Pre-Professional Programs
Pre-professional preparation for careers in medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, pharmacy, and other health sciences may be met or partially met in either the usual four-year biology or chemistry program. Basic courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics are acceptable to all schools. Admission requirements in English, humanities, foreign language, and social studies vary among these schools.
Pharmacy schools vary on what academic preparation is needed to prepare students for their schools. Pre-pharmacy students meet with the pre-professional advisor to plan a program that will best prepare the student for the pharmacy school of the student’s choice. This may mean two years of chemistry, biology, social science and humanities courses at Franciscan and then a transfer to a four-year pharmacy school. Other students choose to complete a major and graduate with a BA or BS degree at Franciscan before going to pharmacy school. The pre-professional advisor will help each individual student plan a program to reach his/her goal of admission to pharmacy school. Franciscan University partners with both Duquesne University and D’Youville College to provide provisional admission to PharmD programs.
Evidence of service to the community and/or volunteer hours in a specific field may also be a requirement for admission to a professional school. Performing research under a faculty advisor is also recommended for admission. “Shadowing” health professionals and minimum patient contact hours may also be required by some professional schools. The pre-professional advisor will mentor all pre-professional students to ensure the traditional career trajectory is identified and maintained by the student.