Many of Cumberland University's graduates will continue their education by going to graduate and professional schools. The courses required for admittance to some of the health profession schools are shown in each category below. Students preparing for graduate or professional schools should obtain admission requirements for the schools of interest early in their undergraduate enrollment, so that exact requirements can be met. Since admission to professional schools is highly competitive, students should be aware that satisfactory completion of pre-professional requirements does not guarantee admission to professional schools. Therefore, students are advised to plan undergraduate programs with some attention to possible alternative goals. A Health Professions Advisor will assist students in realistically evaluating their potential for admission to professional schools. Pre-professional students are encouraged to join the Pre-Health Professional Society, which hosts monthly speakers who discuss the various health-related professions.

PRE-MEDICAL
Admission requirements for medical school vary from school to school, but most require one year of English composition (ENG 101, 102), one year of biology (BIO 111, 112), one year of physics (PHY 201, 202), two years of chemistry (CHEM 111, 112, 311, 312) and 52 hours of electives. These electives should provide a broad, cultural background and relate to medical preparation. These requirements can be met in a variety of programs which lead to an undergraduate degree. Even though the admission requirements can be completed in less than four years, it is rare for students to be accepted prior to the completion of an undergraduate degree. Students considered for admission should have a 3.5 overall grade point average (GPA). In addition, extracurricular activities and leadership roles are important -- volunteering or jobs in the health profession to gain experience are signs of commitment and dedication. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is now taken on computer and offered 22 times per year. Registration for the MCAT is completed online. The MCAT tests general knowledge of physics, general chemistry, biology and organic chemistry. Admission to medical school is very competitive. Satisfactory completion of all pre-medical requirements does not guarantee admission to the medical school.

PRE-DENTAL
Admission requirements for dental school vary, so students should consult the dental school websites to determine the exact requirements for entrance into the desired school. The prerequisites for the University of Tennessee (UT) dental school include one year of biology (BIO 111, 112), one year of physics (PHY 201, 202), two years of chemistry (CHEM 111, 112, 311, 312), one year of mathematics (including one semester of calculus), one year of English (ENG 101, 102), one semester of biochemistry (BIO/CHEM 400) and one semester of microbiology (BIO 203). Even though these requirements can be completed in less than four years, it is rare for students to be accepted prior to the completion of an undergraduate degree. The four major factors influencing admission are academic performance, recommendations, Dental Admissions Test (DAT) scores and interview performance. Students considered for admission should have a 3.0 GPA or higher. In addition, extracurricular activities and volunteering or working in dental offices is highly recommended. The DAT must be taken and application made to dental school about one year prior to expected entrance. A score of 15-19 is needed on the DAT for acceptance into most schools. Application to dental school can be made directly to the school or through the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). Further information may be obtained from a Health Professions Advisor. Admission to dental school is very competitive. Satisfactory completion of all pre-dental requirements does not guarantee admission to dental school.

PRE-PHARMACY
Admission requirements for pharmacy school vary from school to school, but most require about 67 semester hours of required course work from an accredited institution. The pre-pharmacy curriculum at the University of Tennessee (UT) requires 90 semester hours of course work. The required courses are 16 semester hours of chemistry (CHEM 111, 112, 311, 312), eight hours of introductory biology (BIO 111, 112), eight hours of physics (PHY 201, 202), six hours of English composition (ENG 101, 102), Speech (SPEE 220), Anatomy/Physiology (BIO 213, 214), Microbiology (BIO 203), Statistics (PSY 305), Calculus (MATH 121), Biochemistry (BIO/CHEM 400), Immunology (BIO 418), six hours of social science electives (psychology, sociology, economics, anthropology, political science), six hours of humanities (literature, language, history, philosophy). One year of American History at the high school or college level is required for UT admission. Some students choose to complete the above requirements in a minimum period of time, while others apply for admission following the completion of an undergraduate degree. A grade of 'C' or above must be achieved for each pre-pharmacy course, and prospective students must hold an overall academic average of 2.5 or higher. In addition, the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is required by most schools. The PCAT is offered four times per year. PCAT information and applications can be obtained from a Health Professions Advisor. Admission to pharmacy school is very competitive. Satisfactory completion of all pre-pharmacy requirements does not guarantee admission to pharmacy school.

PRE-VETERINARY MEDICINE
Admission requirements for Veterinary Medicine can vary from school to school, so it is recommended that a student obtain admission requirements online from the veterinary school of interest. There is only one college of veterinary medicine in Tennessee. Approximately 60 students are admitted each year, so the competition is tough. The College of Veterinary Medicine at UT-Knoxville requires the following pre-veterinary courses: six semester hours of English composition (ENG 101, 102), 18 semester hours of humanities and social sciences (literature, speech, music, art, philosophy, religion, language, history, economics, anthropology, political science, psychology, sociology and geography), eight semester hours of physics (PHY 201, 202), eight semester hours of general chemistry (CHEM 111, 112), eight semester hours of organic chemistry (CHEM 311, 312), four semester hours of biochemistry (BIO/CHEM 400), eight semester hours of introductory biology (BIO 111, 112), Genetics (BIO 302) and Cellular Biology (BIO 416). Students apply to veterinary medical school through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS), which provides for the collection, processing, verification and distribution of applicant data to participating colleges. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for admission. Acceptance into veterinary medical college is very competitive. Satisfactory completion of all requirements does not guarantee admission to veterinary school.

PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPY
The proposed curriculum is designed for students planning to enter the physical therapy program at UT-Memphis. Programs are different for different schools, so be sure to obtain admission information online from the school that you are interested in attending. A minimum of 60 semester hours must be completed prior to enrollment, which include the following courses: eight semester hours of introductory biology (BIO 111, 112), eight semester hours of chemistry (CHEM 111, 112), eight semester hours of physics (PHY 201, 202), eight semester hours of human physiology (BIO 213, 214), six semester hours of English (ENG 101, 102), four semester hours of mathematics (can be algebra, trigonometry or calculus), six semester hours of psychology (must include general), 12 semester hours of social sciences and humanities (psychology, sociology, economics, anthropology, political science, literature, language, history, philosophy) and three semester hours of statistics (PSY/SOC 205). The competition for physical therapy school is as great as for medical school. Physical therapy schools are looking for good grades (at least a GPA of 3.0 or higher), the ability to handle a full academic load, maturity, extracurricular and leadership activities, and volunteer work in physical therapy. Satisfactory completion of all pre-physical therapy requirements does not guarantee admission to physical therapy school.

PRE-DENTAL HYGIENE
Admission requirements vary from school to school, so it is important to obtain admission requirements online for the school you are interested in attending. Students may be admitted to the dental hygiene program at UT-Memphis after the completion of 64 semester hours of course work. The following courses are required for admission: nine semester hours of English (ENG 101, 102, 215 or 216), three semester hours of speech (SPEE 220), six semester hours of psychology, six semester hours of sociology, four semester hours of general biology (BIO 111), four semester hours of Microbiology (BIO 203), eight semester hours of Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 213, 214), eight semester hours of general chemistry (CHEM 111, 112) and 10 semester hours of electives. Admission to dental hygiene school is very competitive. Satisfactory completion of all requirements does not guarantee admission to dental hygiene school.