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.