Pre-Professional Programs

The information below lists the pre-admission coursework required for entrance into various professional schools. As admission into professional schools is never assured, and almost always requires completion of a degree prior to admission, students should confer with an advisor in the area in which they will major to establish a degree plan.  What follows is an excerpt from the 2010-2011 Henderson State University undergraduate catalog.  

Pre-Dentistry

Most of HSU’s pre-dental students apply to and attend the University of Tennessee’s College of Dentistry. The course requirements for application to this school are given below. Other dental schools could have additional or different requirements.

8 hours biology General Zoology and General Botany with labs
20 hours chemistry Univ. Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I & II, and Biochemistry with labs
6 hours English English A and English B
8 hours physics Gen. Physics I & II or Univ. Physics I & II with labs
4 hours Other biology Histology, Microbiology, or compar- ative anatomy with labs
Recommended electives include genetics, comparative anatomy, developmental biology, cell biology, histology, microbiology, molecular
biology, physiology, and neurobiology.
 

Pre-Medical

Most of HSU’s pre-medical students apply to and attend the University Arkansas for Medical Science School of Medicine. The course requirements for application to this school are given below. Other medical schools could have additional or different requirements. 
 8 hours biology General Zoology and General Botany with labs
16 hours chemistry Univ. Chemistry I & II and Organic Chemistry I & II with labs
8 hours physics Gen. Physics I & II or Univ. Physics I & II with labs
5/6 hours math 2 courses or through Calculus I
6 hours English English A and English B
Strongly recommended courses are in the areas of BIOLOGY: embryology, histology, genetics, cellular and molecular biology.
CHEMISTRY: biochemistry. PHYSICS and MATH: statistics and computer science. BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE: sociology, physical or
cultural anthropology, human ecology, general and special psychology. HUMANITIES: facility in understanding written and spoken English is fundamental to precise communication. 
UAMS General Information for Medical School Applicants. 

Pre-Optometry

Most of HSU’s pre-optometry students apply to and attend the Southern College of Optometry. The course requirements for application to this school are given below. Other optometry schools could have additional or different requirements.
12 hours biology General Zoology, General Botany and Microbiology with labs
20 hours chemistry Univ. Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I & II, and Biochemistry with labs
6 hours English English A and English B
8 hours physics Gen. Physics I & II or Univ. Physics I & II with labs
8 hours math Calculus I and Statistics
3 hours psychology General Psychology
6 hours social science Sociology, psychology, history, political science, philosophy, geography, etc.
 

Pre-Physical Therapy

Most of HSU’s pre-physical therapy students apply to and enter the physical therapy program at the University of Central Arkansas. The
course requirements for application to this school are given below. Other physical therapy programs could have additional or different
requirements.
22 hours biology Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Animal
Histology, and Cell Biology with labs; two upper division animal-based courses
8 hours chemistry Univ. Chemistry I & II or Gen. Chemistry and Gen. Organic & Biochemistry with labs
8 hours physics Gen. Physics I & II with labs
6 hours psychology Gen. Psychology and one elective
3 hours statistics Statistics or Experimental Statistics or StatisticalMethods
1 hour medical terminology Medical Terminology 
 

Pre-Veterinary

Most of HSU’s pre-veterinary students apply to and attend the Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. The course
requirements for application to this school are given below. Other veterinary schools could have additional or different requirements.
12 hours biology General Zoology, General Botany and Microbiology with labs
20 hours chemistry Univ. Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I & II, and Biochemistry with labs
6 hours English English A and English B
8 hours physics Gen. Physics I & II or Univ. Physics I & II with labs
6 hours math College algebra or Precalculus, and trigonometry
3 hours speech Oral communications
Additional biology and chemistry electives are recommended for all pre-professional students. The number and names of the elective
biology and chemistry courses depend upon the student’s major. Most students who choose one of these professions are either biology or chemistry majors. It would be best for a student to seek advice from the department in which they intend to major.
A student who completes 90 hours of college credit with a minimum of 30 of the last 36 hours in residence at Henderson with at least a 2.00 grade point average and graduates from an accredited professional school in medicine, dentistry, law, veterinary medicine, or osteopathy may be awarded a professional baccalaureate degree.
 

Pre-Pharmacy

☺UAMS College of Pharmacy iInformation for Prospective Students. 

Below is a possible schedule including all of the courses required for acceptance into the College of Pharmacy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. A minimum of three years is recommended for this required course work.
First Year Hours ENG 1463, 1473 Freshman English A & B 6
BIO 2104 General Botany & Lab 4
BIO 2114 General Zoology 4
CHM 1014, 1024 University Chemistry I, II 8
MTH 1295 Calculus I 5
GEN 1031 Henderson Seminar 1
Humanities Electives 6
Second Year Hours ECO 2013 or 2023 Micro or Macroeconomics 3 or
ACC 2013 Principles of Acct. A
CHM 3063, 3073 Organic Chemistry I, II 6
CHM 3051, 3131 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
BIO 3094 Microbiology & lab 4
PHY 2034 General Physics I 4
COM 2013 Oral Communications 3
Humanities Electives 8
Nine hrs or 3 of the following are required
CHM 2084 Quantitative Analysis 4
MTH 2045 Calculus II 5
MTH 2323 Statistical Methods 3
PHY 2044 General Physics II & lab 4
ENG 2133 Logic and Argument 3
BIO 3314 Animal Physiology 4
BIO 3054 Genetics & lab 4
BIO 4214 Cell Biology & lab 4
CHM 4284 Biochemistry & lab 4
The courses listed above fulfill the requirements for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. A total of 69 hours are required. The required humanities electives are to be in the liberal arts (humanities, literature, social sciences, history). Other requirements in mathematics must be met prior to taking Calculus I. Consult with a pre-pharmacy advisor for options and curriculum requirements for other pharmacy schools. The Biology and Chemistry department and the UAMS Pharmacy School recommend at least three years to accomplish the required course work. It is wise to work toward a four year degree as you take these courses to prepare for acceptance into pharmacy school.