HEALTH PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS  

Faculty 

Donald A. Merkle, Ph.D., Program Director for Health Pre-Professionals  

Representatives of our Affiliated Institutions  

C. Barrie Cook, M.D., Medical Director, School of Medical Technology,
         The Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church
Janet T. Hiler, MT(ASCP), Program Director, Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke
Amy Shoemaker, M.T. (ASCP) MBA, Program Director, Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church
Samuel F. Vance, M.D., Medical Director, School of Medical Technology,
        Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke  

The Department of Natural Sciences is successful in preparing students for careers in medical technology, dental hygiene, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, and other health related professions. Students spend two-three years at Longwood taking the required coursework for transfer into the professional program at another institution. By working closely with an academic advisor, students can prepare for transfer into programs at any professional institution. Completion of Longwood's pre-professional program, however, does not guarantee admission to the professional program. Admission to these programs is competitive and is based on the student's academic performance during the pre-professional period as well as personal recommendations and related experiences. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is usually required for transfer. Links to professional schools and specific requirements may be found at: http://web.lwc.edu/staff/dmerkle/preprof.htm  

PRE-DENTAL HYGIENE
(VCU-MCV, ODU)  

*For transfer to ODU, these electives must include 6 hours of humanities, 6 hours of history, 3 hours of philosophy, 3 hours of computer science, and chemistry 121.  

Pre-Nursing (MCV and UVA)  

Changes in the nursing curricula at both MCV School of Nursing and UVA School of Nursing have changed the programs to 1+3 programs where students should transfer to the professional nursing program after only one year at another college. This has made it very hard for students to transfer, and, therefore, Longwood College no longer recruits Pre-Nursing students. Any student at Longwood that wishes to transfer to any nursing program should contact Dr. Don Merkle for assistance.  

PRE-OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (VCU-MCV)  

Please Note that MCV is currently in the process of changing this program to a M.s. level program which would require students to have at least 3, if not 4, years of college before admission.

*Students are encouraged to pursue further study in Biology, Psychology, and Sociology.
Applicants to MCV should have many hours of work-related experience.  

BIOLOGY MAJOR, B.S. DEGREE
Medical Technology Concentration
(Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Fairfax Hospital)  

A.   General Education Core Requirement. 33 credits.
        See General Education Requirements   

B.    B. S. Degree Additional Degree Requirements (beyond science courses).
        Mathematics/3 credits
       Social Science/3 credits  

D.   Total Credits Required for B.S. in Biology with
Medical Technology Concentration affiliated with Fairfax Hospital   - 122
Total Credits Required for B.S. in Biology with
Medical Technology Concentration affiliated with
Roanoke Memorial Hospital   -  128.5
Students should take the biology assessment test in their junior year unless they plan to take their senior year at Longwood.  Information concerning curriculum at the hospitals, expenses, financial aid, etc. is available.

BIOLOGY MAJOR, B.S. DEGREE
Concentration in Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medical, Pre-Occupational Therapy,
Pre-Physical Therapy, or Pre-Veterinary Medicine  

This option allows a student who gets accepted into a professional program after three years to count their  first year of professional school as their senior year as a Biology major. All students in these majors shouldfollow this program if their second choice for a major would be Biology. See sections relating to thesemajors that follows for additional information.  

A.  General Education Core Requirement. 33 credits.
See General Education Requirements   

B.   B. S. Degree Additional Degree Requirements (beyond science courses).
Mathematics 171 or 261/3-5 credits
Social Science/3 credits.

Note:   120 hours are required for graduation from Longwood College with a cumulative average of 2.0, a 2.0 average in all major courses, and no grade below C- in biology courses required for the major. Candidates for this degree must also arrange to take the departmental comprehensive achievement test for assessment purposes. This test is given only in the spring. Students should plan to take this test their junior year unless they will be at Longwood their senior year.

PRE-PHARMACY (VCU-MCV)  

Other Schools of Pharmacy (including Campbell University, Mercer University and Shenandoah University) have similar prerequisites. Students applying to these and other pharmacy schools must consult with their advisor to be sure prerequisites are met.

*Elective credits must be balanced between the liberal arts, social sciences and fine arts and humanities. Credits in science, mathematics, business, physical education, performing and studio arts, are not acceptable.  

Students interested in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at VCU should contact Dr. Barber (804) 395-2573.  

PRE-MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY (VCU-MCV)  

*Select from humanities and social sciences. Mathematics 171 and Physics 101 and 102 are strongly recommended.  

PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPY (VCU-MCV)  

These requirements meet the minimum required by the Physical Therapy Program at VCU-MCV. All students should be working towards a four-year B.S. Degree in case they do not get accepted into a professional PT program after three years. If the student chooses to major in Biology, they should meet the requirements for the B.S. Degree in Biology with a Physical Therapy Concentration. They would be then able to count their first year of PT school as the senior year of Biology electives.

TOTAL 90 credits

*Select from Anthropology, Economics, History, Psychology or Sociology.

**Recommended electives:  PHED 386 (required by ODU); MATH 171, or any Computer Science course; Calculus; Modern Languages.  

The Physical Therapy program at Old Dominion University requires a B.S. degree for admission.   ODU requires the same prerequisite courses for MCV with the addition of PHED 386 and a Computer Science course.  The Physical Therapy program at Shenandoah University requires CHEM 305.    

PRE-MEDICAL CURRICULUM (VCU-MCV, UVA, Eastern Virginia Medical School)  

Pre-medical students usually major in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. Since requirements of medical schools may vary considerably, students should communicate with the pre-medical curriculum advisor, Dr. Gary Oxford (395-2847).  

PRE-DENTISTRY (VCU-MCV)  

Pre-dental students usually major in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. The entrance requirements at MCV should be followed closely by pre-dentistry students.  

PRE-VETERINARY MEDICINE (VPI&SU)

Pre-veterinary medicine students usually major in Biology. Exceptional students are sometimes accepted by Veterinary Medicine School after 3 years of coursework.