The science curriculum at Newberry College allows students to complete prerequisites for entry into a number of graduate programs in the health sciences.  These include:

• Dentistry
• Medicine
• Occupational Therapy
• Pharmacy
• Physical Therapy
• Veterinary Medicine

Each of these programs is detailed below.  As a preprofessional program, we offer students all of the prerequisite courses and academic advice in preparation toward application to any of the programs.  We do not offer a specific degree in these areas and Newberry College cannot gaurantee admission to any graduate program.  Even thought not required, most students work toward a biology or chemistry degree as they complete admission requirements.

Dental (Pre-Dent)

Training to become a dentist is a rigorous process taking about 7-8 years of college level study.  Most students are expected to have completed their B.S. degree at the time of starting their graduate program; however, those with an exceptional GPA and DAT scores may apply with 90 hours of coursework. This is true at both of the schools in South Carolina (USC and MUSC).  The typical admission committee looks at three important criteria in making decision for admission:

• Score on the Dental Admission Test (DAT).
• Courses taken and grades in those courses; the higher the GPA the better, with a minimum of about 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
• Showing interest in dental profession through volunteer or work experience where dentists are needed.

In order to be best prepared for the application process, most students are either biology or chemistry majors and complete the below listed courses.

• BIO 121: Biological Science (4 hours)
• BIO 122: Zoology (4 hours)
• 8 additional hours of biology courses from:
       BIO 212: Microbiology (4 hours)
       BIO 315: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4 hours)
       BIO 322: Genetics (4 hours)
       BIO 301: Biochemistry (4 hours)
• CHE 113-114: General Chemistry (8 hours)
• CHE 231-232: Organic Chemistry (8 hours)
• MAT 211: Calculus I - Differential Calculus (4 hours) [required for physics]
• PHY 213-214:  Physics for Science and Engineering Students (8 hours)

Many dental programs, including those at South Carolina schools, expect additional coursework in the sciences, especially biology and chemistry.

Medical (Pre-Med)

Training to become a medical doctor is a rigorous process taking about eight years of college level study.  However, it is interesting to note that a student is not required to have a B.S. degree to be admitted into most medical programs.  This is true at both of the schools in South Carolina (USC and MUSC).  The typical admission committee looks at three important criteria in making decision for admission:

• Score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
• Courses taken and grades in those courses; the higher the GPA the better, with a typical minimum of about 3.2 on a 4.0 scale (the actual minimum changes each year with the pool of applicants).
• Showing interest in medical profession through volunteer or work experience in hospitals or similar situations where doctors are needed.

In order to be best prepared for the application process, most students are either biology or chemistry majors and complete the below listed courses:

• BIO 121: Biological Science (4 hours)
• BIO 122: Zoology (4 hours)
• BIO 215-216: Human Anatomy and Physiology (8 hours)
• CHE 113-114: General Chemistry (8 hours)
• CHE 231-232: Organic Chemistry (8 hours)
• MAT 211: Calculus I - Differential Calculus (4 hours)
• PHY 213-214:  Physics for Science and Engineering Students (8 hours)

Occupational Therapy (OT)

Most South Carolina students interested in Occupational Therapy consider the M.S. program at MUSC.  Students must have completed their bachelors degree at the time of enrollment at MUSC.  The admission committee at MUSC looks at three important criteria in making decision for admission:

• Score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
• Courses taken and grades in those courses; the higher the GPA the better, with a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Showing interest in OT through volunteer or work experience in hospitals or similar situations where Occupational Therapists are needed.

In order to be best prepared for the application process, most students complete a biology or psychology major and complete the below listed courses.

• BIO 121: Biological Science (4 hours)
• BIO 215-216: Human Anatomy and Physiology (8 hours)
• CHE 113: General Chemistry I (4 hours)
• MAT 150: Precalculus (4 hours)
• MAT 200: Applied Statistics (3 hours)
• PSY 120: General Psychology (3 hours)
• PSY 230: Developmental Psychology (3 hours)

Pharmacy

The pharmacy programs at the University of South Carolina (USC) and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) have merged, we now have the South Carolina College of Pharmacy.  A B.S. degree is not required prior to entering a Pharm D. program.  Students are expected to have completed at least 66 hours of college work.  While at Newberry College, students should complete the following courses:

• BIO 121: Biological Science (4 hours)
• One additional biology course from:
       BIO 122: Zoology (4 hours)
       BIO 201: Botany (4 hours)
       BIO 212: Microbiology (4 hours)
• BIO 215-216: Human Anatomy and Physiology (8 hours)
• CHE 113-114: General Chemistry (8 hours)
• CHE 231-232: Organic Chemistry (8 hours)
• ENG 111-112: Freshman English (6 hours)
• One of the following:
       ECO 201: Microeconomics (3 hours)
       ECO 202: Macroeconomics (3 hours)
• MAT 150: Precalculus (4 hours)
• MAT 200: Applied Statistics (3 hours)
• MAT 211: Calculus I - Differential Calculus (4 hours)
• PHY 213-214: Physics for Science and Engineering Students (8 hours)
• PSY 120: General Psychology (3 hours)
• SPE 110: Public Speaking (3 hours)
• 9 additional hours of humanities or social science courses

An application to the South Carolina School of Pharmacy must include:

• Transcripts showing completion of the above courses (the above courses total more than 66 hours due to the inclusion of lab components on courses).
• Satisfactory score on the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).
• Submission of a criminal background review (upon acceptance).

Physical Therapy (PT)

MUSC no longer has a B.S. degree program in PT, but has replaced it with a M.S. (Master of Science).  In order to gain acceptance, students must have a bachelors degree.  The admission committee at MUSC looks at three important criteria in making decision for admission:

• Score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
• Courses taken and grades in those courses; the higher the GPA the better, with a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Showing interest in PT through volunteer or work experience in hospitals or similar situations where Physical Therapists are needed.  MUSC requires a minimum of 100 volunteer hours.

In order to be best prepared for the application process, most students are either biology or chemistry majors and complete the below listed courses.

• BIO 121: Biological Science (4 hours)
• BIO 212: Microbiology (4 hours) [or a similar course]
• BIO 215-216: Human Anatomy and Physiology (8 hours)
• CHE 113-114: General Chemistry (8 hours)
• MAT 150: Precalculus (4 hours)
• MAT 200: Applied Statistics (3 hours)
• MAT 211: Calculus I - Differential Calculus (4 hours) [needed for physics]
• PHY 213-214: Physics for Science and Engineering Students (8 hours)
• PSY 120: General Psychology (3 hours)
• PSY 230: Human Growth and Development (3 hours)
• PSY 231: Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)

Completion of the Newberry College Core Curriculum will satisfy additional admission requirements at MUSC.

Veterinary Medicine (Pre-Vet)

Students seeking to apply to a College of Veterinary Medicine should major in biology or chemistry.  Completion of courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics will help prepare students for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT).  In order to be accepted into most Veterinary Medical Schools an applicant must have completed 90 semester hours of college work.  Specific course requirements vary from school to school.

South Carolina does not have a Veterinary School; hence South Carolina residents must attend an out-of-state Veterinary school.  However, students may be considered in state residents for tuition purposes at the University of Georgia, Tuskegee University (Alabama) and Mississippi State University.  Students should consider the following courses in preparation for application to Vet school.

• BIO 121: Biological Science (4 hours)
• BIO 122: Zoology (4 hours)
• BIO 212: Microbiology(4 hours)
• BIO 220: Pharmacology and Toxicology (3 hours)
• BIO 315: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4 hours)
• BIO 321: Animal Development (4 hours)
• BIO 331: Cell Biology (4 hours)
• BIO 342: Immunology (4 hours)
• BIO 301: Biochemistry (4 hours)
• CHE 113-114: General Chemistry (8 hours)
• CHE 231-232: Organic Chemistry (8 hours)
• MAT 211: Calculus I - Differential Calculus (4 hours)
• PHY 213-214: Physics for Science and Engineering Students (8 hours)

This page updated 17 September 2008.