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Preprofessional Studies
Contact Information:
Campus Location: Third Floor, University Hall (UH)
(312) 996–3366
Administration:
Dean, Lisa Freeman
Executive Assistant Dean, Student Academic Affairs, Brian Roessler, Third Floor, UH
Director, Pre-Professional Advising, Misty Huacuja-LaPointe, Second Floor, SES
Students who desire to pursue careers for which a professional degree is required may take the necessary course work to apply to such programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Preprofessional advisors who specialize in pre-health and pre-law advising are able to assist students in pursuing programs in the following areas:
- Pre-Dentistry
- Pre-Law
- Pre-Medicine (M.D./D.O. and podiatric medicine)
- Pre-Nursing
- Pre-Nutrition/Registered Dietician
- Pre-Occupational Therapy
- Pre-Optometry
- Pre-Pharmacy
- Pre-Physical Therapy
- Pre-Physician Assistant
- Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Preprofessional advisors are available to meet with students during individual appointment sessions and group workshops. On-demand webinars are also available for students interested in pre-health fields. Students interested in preprofessional studies should visit the LAS Pre-Health website or the LAS Pre-Law website for information regarding webinars, upcoming workshops, and other related information. Students can also find information regarding how to schedule an appointment with a Pre-Health or Pre-Law advisor.
Preprofessional studies in Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Law, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Nutrition/Registered Dietician, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Optometry, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Physician Assistant, and Pre-Veterinary Medicine require students to complete an undergraduate degree program, including a major and prerequisite coursework. In most cases, the bachelor’s degree is required prior to matriculation to the professional program. If admitted, students complete a professional degree program and graduate with a post-baccalaureate professional degree.
Preprofessional studies in Pre-Nursing and the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science require students to complete at least two years of undergraduate study prior to admission to the major in a different UIC college. In some instances, completion of a particular program may take more time than anticipated if the student needs to satisfy prerequisites, or when a student does not take courses in the proper sequence. If admitted, students complete at least two additional years of undergraduate study in the program and graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
Preprofessional study in Pre-Pharmacy requires students to complete a minimum of two years of undergraduate study prior to admission to the College of Pharmacy. In most cases, three years of undergraduate study are needed to complete the prerequisite course work. A majority of the students admitted to the College of Pharmacy have completed a bachelor’s degree at the time of matriculation. If admitted, students complete four additional years of study in the UIC College of Pharmacy and graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree.
Completion of prerequisite coursework does not guarantee admission to a professional college or program. Students pursuing preprofessional studies are strongly encouraged to consult an LAS preprofessional advisor and an advisor in the professional program before submitting an application. Each professional program has specific application procedures, deadlines, and requirements, which can change from time to time and may not be reflected in this catalog. Students are responsible for obtaining the most current information.
Students pursuing preprofessional studies must plan their course of study with care. Advisors are available to assist students, however, the responsibility for selecting courses and meeting admission requirements rests with the individual student who must plan and select courses consistent with the program requirements. The information below provides the current prerequisite course information for the UIC or UIUC professional programs. LAS preprofessional advisors can assist students in applying to programs outside of UIC as well.
Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Physical Therapy, and Pre-Veterinary Medicine
| Preprofessional Studies | Prerequisite Required Hours | Major | Bachelor's Degree Required for Admission to Professional College | Professional Collegea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Dentistry | 40-41 | Any | Yes | UIC College of Dentistry |
| Pre-Medicine | 46-50 | Any | Yes | UIC College of Medicine |
| Pre-Occupational Therapy | 35-37 | Any | Yes | UIC College of Applied Health Sciences |
| Pre-Physical Therapy | 42-43 | Any | Yes | UIC College of Applied Health Sciences |
| Pre-Veterinary Medicine | 37-38 | Any | Yesb | UIUC College of Veterinary Medicine |
- a
Although the prerequisites for admission to professional programs are those for University of Illinois professional colleges, students interested in other institutions should consult those programs for their requirements.
- b
Students should visit the College of Veterinary Medicine website for information regarding applying without a bachelor’s degree.
For a list of Course Requirements in each area, please see the pages for Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Physical Therapy, and Pre-Veterinary Medicine.
Pre-Nursing and Pre-Pharmacy
Preprofessional studies in these health sciences areas require at least two years of undergraduate study prior to matriculation in the professional program. If admitted to the professional program, Pre-Nursing students complete the bachelor’s degree in the College of Nursing. Pre-Pharmacy students may apply to and complete either the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences or the Doctor of Pharmacy degree in the College of Pharmacy.
| Preprofessional Studies | Preprofessional Studies Required Hours | UIC Professional College | Professional Degree Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Nursing | 57 | College of Nursing | BS in Nursing |
| Pre-Pharmacy | 58-60 | College of Pharmacy | BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| Pre-Pharmacy | 69-73 | College of Pharmacy | Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) |
For a list of Course Requirements in each area, please see the pages for Pre-Nursing, BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Pre-Pharmacy.
Pre-Law
| Preprofessional Studies | Preprofessional Studies Required Hours | Major | Bachelor's Degree Required for Admission to Professional College |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Law | Varies | Any | Yes |
For more information about Pre-Law at UIC, please see the Pre-Law page.
Pre-Nutrition
| Preprofessional Studies | Preprofessional Studies Required Hours | UIC Professional College | Professional Degree Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Nutrition | 60 | College of Applied Health Sciences | BS in Nutrition |
For a list of Course Requirements, please see the Pre-Nutrition page.
Preprofessional Studies Advised by Other Undergraduate Colleges
| Preprofessional Studies | Preprofessional Studies Required Hours | UIC Professional College | Professional Degree Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Health Information Management | 60 | College of Applied Health Sciences | BS in Health Information Management |
| Pre-Public Health | 60 | School of Public Health | BA in Public Health |
| Pre-Public Health | 60 | School of Public Health | BS in Public Health |
For more information about Pre-Health Information Management, please see the College of Applied Health Sciences section of the catalog; for more information about Pre-Public Health, please see the School of Public Health section of the catalog.