third Year
BI 234, 235, 236 Human Anatomy and Physiology (recommended) (12)
BI 331 General Microbiology (4)
BI 432 Immunology (4)
CH 451, 452 Biochemistry (recommended) (6)
MTH 243 Statistics (recommended) (4)
Humanities and/or Social Science electives (9)
Also Recommended
CH 312 Quantitative Analysis (4)
CH 440, 441, 442 Physical Chemistry (9)
PH 211, 212, 213 General Physics with Calculus (12)
Pre-Nursing (94 credits)
First Year
ANTH 216 Cultural Anthropology (4)
BI 102 General Biology (5)
CH 104, 105, 106 Introductory Chemistry (12)
CS 121 Computer Applications (2)
HE 325 Nutrition (4)
WR 135 College Writing II (4)
WR 222 Research and Composition Writing (4)
PSY 201 General Psychology (4)
Literature/History/Philosophy Electives (11)
Second Year
BI 234, 235, 236 Human Anatomy and Physiology (12)
BI 318 Microbiology for the Health Sciences (4)
MTH 111 College Algebra (4)
MTH 243 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (4)
PSY 311 Developmental Psychology (4)
SOC 223 Theoretical Foundations of Sociology (3)
Fine Arts/History/Religion Electives (14)
Pre-Occupational Therapy (71 credits)
Applied Art (9)
BI 211, 212 Principles of Biology (8)
Coursework in anatomy and physiology determined in consultation with a faculty adviser (8)
CS 101 Computers and Society (2)
GS 409 Practicum (2)
MTH 111 College Algebra (4)
MTH 112 Elementary Functions (4)
PH 201 General Physics (4)
PSY 201, 202 General Psychology (8)
PSY 301 Introduction to Research Methods (4)
PSY 311 Developmental Psychology (4)
PSY 450 Abnormal Psychology (4)
SOC 223 Theoretical Foundations of Sociology (3)
SP 111 Fundamentals of Speech (3)
Choose one: (4)
PSY 467 Quantitative Methods
MTH 243 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
Pre-Optometry (111 credits)
BI 211, 212, 213 Principles of Biology (12)
BI 211, 212, 213 Principles of Biology (12)
BI 331 General Microbiology (4)
Coursework in anatomy and physiology determined in consultation with a faculty adviser (8)
BI 336 Human Histology and Physiology (4)
CH 221, 222, 223 General Chemistry (12)
CH 334, 335, 336 Organic Chemistry (12)
CH 450 Biochemistry I (recommended) (3)
PH 201, 202, 203 General Physics (12)
MTH 251 Calculus I (5)
Approved course in statistics (4)
PSY 201, 202 General Psychology (8 )
WR 135 English Composition (4)
Writing Electives (8)
Electives in Social Science and Humanities (15)
Pre-Pharmacy (91-96 credits)
Three years of pre-pharmacy followed by three years in pharmacy at Oregon State University results in a B.S. from WOU and a Pharm.D. from Oregon State University.
First Year
CH 221, 222, 223 General Chemistry (12)
EC 201 Introduction to Microeconomics (4)
MTH 111 College Algebra (4)
MTH 112 Elementary Functions (4)
MTH 251 Calculus I (5)
PSY 201 General Psychology (4)
SP 111 Fundamentals of Speech (3)
WR 135 English Composition (4)
WR 321 Business and Technical Communications (4)
Social Science Elective (3)
Second Year
BI 211, 212, 213 Principles of Biology (12)
CH 334, 335, 336 Organic Chemistry (12)
HE 252 First Aid, CPR and Safety (3)
Social Science Electives (6)
LACC Electives (12)
Third Year
BI 313 Cell Biology (4)
BI 331 General Microbiology (4)
Coursework in anatomy and physiology determined in consultation with a faculty adviser (8)
BI 336 Human Histology and Physiology (4)
PH 201, 202, 203 General Physics (12)
LACC Electives (16)
Pre-Physical Therapy (92 credits)
BI 211, 212, 213 Principles of Biology (12)
BI 331 General Microbiology (4)
Coursework in anatomy and physiology determined in consultation with a faculty adviser (8)
BI 336 Human Histology and Physiology (4)
CH 221, 222, 223 General Chemistry (12)
CH 334, 335, 336 Organic Chemistry* (12)
GS 409 Practicum (100 hours) (3)
MTH 111 College Algebra (4)
MTH 112 Elementary Functions (4)
PH 201, 202, 203 General Physics (12)
PSY 201, 202 General Psychology (8)
PSY 450 Abnormal Psychology (4)
Choose one: (4)
PSY 467 Quantitative Methods
MTH 243 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
*No longer required by most physical therapy programs.
Pre-Physician Assistant
WOU offers the courses required to apply for admission to physician assistant (PA) programs at Pacific University or Oregon Health Science University. The OHSU PA program requires a bachelor of science degree, at least one year health care experience involving direct patient contact prior to admission and CPR certification. The OHSU PA program is a rigorous and comprehensive 26-month course of full-time study leading to a master’s of physician assistant studies. Admission is extremely competitive. Therefore, students should arrange their courses so that they may receive a bachelor’s degree of their choice from WOU. Interested students should contact WOU’s pre-PA adviser for further information.
Following is WOU’s recommended schedule of pre-PA classes based on OHSU’s prerequisites:
First Year (52 credits)
English composition (4)
Humanities electives (9)
Social Science electives (9)
MTH 111 College Algebra (4)
BI 211, 212, 213 General Biology (12)
CH 221, 222, 223 General Chemistry (12)
Electives depending on major (4)
Second Year (52 credits)
MTH 243 Statistics (4)
English Composition (4)
Coursework in anatomy and physiology determined in consultation with a faculty adviser (8)
BI 336 Human Histology and Physiology (4)
BI 331 General Microbiology (4)
General or Developmental Psychology (4)
Electives depending on major (24)
Third and Fourth Years
300 or 400 level courses in Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Genetics are recommended by OHSU and required by Pacific University
Complete requirements for a B.S. at WOU
Pre-Podiatry (155 credits)
First Year
WR 135 English Composition (4)
BI 211, 212, 213 Principles of Biology (12)
CH 221, 222, 223 General Chemistry (12)
MTH 111 College Algebra (4)
MTH 112 Elementary Functions (4)
MTH 251 Calculus I (5)
SP 111 Fundamentals of Speech (3)
Physical Education activity courses (3)
Electives (4)
Second Year
Writing Elective (4)
Sequence in Psychology (9)
Sequence in Literature (8)
CH 312, 313 Quantitative Analysis (8)
MTH 252 Calculus II (5)
PH 211, 212, 213 General Physics (12)
PE 131 Individual Health and Fitness (2)
Electives (6)
Third Year
Choose one: (4)
WR 323 Intermediate Exposition
WR 414 Advanced Composition
Sequence in Social Science (9)
BI 311 Genetics (4)
BI 324 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4)
BI 331 General Microbiology (4)
BI 434 Comparative Vertebrate Physiology (4)
CH 334, 335, 336 Organic Chemistry (12)
Electives (9)
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
First Year
WR 135 English Composition (4)
BI 211, 212, 213 Principles of Biology (12)
CH 221, 222, 223 General Chemistry (12)
MTH 112 Elementary Functions (4)
SP 111 Fundamentals of Speech (3)
Sequence in Literature or Social Science (9)
Philosophy or Religion Course (3)
PE 131 Individual Health and Fitness (2)
Second Year through Fourth Year
BI 341 Genetics (4)
CH 334, 335, 336 Organic Chemistry (12)
CH 450,451 Biochemistry I and II (6)
PH 201, 202, 203 General Physics (12)
Upper-division biology courses that include laboratory (6)
Students seeking to enter the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University should plan to complete their bachelor’s degree at WOU. The science courses required for admission, which are incorporated into the above listing, fit readily into the biology major.
Back to undergraduate degree chart
Note: The online catalog is for informational purposes only. read full disclosure