College of Arts & Sciences 2007-2008 Catalog

PRE-PROFESSIONAL

PRE-LAW EDUCATION

Students planning to attend law school after graduation should seek a broad liberal arts education. Law schools do not recommend any specific pre-law curriculum and accept students from many majors. The Law School Admission Test, which is an essential gateway to legal education, examines students’ abilities in reading comprehension as well as logical and analytical reasoning. Thus, it is most important that students develop their thinking, writing, and speaking skills through a variety of courses and experiences, and gain a critical understanding of human behavior, institutions, and values.

Students should discuss their interest in the law with their academic advisor to create a program that best fits the students’ interests. The following courses may be especially helpful for students considering careers in the law, though they are not required for admission to law school.

BUS210 Financial Accounting

ECO201 Basic Economics

ENW205A* Essay Writing

HIS/POS216L* American Constitutional History

PHI225M* Introduction to Logic

POS100 American Politics and Government

* A student may choose to use this course to meet a General Education requirement.

PRE-MEDICINE AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS

Bethel provides the appropriate programs for students who wish to pursue careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, physical therapy, pharmacy, or other health care professions. Most medical and health care professional programs are master’s degree and doctoral degree programs. Bethel has a long-standing tradition of preparing students for careers in health professions and enjoys an excellent reputation with many professional schools that have accepted a large number of Bethel students. Professional schools are interested in students from a broad range of interests, backgrounds, and academic majors, but all require a specific set of prerequisite college courses to be completed before admission. Students should consult with the health professions advisor at Bethel as early as possible in their college experiences to tailor a plan that meets the specific requirements of the professional school they plan to attend. Those planning to receive a degree from Bethel prior to admission into a professional program should choose an academic major in addition to the specific pre-professional program. Although most Bethel students choose to major in either Biology-BS or Biochemistry/Molecular Biology-BS, selection of an academic major is generally not a factor in influencing admission into professional schools, and students are encouraged to major in any area offered by the university.

Track

(Recommended for careers in medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatry, or chiropractic medicine as well as a career as a physician's assistant.)

BIO112D* Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology

BIO113D* Introduction to Organismic Biology

CHE111D*, 212 General Chemistry I and II

CHE221, 222 Organic Chemistry I and II

CHE386 or BIO381 Biochemistry I

PHY200D*, 205 Introductory Physics I and II

PHY290D*, 295 General Physics I and II

Additional courses in mathematics, composition, literature, and social and behavioral sciences as indicated by specific professional schools.

Specific professional schools may require science courses in addition to those listed.

* A student may choose to use this course to meet a General Education requirement.

Health Professional Tracks

Many Bethel students pursue careers in other health care professions. Most of these are post-graduate degrees beyond college. Specific tracks are available from the health professions advisor for pre-professional programs in the following areas:

Nursing (see Department of Nursing)

Pre-Chiropractic Medicine

Pre-Dentistry

Pre-Medicine

Pre-Occupational Therapy

Pre-Optometry

Pre-Osteopathic