PRE-PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PROGRAMS
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCES
PRE-DENTAL HYGIENE | PRE-NURSING | PRE-OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY | MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY | PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPY | PRE-MEDICAL | PRE-DENTISTRY | PRE-VETERINARY MEDICINE | PRE-PHARMACY | PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT
For general information on these and other health careers consult the VIRGINIA HEALTH CAREERS GUIDE
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 or 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 to even apply for transfer. Most professional programs usually require a much higher GPA for transfer. Longwood students have recently been accepted into programs at
prestigious schools such as Yale, Duke, Cornell, John Hopkins, St. Louis University,
as well as the professional programs in Virginia.
PRE-DENTAL HYGIENE (VCU-MCV AND
ODU)
- Requirements:
Biology 121/4 credits
Biology 206 and 207/8 credits
Biology 304/4 credits
- Chemistry 111/4 credits
English 150 and Literature/6 credits
Mathematics 171/3 credits
Psychology 101/3 credits
Sociology 101/3 credits
Communications 101/3 credits
Visual/Performing Arts / 4 credits
- Electives/18 credits (MCV). For transfer to ODU, these must must include
- 6 credits of Humanities, History (3 credits) , 3 hours of Philosophy,
- Computer Science 121 (3 credits), and Chemistry 112 (4 credits).
TOTAL/60 credits
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 change means that students must apply for transfer during their very first semester at Longwood. Because of these changes, Longwood no longer recruits Pre-Nursing students. Any student at Longwood that wishes to transfer to a nursing program should contact Dr. David Buckalew
(434) 395-2586 or E-Mail buckalewdw@longwood.edu
for assistance. Information on Virginia Nursing schools may be found at this link.
PRE-OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY
The
Medical College of Virginia (VCU-MCV) now requires a minimum of 90 hours of coursework prior to
admission to their M.S. Program in Occupational Therapy. Students
should pick the major that they would like to go into if they are not
successful in gaining admission to a professional program. While many students major in Biology, others have chose majors such as Psychology or Recreational Therapy.
The current MCV prerequisites may be viewed here. You will have to download the application
to check out the requirements.
- Requirements:
Biology 121/4 credits
Biology 206 and 207/8 credits
English 150 and Literature/6 credits
Psychology 101/3 credits
Psychology 300/3 credits
Psychology 356/3 credits
Psychology elective/3 credits
Sociology 101/3 credits
Sociology elective/3 credits
Mathematics 171/3 credits
Computer Science elective/ 3 credits
-
- Applicants to VCU-MCV should have a minimum of 35 hours working with a OT practitioner and a minimum of 40 hours in related experiences.
PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPY
Most students interested in Physical Therapy will major in Biology but there are other majors available. As long as you complete the prerequisite course work specified by the professional PT program, you can major in almost any major. Students need to pick the major that they would like to end up with in case they do not get into a PT program. If you are interested in a Biology degree you should work towards a
B.S in
BIOLOGY with a Health Track concentration. Other areas of interest that students have chosen in recent years that have allowed them to get accepted into PT programs include: Athletic Training, Psychology, and Exercise Physiology. If you choose to work on a degree in an area other than Biology, you need to work with an adviser in that field .
Please check each school's web page for specific information concerning their program:
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA
OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY
MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
OTHER U.S. PROGRAMS
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) should be taken in the fall of your senior year. Application forms for the test should be picked up at the Education Department Office or Graduate School Office at the beginning of the fall semester.
In addition to completing the pre-requisite courses, students need to be sure that they get as much practical experience as possible working in some type of a therapy type setting if they wish to successfully gain admission to a professional program. Students should realistically expect to have a minimum of a 3.0 overall GPA to apply. The higher your GPA , the more likely it is that you will get accepted.
BIOLOGY MAJOR - MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
Professional Program taught at Roanoke Memorial Hospital or
Fairfax Hospital during the Senior Year (12 months)
- Fairfax Hospital/36 credits
- Roanoke Memorial Hospital/42.5 credits
- Total Credits Required for B.S. in Biology with
Medical Technology
-
Concentration affiliated with Fairfax Hospital...122 credits
- Total Credits Required for B.S. in Biology with
Medical Technology
-
Concentration affiliated with Roanoke Memorial Hospital...128.5
Information concerning curriculum at the hospitals,
expenses, financial aid, etc. is available. Students should
apply for admission by October of their junior year. Information on other Medical Technology (Clinical Laboratory Sciences) Programs in the state can be found at this link
- PRE-MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY (CLINICAL LABORATORY
SCIENCES) (2+2) (VCU-MCV Program)
-
Requirements:
Biology 121/4 credits
Biology 122/4 credits
Biology 206 and 207/8 credits
Chemistry 111 and 112/8 credits
Chemistry 205 or 305/4 credits
Chemistry 351, 206 or 306/4 credits
English 150 and Literature/6 credits
Mathematics 121 or 171/3 credits
*Electives/19 credits
TOTAL/60 credits
*Select from humanities and social sciences. Mathematics 171, Physics 101 and 102 are strongly recommended.
(VCU-MCV SCHOOL OF MEDICINE , UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL,
EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL
SCHOOL)
Pre-Medical students usually major in Biology,
Chemistry, or Physic. For more information, use this link.
Pre-Dental students usually major in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. The entrance requirements at VCU-MCV SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY should be followed closely by pre-dentistry students. While most students will have completed a B.S. Degree prior to entering Dental School, exceptional students have been accepted after 3 years of coursework at Longwood. For more information, use this link
PRE-VETERINARY MEDICINE (VPI&SU)
Pre-Veterinary students usually major in
BIOLOGY. Exceptional students are sometimes accepted by the VIRGINIA - MARYLAND REGIONAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
after 3 years of course work. For more information, use this link.
Information on careers as a Veterinary Assistant may be found at this link.
Use this link for additional information on Schools
of Veterinary Medicine
Requirements for the VCU-MCV Program:
Biology 121 and 122/8 credits
Chemistry 111 and 112/8 credits
Chemistry 305 and 306/8 credits
English 150 and Literature/6 credits
Mathematics 267/4 credits or 261 or 262/5credits
Mathematics electives/3 credits
Physics 101 and 102/8 credits
Philosophy 201/3 credits
Communications 101/3 credits
Electives/18 credits: The following distribution of credits is
recommended:
Social Sciences /6 credits; Arts and Humanities /
9 credits, and General electives /3 credits
TOTAL/69 credits
Elective credits must be in the social sciences and humanities. Credits in science, mathematics, business, physical education, performing and studio
arts, are not acceptable.
Dr. Tom Reinders, Dean of Admissions at VCU-MCV School of Pharmacy, will also be glad to answer any questions you might have about the professional program at
VCU-MCV (804) 828-3000.
LINKS TO OTHER PHARMACY SCHOOLS
PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT PROGRAMS
Physician's Assistant Programs require a B.S. degree prior to
admission. Students should pick the major that most interests them and one that
they would want to have if they do not get into a professional program. Most
Longwood students that have been accepted to a PA program have majored in
Biology or
Athletic Training. See the curriculum for those majors if you are interested
in pursuing that particular major.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
VIRGINIA ACADEMY OF
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS
EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL
SCHOOL