You are in the official 2004-2005 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Preprofessional Preparation
Preprofessional Preparation
Preprofessional programs are available for students who plan to transfer to other institutions for the completion of professional curricula in such fields as law, medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry, forestry, architecture, theology, librarianship, chiropractic therapy, osteopathic medicine, and podiatric medicine. Some of these programs are described in the text that follows.
Students planning to complete a pre-professional program and degree at California State University, Fresno must complete a major offered at this university. They should include their preprofessional area plus their university major on all registration forms; for example, premedical-chemistry, premedical-biology, prelaw-history, prelaw-political science. There are no preprofessional majors per se. Instead, preprofessional students work toward various university degrees and while doing so, incorporate into their college programs courses required for entry into professional schools.
Careful program planning is important in order to select proper classes and complete requirements in a timely way. Regular advising is essential since professional schools change their requirements occasionally. Preprofessional students should contact their respective major and preprofessional advisers before enrolling in classes each semester to stay abreast of current developments.
A current list of preprofessional advisers is available in the Office of Advising Services, Joyal Administration Building, Room 224. For more information, call Advising Services, (559) 278-1787 or fax (559) 278-2323.
Predental. The minimum training for dentistry is a seven-year course -- the first three years (90 units) of predental training in a liberal arts college and the remaining four years (dental training) at a school of dentistry.
However, most students are not accepted by dental schools until four years of college are completed. Due to the large number of applicants, students who do not have better than a 3.5 cumulative GPA should earn a bachelor's degree before entering a dental school. Majors that are most compatible with required classes are in the sciences, particularly biology and chemistry. However, as long as the required preprofessional courses are completed, any major is acceptable.
The minimum predental program required by accredited dental schools is one year each of English, general chemistry, physics, and biology, plus one semester (and often one year) of organic chemistry. Check with each dental school for specific additional requirements like psychology. The Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) and evidence of physical fitness and good moral character are usually required. Many dental schools also require a personal interview; some schools administer additional tests. For other information, see the predental adviser and consult dental school catalogs.
The minimum predental program required by accredited dental schools is one year each of English, general chemistry, physics, and biology, plus one semester (and often one year) of organic chemistry. Check with each dental school for specific requirements like psychology. The Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) and evidence of physical fitness and good moral character are usually required. Many dental schools also require a personal interview; some schools administer additional tests. For other information, contact one of the predental advisers and consult dental school catalogs or www.predental.com.
Dr. Howard Ono
Chemistry Department
(559) 278-2394
FAX: (559) 278-4402
e-mail: howard_ono@csufresno.edu
Dr. Saeed Attar
Chemistry Department
(559) 278-2639; FAX: (559) 278-4402
e-mail: saeed_attar@csufresno.edu
Prehealth careers. Advisement is available for students interested in preparing for health careers in occupational therapy, chiropractic medicine, radiological technology, related areas, or as a physician's assistant. While these programs are not offered at California State University, Fresno, most, if not all, prerequisites are. Students should seek academic and career advisement early in their academic programs.
For preoccupational therapy and other prehealth careers, see the Interdisciplinary Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (IHRS) major, under the Physical Therapy Department, or contact the IHRS undergraduate adviser, Dr. Marilyn Miller, (559) 278-4558. Students seeking information on other graduate allied health programs not offered at this campus may contact the College of Health and Human Services:
Ms. Georgia Porcella, Academic Adviser
College of Health and Human Services
McLane Hall, Room 188
(559) 278-6579
FAX: (559) 278-4437
e-mail: georgiap@csufresno.edu
Prelegal. Most fully accredited law schools
require a bachelor's degree for admission. Since a prelegal program providing
a broad cultural background is recommended by the law schools, any baccalaureate
major, depending on the student's interest, may be chosen from the university
offerings. (See Degree Programs, Majors and Minors.
) Law schools suggest courses, but not necessarily a major, in the following:
written and oral English, American and English constitutional history, world
history, accounting, business administration, elementary logic, mathematics,
statistics, economics, political science, philosophy, science and foreign
language. A score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is required before
students can be accepted into law school. It is recommended that the LSAT
be taken no later than December of the student's senior year. In addition,
most law schools require a personal statement and letters of recommendation
that address academic skills and preparation for the study of law. For further
information consult a prelaw adviser and law school catalogs.
For a list of prelaw advisers, contact the Office of Advising Services
in Joyal Administration, Room 224.
(559) 278-1787
FAX: (559) 278-2323
Prelibrarianship. Librarianship offers
many career opportunities to people of different academic backgrounds, interests,
and talents. Librarianship is the profession concerned with collecting,
organizing, and preserving the records of society and providing access to
them. Librarians work with a wide variety of people and materials (books,
music, films, slides, maps, computer files, and more). Professional opportunities
include service in academic, research, public, and school libraries as well
as libraries and information centers in corporations, medical centers, law
firms, museums, and archival collections. Computer technology offers additional
career opportunities in traditional library settings and elsewhere. The
basic level of education for library and information studies professional
positions is the master's degree. The entrance requirements of graduate
programs vary, but most library schools require a bachelor's degree, a reading
knowledge of a foreign language, and courses in statistics and computer
science.
For additional information about library schools, their requirements
and programs, and library career opportunities contact the prelibrarianship
adviser.
Kimberley Robles Smith
Henry Madden Library
(559) 278-4578
FAX: (559) 278-6952
e-mail: kimberle@csufresno.edu
Premedical. Requirements for admission
to medical school vary considerably from one medical school to another and
change from time to time, but a well-balanced liberal education is usually
specified. Any major will do; choose a major according to your interests.
Some aptitude and university training in science and English are essential
in medicine. The minimum requirements in these subjects specified by most
medical schools can be satisfied by specific courses in biology (BIOSC 1A-B),
chemistry (CHEM 1A-B, 128A-B, 129A and often 129B), physics (PHYS 2A-B),
and two semesters of English. A course in biochemistry is often required
or strongly recommended. Courses in genetics, cell biology, molecular biology,
and physiology are also recommended and may be helpful in preparation for
the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Also, some facility with mathematical
concepts is usually expected; one semester of calculus and one semester
of statistics will meet the requirements for most medical schools. Because
of competition for admission to medical schools, a grade point average above
3.5 is highly desirable. The MCAT is required before students can be accepted
into medical school. It is recommended that the MCAT be taken and application
for medical school be made about one year before anticipated matriculation
into medical school.
All students who are entering the program are advised to contact a premedical adviser prior to registration. Each student is assigned to a member of the premedical advisory committee to plan a program of courses and discuss preparatory procedures for application to medical school. For more, please see www.csufresno.edu/csm/programs/preprofadvising.html and contact
Dr. Lenore Yousef
Premedical Advisory Committee
California State University, Fresno
2555 E. San Ramon, SB 314
Fresno, CA 93740-8034
(559) 278-5264
FAX: (559) 278-3963
e-mail: lenore_yousef@csufresno.edu.
Preoptometry. California State University,
Fresno provides courses for the completion of preprofessional requirements
of an optometry program. Most professional schools require junior standing
and coursework which includes two years of biology, one year of chemistry,
mathematics, physics and English, and one semester of psychology and statistics
with above average scholarship. The Optometry Admission Testing Program
(OAT) exam is required before application can be made to optometry school.
Application should be made one year in advance of anticipated enrollment.
For further information, see optometry school catalogs and consult the preoptometry adviser or visit the pre-optometry website at http://physics.csufresno.edu/hari/optometry.htm
Dr. Amir Huda
Physics Department
(559) 278-8427
FAX: (559) 278-7741
e-mail: ahuda@csufresno.edu
Prepharmacy. California State University,
Fresno provides prepharmacy coursework to prepare a student for admission
into a four-year pharmacy program. All new and transfer students should
indicate an interest in prepharmacy on application, admittance, and registration
papers. Admission to most pharmacy schools now requires a B average or better
in a minimum of 60 semester units, including one year each of general chemistry,
organic chemistry, physics, calculus, biology, and English composition.
Certain schools may have additional specified requirements. Although some
students gain admission to pharmacy school after two or three years of undergraduate
study, most students are not accepted until they have completed four years
of college. Students without high cumulative grade point average should
plan to graduate with a bachelor's degree before entering a pharmacy program.
Majors that are most compatible with required classes are in the sciences,
particularly biology and chemistry. However, as long as the required preprofessional
courses are completed, any major is acceptable. For further information,
see the prepharmacy adviser and consult pharmacy school Web sites (www.aacp.org).
Dr. Ray Abhold
Biology Department
(559) 278-4074; FAX: (559) 278-3963
e-mail: ray_abhold@csufresno.edu
Dr. Howard Ono
Chemistry Department
(559) 278-2394
FAX: (559) 278-4402
e-mail: howard_ono@csufresno.edu
Preveterinary. Students preparing for
the veterinary profession can satisfy their preveterinary curriculum requirements
at California State University, Fresno. A minimum of 60 semester units of
required courses (see below) must be taken prior to acceptance into a veterinary
school program. Most students combine the required science courses with
General Education and major requirements as they work toward a bachelor's
degree in either animal sciences or biology. In addition to performance
in required classes, prospective veterinary students are evaluated by their
performance on the general portion of the Graduate Records Examination which
is to be taken within five years of veterinary school application.
All students interested in veterinary medicine are encouraged to take ASCI 68, Preveterinary Orientation (taught each fall in the Department of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education), for updated information regarding admission requirements and policies. Courses recommended by the Department of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education for its majors preparing for veterinary school include ASCI 65, 125, 135, 145, 155, and 165; BIOSC 1A, 1B; CHEM 1A, 1B, 8, 109, and 150; MICRO 20; PHYAN 135; and PHYS 2A. Preveterinary students completing a degree in biology should take the following courses recommended by the Department of Biology: BIOSC 1A, 1B; CHEM 1A, 1B; PHYS 2A, 2B; CHEM 8, 109 or CHEM 128A-B, CHEM 129A-B; CHEM 150; BIOSC 140A,B; (Note: GENET 120, Introduction to Genetics is not open to biology majors); PHYAN 151; and PHYAN 135. In addition, a statistics class, two writing classes, and a speech class are required by most veterinary schools.
The College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology is equipped to provide valuable experience with large animals through the labs and projects at the university farm laboratory. Admission to veterinary school in California requires about 4.5 week equivalents (180 hours) of relevant veterinary experience in activities that specifically give the applicant an appreciation and understanding of the profession of veterinary medicine. For further information, contact the chair of the Animal Sciences Department, the campus veterinarian, and/or the adviser in the Biology Department.
Dr. Michael W. Thomas
Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education Department
(559) 278-4288; FAX: (559) 278-4101
e-mail: michael_thomas@csufresno.edu
Dr. Paul Crosbie
Biology Department
(559) 278-2074
FAX: (559) 278-3963
e-mail: pcrosbie@csufresno.edu
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