Pre-Professional and Related Programs

Pre-Architecture Program

Adrian College offers a Pre-Architecture program for students who plan on attending graduate school for Architecture and pursuing a career as an architect.  Students will graduate from Adrian College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design. They will also complete the following additional course work: ART100 and ART101, HIST123 and HIST124; MATH135; PHIL105; PHYS101 and PHYS103. Articulation agreements are available to attend Washington University or Lawrence Technological University.     

Pre-Art Therapy Program

To practice art therapy professionally, a student must receive a Master of Art Therapy (MAT).  Students who contemplate pursuing this specialized graduate training are advised to complete the following course of study, developed in accordance with The American Art Therapy Association:

1. A major in Art or Psychology with special attention to development of a sophisticated art portfolio, which shows competence in a wide variety of media.

2. Art majors must also complete: PSYC100, PSYC205, PSYC303, PSYC304, and PSYC311.

3. Psychology majors must also complete: three (3) from ART100, ART101, ART102 and ART103.  Plus, either ART201 or ART202; either ART205 or ART206; either ART305 or ART306; ART301, ART303, and 6 credits of additional studio courses. 

4. ART325 and ART326.

5. Completion of an internship of at least 3 hours with a registered art therapist and/or ART327: Art Therapy Practicum.

Pre-Engineering Program

Adrian College has three options for students interested in pursuing a career in engineering. Interested students should meet with Dr. Yasser Alginahi as soon as possible to discuss which option best fits with their interests and goals.

Option 1

Adrian College has partnered with the University of North Dakota (UND) to establish engineering dual-degree programs in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and petroleum engineering. Through this partnership, students will take on-campus courses at Adrian to earn a B.A. in Physics while simultaneously taking engineering courses online to earn a B.S. in biomedical, civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering from UND. Similarly, a B.A. in chemistry is paired with the B.S. in chemical engineering and a B.A. in geology is paired with the B.S. in petroleum engineering. For more information, please see the Engineering Dual-Degree Programs page. Dual_Degree_Programs

Option 2

Complete a Bachelor of Science degree at Adrian College. This is the most common path students choose. In most cases, a major in physics is the most appropriate choice. The physics major is often paired with a minor or second major in math or another science. This option is excellent preparation for entry-level engineering positions as well as for admission to graduate programs in engineering. For example, recent graduates have gone on to complete master’s degrees in Space Engineering and Environmental Engineering.

Option 3

Complete two years of study at Adrian College and then transfer to an engineering school. This option allows the student to complete most of the prerequisites for beginning engineering coursework. Students must meet the same admission criteria as any other student applying to the engineering school. Most engineering programs will require a minimum GPA of 3.0 at Adrian College. Completion of the engineering degree will typically take an additional 2.5 to 3 years. This assumes freshman placement into MATH 115 or higher. See below.

Important Note: It is assumed that students entering the program will be enrolled in MATH 115 (Pre-Calculus) or higher for the fall semester of their freshman year. Students not meeting this requirement will need to complete one or more math courses over the summer to graduate on time. Students must have passed MATH 135 (Calc. I) with a C or higher prior to enrolling in PHYS 205.

Pre-Law Program

Adrian College offers a pre-law program for students who plan to attend law school and pursue a career as a lawyer. It is generally agreed that future lawyers need to be very broadly educated and that there is no one pattern of undergraduate preparation which is ideal for everyone who is interested in law. Each student should select a major or majors that will encourage the development of orderly work habits and sharpen the ability to think critically and state ideas clearly. Students are encouraged to meet early in their undergraduate careers with the director of the Institute for Law and Public Policy so they can craft course plans that best meet their needs and learn more about other resources available to pre-law students. The individual attention provided by our program assures that students will be acquainted with some extremely important basic concepts that will be helpful in law school while allowing them maximum flexibility to select the rest of their studies on the basis of their personal interests and aptitudes.

Under the 3+3 Admissions Program, students at Adrian College may matriculate to the University of Toledo College of Law after three years of undergraduate study.  To accomplish this, students should declare to the Adrian College Law Institute advisor their intention to pursue the 3+3 Admissions Program as early as possible.  The credits earned during the first year of law school count towards the credits needed for the Bachelor’s degree, so that the student is awarded a Bachelor’s degree by Adrian College following the successful completion of the first year of law school.  Thus, by completing three years of undergraduate study and three years of law school, students earn a Bachelor’s degree and J.D. in six years rather than the traditional seven years.

Recommended courses for all pre-law students include:

COMM302, PHIL105, PHIL201, PHIL331, PSCI101, , SCJ366, SCJ393, SCJ396, SCJ397, SCJ400, SCJ402.

Recommended courses for students interested in business law include:

ACCT203, ACCT204, BUS305

Pre-Seminary Program - Pre-Ministry

Adrian College offers a pre-seminary program for students who intend to pursue a vocation in ministry.  We understand ministry to have many expressions from pastoral leadership to social advocacy, teaching, youth ministry, music ministry, counseling, journalism, mission work, and other forms of service.  The program is designed to prepare individuals to enter accredited seminaries or graduate programs and has an excellent record of placing students in the programs of their choice.

Preparation for ministry was a part of Adrian College from its beginning in 1859.  The “Theological Association of Adrian College” began in 1869 as a forum for those exploring a call to ministry.  The College even developed its own school of theology during the late 19th century but eventually placed this emphasis within its wider undergraduate offerings.  After World War I the theological association adopted the name “Major Cole Association,” in honor of a popular Christian speaker who served as a mentor for Adrian College students.  Recently the Adrian College pre-seminary program has been redeveloped around a vibrant student organization. This student group serves three purposes:

(1) to meet regularly for mutual support and discussion regarding issues of call,

(2) to provide a place for engaging visiting seminary representatives and others with wisdom regarding different church vocations, and

(3) to attend retreats and events that help students wrestle with God’s call to ministry.

 The Adrian College pre-seminary program and its accompanying student organization have received national attention as a model of vocational discernment and support.

The pre-seminary program has a special relationship with the philosophy/religion department of the College, and many of our pre-seminary students are philosophy or religion majors or minors.  The pre-seminary welcomes people of all denominations.

Pre-Health Science Program

Adrian College has a long history of preparing its graduates to enter the health professions. In recent years our health studies students have been admitted to over 25 graduate and professional programs in 29 states. Students headed for professional school in any health profession are supported by Adrian College’s Institute for Health Studies. Advising services include assistance in career selection, support in course planning, and advice in securing patient care, research and extracurricular experiences that are found in successful candidates. At the end of the junior year, or in the senior year we assist students in preparing for entry exams and applying to the program of their choice.

Pre-Med or other pre-professional coursework in health care is not a major. Students will choose a major in an Adrian College academic department which is closely aligned with the requirements of their selected profession. For example, a pre pharmacy student might be a Biochemistry major, a pre-med or pre-dent student might be a biology major, and a pre physical therapy or occupational student will likely be an Exercise Science major. However, students should feel free to choose any major while completing pre-professional coursework. Each student will have a faculty advisor for completion of the major, alongside health professions advising from the Institute for Health Studies. Informational materials, workshops and speakers are available to students for their independent research about their target career and desired professional training.

Healthcare professionals generally complete graduate education at the master’s or doctoral level.  Preparation for training in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, optometry or as a physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or other health professional requires detailed undergraduate planning. From the second semester of the freshman year, students should work closely with a faculty advisor in their major department and a health professions advisor to plan their four-year academic schedule. In schedule planning, attention must be paid to the sequencing of courses, and the semesters they are commonly offered. All required pre-requisites for professional school are offered on campus, or by arrangement with other Universities. To prepare a competitive application portfolio, undergraduate health professions students must:

1. Complete all academic prerequisites required by their graduate professional program and critical to strong performance on entry examinations.

2. Complete the graduation requirements of an academic major relevant to their intended field.

3. Become familiar with their intended profession by seeking internships and experiential learning opportunities.

4. Pursue leadership and volunteer opportunities that develop their skills outside the classroom.

Students planning to attend professional school immediately on graduation from Adrian College should complete the majority of prerequisite courses by the end of the junior year. Entry exams are taken and the application process begins the summer following the junior year. At the student’s option, this may be deferred to the senior year. Certain summer enrichment experiences are most commonly obtained following the freshman or sophomore years. Adrian students declare their major no later than the sophomore year. Nationally, and at Adrian College, the most common majors for students applying to medical and dental school are Biology and Chemistry, representing about 60% of applicants. Coursework required for Biology or Chemistry major’s overlaps many of the science pre-requisites for professional schools, which is a contributing factor to this pattern. However, professional schools will accept any major, so long as prerequisite science/ other courses have been completed.

At Adrian College, Exercise Science and Psychology are the majors next most commonly seen among pre-health students. Whatever their major, health science students should expect to take a number of courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Many professional programs will require math at the pre-calculus or calculus level, and an increasing number look for coursework in statistics. Students will not be enrolled in College Chemistry without evidence of strong math skills, demonstrated by ALEKS math assessment taken by incoming freshmen.

Other courses commonly required are English, Psychology, Bioethics, Sociology, and Anatomy & Physiology. Students are reminded that material tested on the entry exams should be studied no later than the junior year.

Apart from the professional degree programs, many other career options exist in healthcare.  Biostatistics, public health, health policy/health care management, bioethics and various forms of patient advocacy are among the other fields open to students with interests in the field. Adrian College now offers majors and minors in Public Health and Health Care Management; and an MBA in Health Care Management. Bioethics study is available through our Philosophy Department, and the Biology and Psychology Departments have collaborated on a neuroscience track. Of course, our Masters in Athletic Training is offered in the Exercise Science Department, and many of Exercise Science students go on to graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy or exercise physiology.

There is wide variety in the course prerequisites each professional school requires. Students are encouraged to investigate their field of interest as well as the specific schools they might attend – as early as possible. Comprehensive counseling on all health career pathways is available through the digital, email, online and personal counseling resources of the Adrian College Institute for Health Studies.

University of North Dakota - Engineering

University of North Dakota

Adrian College has partnered with the University of North Dakota (UND) to establish dual-degree engineering programs. Through this partnership, students will take on-campus courses at Adrian to earn a B.A. in Physics while simultaneously taking engineering courses online to earn a B.S. in Biomedical, Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering from UND. Similarly, a B.A. in Chemistry is paired with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a B.A. in Geology is paired with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering. Students who complete the dual-degree program will earn two distinct bachelor's degrees in 5 years.    

Engineering typically involves several hands-on lab courses, and these programs are no different. Students may use kits purchased from UND to complete required engineering lab courses remotely. In addition, some lab courses will be taken on campus at UND over the summer. The summer lab sessions are typically less than two weeks in duration. Students will receive academic and career advising support from both Adrian College and UND in their respective majors. These programs allow students to have the traditional Adrian College experience while also earning an engineering degree from UND, a premier engineering school.

Courses & Curriculum:

     Each dual-degree program is designed to be completed in 5 years. This timeline assumes that students are placed into Pre-Calculus (MATH 115) or beyond for their first semester. 

     For more information on the Engineering programs at UND, please click on the degrees below

B.S. in Biomedical Engineering 

B.S. in Chemical Engineering

B.S. in Civil Engineering

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

B.S. in Petroleum Engineering