In addition to a number and variety of major field concentrations applicable to baccalaureate degrees, together with several associate's degree programs and teacher education programs, Shepherd University provides students with excellent opportunities to begin their undergraduate preparation leading toward certain career professions. Such students, however, eventually must take application to, and successfully complete the terminal training provided by a special professional or graduate school or university elsewhere.These pre-professional programs include several with substantial concentration in the basic sciences and mathematics and constitute recommended course selections from the Shepherd University academic offerings which may prepare students for application to professional school of dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, and others. As such, these course work recommendations should be viewed as requirements of institutions other than Shepherd University unless, as is commonly the case, a student pursues a specific Shepherd University degree program as well. Pre-professional programs do not count as a major (program) for financial aid purposes or to meet graduation requirements.
The majority of successful applicants to professional schools in these areas are those who have completed a four-year baccalaureate degree program, although a small percentage of exceptional third-year college undergraduates may be admitted, particularly to dental schools. The recommended undergraduate preparatory course of study is one which concentrates within the basic sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics, but professional schools usually recommend that the undergraduate program include broader academic background as well, like that provided by the Shepherd University program of general studies.Therefore, it is suggested that students pursuing career goals of the practice of dentistry, medicine, and/ or veterinary medicine undertake, while at Shepherd University, course work leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in either biology or chemistry with a science-oriented minor field. Requirements for the baccalaureate major and minor fields in biology or chemistry are listed in the University catalog. The Shepherd University general studies requirements and other general baccalaureate degree requirements are describes in this Catalog as well. Before the end of their sophomore year, students pursuing any of these pre-professional avenues of study are urged to solicit from professional schools of primary interest, specific admission information in order to insure that ant exceptional requirements may be taken into account in planning the balance of the pre-professional course of study at Shepherd University. West Virginia residents may qualify for cooperative programs with universities and professional schools in other states in the areas of veterinary medicine, podiatric medicine, and optometry. Students interested in the MedStep, DentStep or PharmStep programs can find information about these programs on the School of Natural Science and Mathematics web page. |