Other Pre-Health Tracks

Veterinarians provide care for the health of small and large animals as well as protect the public against diseases transmitted by animals. Veterinarians have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) from an accredited four-year veterinary college and a license to practice in their state.

Undergraduate pre-requisites and recommended courses:

• 2 semesters of biology with laboratory
• 2 semesters of general chemistry with laboratory
• 2 semesters of organic chemistry with laboratory
• 1–2 semesters of biochemistry
• 2 semesters of physics with laboratory
• 1–2 semesters of mathematics, calculus and/or statistics at 200-level
• Recommended courses: genetics, microbiology, physiology, morphology

Target Undergraduate cumulative GPA: >3.5

Experience: > 400 hours of volunteering and work with animals

Standardized Graduate Admission Test: The Graduate Record Examination General Test

Application Information

• As a veterinary medical college applicant, you will take part in Loyola’s on-campus pre-health committee process and interview
• Stay on top of your pre-veterinary studies and planning with the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges’ Pre-Veterinary Resources
• Apply to one of the country’s 30 veterinary schools through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS)

Podiatrists provide medical and surgical care for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems. Podiatrists have a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree (D.P.M.) from an accredited four-year podiatric medicine college and a license to practice in their state.

Undergraduate pre-requisites and recommended courses:

• 2 semesters of biology with laboratory
• 2 semesters of general chemistry with laboratory
• 2 semesters of organic chemistry with laboratory
• 2 semesters of physics with laboratory
• Recommended courses include microbiology, biochemistry, and psychology

Target undergraduate cumulative GPA: >3.3

Experience: community service, internships and/or research, health care experiences, and acquaintance with podiatric medicine

Standardized Graduate Admission Test: Medical College Admission Test or in some limited cases The Graduate Record Examination General Test

Application Information

• As a podiatric medical college applicant, you will take part in Loyola’s on-campus pre-health committee process and interview
• Stay on top of your pre-podiatry studies and planning with guidance of the Podiatric Medical College Information Book
• The best resource for the country’s nine podiatric medical colleges is the Podiatric Medical College Information Book
• Apply to podiatric medical colleges through the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service (AACPMAS)

Physical therapists offer education and health services that help people maintain or restore their movement and manage pain after illness or injury. Physical therapists have a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (D.P.T.) from an accredited three-year physical therapy program and a license to practice in their state. All master’s degree programs in physical therapy were discontinued in 2015.

Undergraduate pre-requisites and recommended courses:

• 2 semesters of biology with laboratory
• 2 semesters of general chemistry with laboratory
• 2 semesters of physics with laboratory
• 2 semesters of anatomy and physiology at 200-level 
• 1-2 semesters of psychology
• 1 semester of statistics at 100 or 200-level 
• Recommended courses: additional biology courses, a social science course

Target Undergraduate cumulative GPA: >3.5

Experience: > 150 hours of signed physical therapy shadow hours and other health care experience

Standardized Graduate Admission Test: The Graduate Record Examination General Test

Application Information

• Stay on top of your pre-physical therapy studies and planning with the American Physical Therapy Association’s resources for prospective students
• Apply to one of the country’s over 200 accredited physical therapy programs through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS)

Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients, educate patients and the public in effective and safe use of medications, as well as provide wellness screenings and immunizations. Pharmacists have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) from an accredited four-year pharmacy program and a license to practice in their state.

Undergraduate pre-requisites and recommended courses:

• 2 semesters of biology with laboratory
• 2 semesters of general chemistry with laboratory
• 2 semesters of organic chemistry with laboratory
• 2 semesters of physics with laboratory
• 2 semesters of anatomy and physiology at 200-level
• 1 semester of microbiology
• 1 –2 semesters of psychology 
• 1 semester of statistics at 100 or 200-level 
• 1 semester of calculus 
• 1 semester of public speaking

Target Undergraduate cumulative GPA: > 3.2

Experience: pharmacist shadow hours and other health care experience, community service, leadership

Standardized Graduate Admission Test: The Pharmacy College Admission Test

Application Information

• Stay on top of your pre-pharmacy studies and planning with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy resources for prospective students 
• Apply to one of the country’s approximately 140 accredited pharmacy programs through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS)

Professionals involved in the promotion of public health promote and protect the health and well-being of people through prevention, education, research, and community engagement. Professionals in the field of public health typically have a Master’s or Doctoral degree from accredited programs that offer education in public health, health policy, or health care administration.

Undergraduate pre-requisites and recommended courses:

• Schools of public health do not follow a clearly defined standard of pre-requisite courses
• Recommended course work includes familiarity with biological and other natural sciences, statistics, and social and behavioral sciences
• Students interested in research careers in epidemiology and other quantitative fields of public health study are encouraged to pursue course work on mathematics, statistics, and data science
• Students interested in public health and health care administration are encouraged to pursue course work in business administration, economics, statistics, and data science

Target Undergraduate cumulative GPA: > 3.0

Experience: exposure to health care, community service, and leadership

Standardized Graduate Admission Test: The Graduate Record Examination General Test

Application Information

• Stay on top of your pre-public health studies and planning with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health guidance for the prospective students
• You can apply to most, but not all, of the country’s approximately 150 accredited public health schools or programs through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS)

• General information: Explore Health Careers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, and the American Optometric Association
• Application information: The Optometry Centralized Application System
• Standardized Graduate Admission Test: Optometry Admission Test (OAT)

• General information: Explore Health Careers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, and the American Occupational Therapy Association 
• Application information: The Centralized Application Service for Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants

• General information: Explore Health Careers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, and the American Chiropractic Association 
• Application information: Each of the nation’s 10 chiropractic schools have their own application processes

• General information: Explore Health Careers and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
• Application information: The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges application portal