You are in the official 1996-97 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Preprofessional Preparation
Preprofessional programs are available for students who plan to transfer
to other institutions for the completion of professional curricula in such
fields as law, medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry,
forestry, architecture, theology, librarianship, chiropractic therapy, osteopathic
medicine, and podiatric medicine. Some of these programs are described below.
Students planning to complete a preprofessional program and degree at California
State University, Fresno must complete a major offered at this university.
They should include their preprofessional area plus their university major
on all registration forms; for example, premedical-chemistry, premedical-biology,
prelaw-history, prelaw-political science. There are no preprofessional majors
per se. Instead, preprofessional students work toward various university
degrees and while doing so, incorporate into their college programs courses
required for entry into professional schools.
Careful program planning is important in order to select proper classes
and complete requirements in a timely way. Regular advising is essential
since professional schools change their requirements occasionally. Preprofessional
students should contact their respective major and preprofessional advisers
before enrolling in classes each semester to stay abreast of current developments.
A current list of California State University, Fresno preprofessional advisers
is available in the Office of Advising Services, Joyal Administration Building,
Room 121. For more information, call Advising Services at 278-2924.
Premedical. Students interested in preparing for medical school should declare their intent at the time they apply for admission to California State University, Fresno. To do this, it is necessary that students use a term such as premedical-sociology, premedical-zoology, premedical-chemistry or premedical-general on all application, admittance, and registration papers. In case premedical-general is chosen, a specific subject major should be selected as soon as possible and not later than the sophomore year from the list of approved California State University, Fresno majors in the Degree Requirements section in this catalog.
Requirements for admission to medical school vary considerably from one medical school to another and change from time to time, but a well-balanced liberal education is usually specified. Some aptitude and university training in science and English are essential in medicine. The minimum requirements in these subjects specified by most medical schools can be satisfied by specific courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and English. Also calculus is required by some medical schools. Because of competition for admission to medical schools, a grade point average above 3.5 is highly desirable. The Medical College Aptitude Test (MCAT) is required before students can be accepted into medical school. It is recommended that the MCAT be taken and application for medical school be made at the end of the junior year.
Freshmen, transfer, and all other students who are entering the program are advised to contact a premedical adviser prior to registration. (See Advising Services. ) Each student is assigned to a member of the premedical advisory committee who assists him or her in planning a program of courses and advises him or her concerning preparatory procedures for application to medical school.
The Premedical Advisory Committee will mail to any interested student material that covers the operation of our premedical program, courses required and medical school admissions procedures. Write to:
Premedical Advisory Committee California State University, Fresno
2555 E. San Ramon
Fresno, CA 93740-0070.
Predental. The minimum training for dentistry is a six-year course the first two years (predental training) in a liberal arts college and the remaining four years (dental training) at a school of dentistry.
The minimum predental program required by accredited dental schools is one year each of English, inorganic chemistry, physics, and zoology; one semester of organic chemistry; and additional courses (usually elective in general education, but specified by some dental schools) for a total of 60 units. Each science course must include laboratory.
The present trend among dental schools is to require more than two years of predental training including a broad liberal arts background. Since 1971, three years of predental training have been required by the University of California, San Francisco and some other dental schools. Additional organic chemistry, quantitative chemical analysis, elementary physical chemistry, other zoology courses, and in some cases a foreign language and psychology are recommended or required. Several schools require a bachelor's degree for entrance. The American Dental Association Aptitude Test and evidence of physical fitness and good moral character are usually required. Many dental schools also require a personal interview and some administer additional tests. For other information, see the predental adviser and dental school catalogs.
Prelegal. Most fully accredited law schools require a bachelor's degree for admission. Since a prelegal program providing a broad cultural background is recommended by the law schools, any baccalaureate major, depending on the student's interest, may be chosen from the university offerings. (See Degree Programs, Majors and Minors. ) Law schools suggest courses, but not necessarily a major, in the following: written and oral English, American and English constitutional history, world history, accounting, business administration, elementary logic, mathematics, statistics, economics, political science, philosophy, science and foreign language. A score on the Law School Admission Test (L.S.A.T.) is required before students can be accepted into law school. It is recommended that the L.S.A.T. be taken no later than December of the student's senior year. In addition, most law schools require a personal statement and letters of recommendation that address academic skills and preparation for the study of law. For further information consult a prelaw adviser and law school catalogs.
Prelibrarianship. Accredited graduate schools of librarianship require a bachelor's degree for admission. A major in any subject is acceptable. A reading knowledge of at least one modern foreign language is a requirement for admission to most graduate schools of librarianship; this requirement is normally satisfied by the successful completion of two college years of the language. Also, many schools now require a course in mathematics or statistics. In addition, a course in computer concepts is advisable. Students considering librarianship as a career should consult the prelibrary program adviser in the Henry Madden Library.
Preoptometry. California State University, Fresno provides courses for the completion of preprofessional requirements of an optometry program. Most professional schools require junior standing and coursework which includes two years of biology, one year of chemistry, mathematics, physics and English, and one semester of psychology and statistics with above average scholarship. For further information, see optometry school catalogs and consult the preoptometry adviser in the Department of Physics.
The Optometry Admission Testing Program (OAT) exam is required before application can be made to optometry school. Application should be made one year in advance of anticipated enrollment.
Prepharmacy. The first two years (prepharmacy) of a six-year pharmacy program may be completed at California State University, Fresno. All new and transfer students should indicate on application, admittance, and registration papers an interest in prepharmacy-biology. Most professional schools require a C average or better for a minimum of 60 semester units, including one year each of inorganic chemistry, physics, calculus, zoology, English composition, and literature; one semester of organic chemistry or quantitative analysis; and additional elective courses that are specified in certain areas by some schools. Students may elect to complete more than 60 semes ter units before applying to pharmacy school. A personal interview may be required of applicants by some schools. For further information, see pharmacy school catalogs and consult the prepharmacy adviser in the Department of Biology.
Preveterinary. Students preparing for the veterinary profession can satisfy their preveterinary curriculum requirements at California State University, Fresno. Preveterinary students should plan to complete a B.S. degree in Animal Sciences or a B.S. degree in Biology prior to application to a school of veterinary medicine. Students should keep in mind, however, that adequate performance on the advanced biology portion of the Graduate Record Examination within five years prior to application is a major requirement for admission to veterinary school in California.
Courses recommended by the Department of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education for its majors preparing for veterinary school include Animal Science 65A, 125, 135, and 165; BioSc 1A, 1B; Chemistry 1A, 1B, 8, 109, and 150; PhyAn 135 and 151; and Phys 2A. The School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology is equipped to provide valuable experience with large animals through the labs and projects at the university farm. Admission to veterinary school in California requires about 4.5 week-equivalents (180 hours) of relevant animal experience in activities that specifically give the applicant an appreciation and understanding of the profession of veterinary medicine.
Students desiring further information regarding the preveterinary curriculum should consult the chair of the animal sciences department, campus veterinarian and/or the adviser in the Biology Department.
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