What are Pre-Professional Pathways?

Pre-Professional Pathways are not offered as majors at Western, nor are they at most other universities, but they can be incorporated into or taken alongside any degree-granting major offered at Western.

Pre-Law Pathway

Pre-Law

Law schools require a baccalaureate degree, but do not require a specific undergraduate major for admission. They are looking for students who have strong oral and written communication skills, a broad understanding of economic, political and social institutions, and well-developed objective and critical thinking skills. Western offers a variety of majors and minors that will develop these skills.

Contact

Paul Chen, Associate Professor
chenp@wwu.edu | (360) 650-4876

Pre-Law Advising

Students interested in issues of law and social justice are encouraged to learn more about the Interdisciplinary Concentration: Law, Diversity, and Justice Emphasis. Additional Pre-Law Advising information can be found on the Political Science department's Pre-Law Advising page.

Pre-Health Pathways

Pre-Chiropractic

You will prepare for entry to a Chiropractic graduate program by obtaining a baccalaureate degree, completing the prerequisite course work for entry into specific programs, and by obtaining a volunteer clinical experience under the direction of a chiropractor.

Contact

Anna Tognazzini,
prehealth@wwu.edu | 1-360-650-3240

Pre-Dentistry

Pre-Dentistry is a specific program of study in math and science required for admission to dental school. You'll work closely with academic advisors in their major and the pre-dental advisors to assure that general university requirements, major, and Pre-Dental requirements are incorporated into your overall plan of study.

Contact

Anna Tognazzini,
prehealth@wwu.edu | 1-360-650-3240

Pre-Law

Law schools require a baccalaureate degree, but do not require a specific undergraduate major for admission. They are looking for students who have strong oral and written communication skills, a broad understanding of economic, political and social institutions, and well-developed objective and critical thinking skills. Western offers a variety of majors and minors that will develop these skills.

Contact

Paul Chen, Associate Professor
chenp@wwu.edu | (360) 650-4876

Pre-Medicine

At any given time Western has an estimated 450 students on a pre-medicine track. Medical schools emphasize the importance of a liberal arts education and do not recruit students from one specific major or discipline. Thus, you have flexibility in planning your Pre-Med educational program.

Contact

Anna Tognazzini,
prehealth@wwu.edu | 1-360-650-3240

Pre-Nutrition

A student completing an undergraduate degree at Western has the option of either going to a masters nutrition program or an undergraduate nutrition program to become a Registered Dietitian (RD). In the former case, the school will list their prerequisite courses required for admission, which you must complete in your undergraduate degree. In the latter case, you must contact the undergraduate school to determine if they accept students who have already completed a degree into their program, and what course preparation they recommend.

Contact

Dave Suprak,
suprakd@wwu.edu | 360-650-2586

Pre-Occupational Therapy

You can prepare for entry to a graduate program in occupational therapy by obtaining a baccalaureate degree, completing the prerequisite course work for entry into specific programs, and by obtaining a broad variety of volunteer clinical experience under the direction of an occupational therapist.

Contact

Dave Suprak,
suprakd@wwu.edu | 360-650-2586

Pre-Optometry

Western offers undergraduate coursework that addresses prerequisites of most optometry programs, but optometry programs vary in admissions requirements. Optometry schools emphasize the importance of a liberal arts education and do not recruit students from one specific major or discipline, so you have flexibility in planning your Pre-Optometry educational program.

Contact

Anna Tognazzini,
prehealth@wwu.edu | 1-360-650-3240

Pre-Pharmacy

Western provides a series of courses which will prepare you for application to institutions that offer a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. Pharmacy schools emphasize the importance of a liberal arts education and do not recruit students from one specific major or discipline.

Contact

Anna Tognazzini,
prehealth@wwu.edu | 1-360-650-3240

Pre-Physical Therapy

You can prepare entry to a graduate program in physical therapy by obtaining a baccalaureate degree, completing the prerequisite course work for entry into specific programs, and by obtaining a broad variety of volunteer clinical experience under the direction of a physical therapist (200-500 hours).

Contact

Dave Suprak,
suprakd@wwu.edu | 360-650-2586

Pre-Physician Assistant

A Physician Assistant practices and prescribes medicine under the license of a physician, and can work in a variety of healthcare settings. At Western, you can prepare for entry to a Physician Assistant program by obtaining a baccalaureate degree, completing the prerequisite course work for entry into specific programs, and by obtaining a broad variety of volunteer or paid clinical experience.

Contact

Anna Tognazzini,
prehealth@wwu.edu | 1-360-650-3240

Pre-Veterinary

Western offers undergraduate coursework that addresses prerequisites of most Doctor of Veterinary Medicine programs, but veterinary programs vary in admissions requirements. In general, you must have a strong academic background in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and English. Be sure to research schools of your choice to confirm all required courses.

Contact

Anna Tognazzini,
prehealth@wwu.edu | 1-360-650-3240

Pre-Professional Programs at Western

Pre-Healthcare Pathways

The Health Professions Advising office encourages students to use their undergraduate years to explore many academic fields, to develop foundational skills and knowledge, to demonstrate expertise, and to experience a field of study (major) of their choice. Students tend to excel in a major they truly enjoy, so for many pre-health students that is a major in the sciences like Biology or Chemistry. However, students have majored in a diverse range of academic disciplines including Anthropology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Communication Studies, Psychology, History, Philosophy, Languages (i.e. Spanish), and Fairhaven self-designed programs.

Student Experiences

Organizations and Clubs

Pre-Dental Club: A group who are interested in pursuing a career in dentistry. Members support each other as they work through the pre-dental prerequisites and application process and participate in various volunteer events and fundraisers.

Pre-Veterinary Club: A welcoming community that provides information regarding the current career options, ethics, and research within the veterinary field, as well as the requirements and expectations of veterinary schools in order to prepare students for the veterinary school application process.

WWU Pre-Med Club: A student-run organization focused on providing its members with easy access to information and activities pertaining to Medical School and the field of medicine.

Related Majors

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