Pre-Professional Programs

P R E-P R O F E S S I O N A L P R OG R A M S

A variety of undergraduate programs prepare students for further study and professional careers. Recommended majors for each program are listed below:

Pre-Dentistry Any major (science recommended)

Pre-Law Liberal Arts major/Legal Studies minor

Pre-Medical Any major (science recommended)

Pre-Ministerial

Major in Religious Studies Pre-Nursing Major in Nursing Pre-Occupational Therapy Major in a social science or sciences Pre-Pharmacy Major in Sciences Pre-Physical Therapy Major in Exercise Science (pre Sciences -prof. track) or Pre-Physician Assistant Studies Major in Sciences Pre-Veterinary Medicine Any major (science recommended)

PR E-HE A L T H PR O F E S S I O N S ( ME D I C A L, VE T E R I N A R Y, DE N T A L)

Medical, dental, and veterinary schools specify courses, not specific majors, that are prerequisites for admission to their programs. For example, Pre-Med students may select any major as long as they take the courses required by the medical school they wish to attend. Regardless of which major you select at Wingate University, most medical and dental schools in the U.S. require one year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. Some specify calculus. Vet schools may require more: biochemistry, genetics, and microbiology. You should select a major which matches your interests and abilities and one which allows you to complete the necessary biology, chemistry, math, and physics courses. If you choose a major which does not require the essential science and math courses as part of its curriculum, you will need to take them as electives in addition to your major’s required courses.

Admission to professional schools is highly competitive and selective. Excellent study skills, self-discipline and motivation, a strong background in math and science, the ability to think, reason, and express ideas clearly are skills essential to successful academic performance. In order to be competitive for admission to professional school, students must attain a very high GPA, 3.7 or better (especially in science courses), and must earn high scores on the MCAT/DAT/GRE entry test. In addition, students must have: appropriate volunteer or job experience in their area of career interest; effective communication and interview skills; and strong letters of recommendation from their professors, based upon outstanding academic performance, reputation for excellence and personal integrity, and demonstrated potential to succeed in the professional school curriculum.

Most of the science courses have prerequisites and some courses are not offered every semester. The courses you take (biology, chemistry, and math), the sequence in which you take them, and your performance in them are critical — failure to complete specific courses at the right time or with satisfactory grades will interfere with your progress towards completing the sequence of science courses needed for professional school. Each student

is responsible for selecting the courses that are needed to meet all entrance requirements specified in the bulletin from the school they wish to attend.

Pre-Health Professions students should consult the information for the major they plan to pursue for suggested first-semester classes.

The Pre-Law program at Wingate University is designed to prepare the student for success as a lawyer. No law school requires a particular major as a prerequisite for admission. Rather, law schools look for evidence of reading and analytical abilities which serve as the primary bases of admissions decisions. For that reason, the Pre-Law program has two emphases, both focused on skill development. First, the Pre-Law student should choose a major based on personal interest. Experience indicates that reading and analytical skills can be developed only if a student is willing to work hard and that a student is willing to work hard only if he or she studies a subject that is interesting. Any major will provide ample opportunity to develop the required skills for law school. Second, the Pre-Law student should complete the Legal Studies minor. This minor includes the specific courses in the Wingate University curriculum that will be the most valuable in preparing for law school.

Admission to law school demands that preparation begin far before formal application for admission. The student planning to become a lawyer is urged to meet with the Pre-Law advisor no later than his or her sophomore year.

SU G G E S T E D SE Q U E N C E O F CO U R S E S F O R T H E LE G A L ST U D I E S MI N O R

First Year: ● Fall: Philosophy 101 (This course is not part of the Legal Studies Minor, but provides an excellent introduction into the type of reading and analytical skills needed for success in law school.) Junior Year ● Fall: English 360 or Legal Studies elective ● Spring English 360 or Legal Studies elective Sophomore Year ● Fall: Economics 221 or Legal Studies elective ● Spring: Philosophy 351 or Legal

Studies elective

Senior Year ● Fall: Communication 410 and/or

Legal Studies elective ● Spring Communication 410 and/or

Legal Studies elective

PR E-MI N I S T E R I A L ED U C A T I O N

Students attending Wingate University who are intending to pursue seminary education and a life of ordained ministry in the church or on behalf of the church in other settings are provided a variety of opportunities, within and beyond the classroom. The University’s Pre-Ministerial program is jointly administered by the Department of Religion and Philosophy and the Office of the Campus Minister, who serves as an advisor.

The undergraduate years can provide a solid foundation for seminary and ministry; they can neither duplicate nor replace seminary education. However, because a sense of call to ministry often flourishes during the college years, we provide opportunities for education and formation in that call. Pre-Ministerial students are encouraged to major in religion in order to receive a solid foundation in the core theological disciplines of Bible, Church History, Theology, and Philosophy. Advanced course-work in the broader liberal arts, including English, History, Sociology, and Psychology can also be helpful, and depending upon the students’ particular commitment, a minor or double major in one of these areas may be advised.

The Campus Minister oversees the Center for Vocational Ministry. The goals of the Center are: • To help students begin the process of identifying their own unique sense of vocation and “calling” in life. • To encourage students to consider how their religious faith relates, or how they could relate it, to their choice of vocation.

• To encourage students to consider the many ways that Christian leadership, community service, and a secular career can be combined within a broad concept of vocation. • To promote a serious exploration of the idea of vocation among all students at Wingate University, including those with less immediate interest in a theological career or a career in community service. The Center believes that all students, if encouraged to consider seriously their lives and future, will prefer a path that enables them to improve the world in which they live.

After the first year in the program, the Campus Minister will help students identify personal and professional goals and work together to find a supervised, off-campus internship that will help the student realize those goals. Examples are students working in churches, helping with mediation in a lawyer’s office, working with social justice nonprofits and even working with the chaplain at a prison.

For more information about the Center contact Rev. Dane Jordan, Minister to Students at djordan@wingate.edu, 704-233-8026, Campus Box 5013, Wingate University, Wingate, NC 28174.

PR E-NU R S I N G

It is suggested that Wingate University students intending to pursue the Bachelor of Science in Nursing take the following prerequisites in order to be eligible for admission to the program in the junior year:

Global Perspectives courses – one course must be in History and one additional course must be in Religion or Philosophy 4 semesters 12 credits total

Gateway 101 1 semester 1 credit total

English 110 1 semester 3 credits total

Second Language 2 semesters 6 credits total

Fine Arts 1 semester 2 credits total

Nursing 210 Literature and Writing Psychology 101, 250 Math 116, 209 Chemistry 101 Biology 101, 211, 212, 230 Health 200 1 semester 2 credits total

1 semester 3 credits total 2 semesters 6 credits total

2 semesters 6 credits total

1 semester 4 credits total 4 semesters 16 credits total 1 semester 2 credits total

PR E-OC C U P A T I O N A L TH E R A P Y

The mission of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at Wingate University is to develop knowledgeable and ethical occupational therapists who are committed to the health, well-being, and quality of life of all persons, groups, and populations through a solid education founded upon principles of occupational performance, critical thinking/professional reasoning, servant leadership, evidence-based practice/ scholarship, and occupational justice.

If not included within their baccalaureate or master’s degree course of study, each applicant must complete the following 9 additional prerequisite courses at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States:

Human Anatomy with lab OR Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab Human Physiology with lab OR Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab Intro to Psychology 4 semester hours

4 semester hours

3 semester hours Abnormal Psychology 3 semester hours Lifespan Development or Developmental Psychology 3 semester hours Intro to Sociology or Anthropology 3 semester hours Writing/Composition/Grammar 3 semester hours Statistics 3 semester hours Medical Terminology 1-3 semester hours

Other criteria for acceptance into the graduate Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program include: • Completed baccalaureate degree • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; C or better in all prerequisite courses • Three letters of recommendation • Minimum of 40 hours of clinical observation with an occupational therapist in at least two practice settings with different aged clients

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program is accredited through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Admissions to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program are on a nondiscriminatory basis. There is no discrimination on grounds of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service in Wingate University’s administration of educational policies, programs, activities or services; admissions and housing policies; scholarship or loan programs; or employment. An exception may occur only when appropriate and allowed by law.

PR E-PH A R M A C Y

Wingate University School of Pharmacy’s mission is to prepare pharmacists who are ready to practice on the day of graduation. Practice experiences are begun in Year-1, with additional experiences included in EACH year of the curriculum. Practice sites for full-time rotations are located in the Carolinas, throughout the greater Charlotte metropolitan area and beyond.

The fully-integrated curriculum is punctuated with small group case studies held weekly during each semester. All class notes are posted on the school’s webpage prior to class, and each smart classroom allows for wireless student connectivity. Additionally, instant response software is provided to each student, enabling the student to register opinions, take self-assessment tests and receive instant feedback on themselves as well as the class as a whole. The Pharmacy Practice Laboratory is designed like a community pharmacy, not a chemistry lab. Patient counseling rooms allow for recording practice sessions with simulated and real patients.

Through the Pre-Pharmacy Advantage Program, Wingate undergraduate students who meet the following criteria will be guaranteed an interview with Wingate University School of Pharmacy:

• Must be admitted as a first time freshman student at Wingate University. • Must enroll at Wingate University to complete all Pharmacy School prerequisite courses. • Must earn a 3.2 or higher grade point average in the pharmacy prerequisite courses at Wingate University. By obtaining a satisfactory interview score, students will be admitted to the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Wingate University.

There are many different paths to take to complete the prerequisites for the Wingate University School of Pharmacy. With a minimum of 61 total credit hours, a student may be able to complete the prerequisites in as little as 4 semesters or 2 years, while other students may choose to complete a bachelor’s degree with Wingate University and then apply to the School of Pharmacy. A faculty advisor will help you determine an academic action plan for completing the Wingate University School of Pharmacy prerequisites while fulfilling your personal goals.

PH A R M A C Y PR E R E Q U I S I T E S

General Chemistry (with lab, for science majors) 2 semesters 8 credits total Organic Chemistry (with lab, for science majors) 2 semesters 8 credits total Biology (with lab, for science majors) 1 semester 4 credits Anatomy & Physiology (one course covering the whole body, or a two course progression) 3-8 credits General Microbiology (with lab) 1 semester 4 credits Physics 1 semester 4 credits Calculus 1 semester 3-4 credits Statistics

English Composition and Literature Humanities/Social Sciences* Electives** 1 semester 3 credits 2 semesters 6 credits

4 semesters 12 credits 2 semesters 6 credits

*Highly desirable but not mandated: Psychology, Sociology, Second Language, Philosophy, etc. **Examples include Public Speaking, Economics, Advanced Biology or Chemistry, Business, Music, Theatre, etc.

PR E-PH Y S I C I A N AS S I S T A N T ST U D I E S

The Wingate University Physician Assistant Program is dedicated to exceptional physician assistant education and the support of service to communities.

The Program is committed to preparing students from many backgrounds to practice medicine in a variety of specialties and settings under the supervision of a physician. Emphasis is placed upon understanding and appreciating cultural diversity as well as effectively meeting the level of healthcare comprehension among our patients. The Program aims to prepare its graduates to practice and promote primary healthcare of the highest quality as part of a multidisciplinary team.

*Biology 311 *Biology 312

Human Anatomy and Physiology I Human Anatomy and Physiology II *Biology 320 Microbiology *Biology 424 or Biology 425 Principles of Biochemistry; Biochemistry *Chemistry 201 Organic Chemistry I *Biology 140, 240, or 340 Human, Classical, or Molecular Genetics

Math 209 or Math 330 Inferential Statistics; Statistics I

Psychology 101 General Psychology (AP credit will be accepted)

Health 105 Medical Terminology * Students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.2 of higher on the above courses to be considered for admission to the PA Program.

Results for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are to be submitted directly to the PA Program. For further requirements, please see the PA website at https://www.wingate.edu/academics/graduate/physician-assistant-studies.

PR E-PH Y S I C A L TH E R A P Y

If not included within their baccalaureate or master’s degree course of study, each applicant must complete 11 additional prerequisite courses at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. There are no waivers or exceptions to these 11 prerequisites as listed. If the applicant has attended an institution awarding quarter or other means reporting coursework hours, the applicant must have completed what the DPT Admissions Committee deems to be an approximate equivalent to the semester hours shown for each course.

Human Anatomy and Physiology I (or Human

Anatomy) with Lab 4 semester hours minimum

Human Anatomy and Physiology II (or Human

Physiology) with Lab 4 semester hours minimum

Physics I with Lab (may be calculus or non-calculus based) 4 semester hours minimum

Physics II with Lab (may be calculus or non-calculus based) 4 semester hours minimum

General Chemistry I with Lab 4 semester hours minimum

General Chemistry II with Lab 4 semester hours minimum

General Biology I with Lab 4 semester hours minimum

Upper level (300 or above) Biology (Exercise

Physiology may fulfill this requirement) 3 semester hours minimum

Human Psychology (may be normal or abnormal) 3 semester hours minimum

Math (College Algebra level or higher) 3 semester hours minimum

Statistics 3 semester hours minimum