Pre-professional

Dental schools do not require a specific major. Many students find it expedient to major in either biology, biochemistry or chemistry and minor in the other. This is because many of the required biology and chemistry courses are prerequisites to dental school.

For more information, please visit the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service and the Pre-Health Advising Page.

While medical schools do not require a specific major, many students find it expedient to major in biology or chemistry and minor in the other. This is because many of the required courses are prerequisites for medical school.

Prerequisite information:

For more information, please visit the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service and the Pre-Health Advising Page.

Because admission into a pharmacy school requires only completion of prerequisite coursework, students may designate the major of their choice. Most pre-pharmacy students choose biochemistry or chemistry with a pre-pharmacy concentration as their major and biology as their minor. This choice ensure that most (if not all) of the degree requirements also satisfy pre-pharmacy prerequisite coursework.

Prerequisite information:

There are a number of pharmacy schools in Texas and all have slightly different prerequisites.

The following are common prerequisites (each school may require some additional coursework):

• CHEM 1341 & 1141 (General Chemistry I lecture and lab)
• CHEM 1342 & 1142 (General Chemistry II lecture and lab)
• CHEM 2341 & 2141 (Organic Chemistry I lecture and lab)
• CHEM 2342 & 2142 (Organic Chemistry II lecture and lab)
• CHEM 3375 or CHEM 4375 (Biochemistry, recommended)
• BIO 1330 & 1130 (Functional Biology)
• BIO 1331 & 1131 (Organismal Biology)
• MATH 2471 (Calculus I) or MATH 2321 (Calculus for Life Sciences I)
• MATH 2328 (Elementary Statistics)
• PHYS 1315 & 1115 (General Physics I) or PHYS 1430 (Mechanics)
• ENG 1310 (College Writing I)
• HIST 1310 (History of the US to 1877)
• POSI 2310 (Principles of American Government)
• SOCI 1310 (Introduction to Sociology) or PSY 1300 (Introduction to Psychology)

Other considerations

1. Academics: PCAT score, pre-requisite GPA, GPA in advanced sciences, possible completion of BA/BS degree.
   The average GPA of accepted students varies depending on the school but is approximately 3.60.
2. Professional development: Are you a certified pharmacy tech? Work experience in a pharmacy setting? Types and amount of community service? Served as a teacher or tutor? Been involved in research? Direct work experience in a pharmacy setting is stressed or require by schools, as it confirms pharmacy is really your career choice.

Pre-veterinary advising:

Veterinary schools do not require a specific major. Many students find it expedient to major in biology, biochemistry, or chemistry and minor in the other. This is because many of the required biology and chemistry courses are prerequisites to veterinary school. Many students also major in Animal Science with a Pre-Veterinary Concentration or minor in Pre-Veterinarian Studies.

For more information, please visit the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service.

While physician assistant programs do not require a specific major, many students find it expedient to major in biology or chemistry and minor in the other. This is because many of the required courses are prerequisites for physician assistant school.

For more information on physician assistant school, please visit the Pre-Health Advising Page.