Pre-Professional Programs

The following programs of study in preparation for certain professional schools are offered (course descriptions can be found within disciplinary listings):

Pre-Athletic Training

The Pre-Athletic Training program prepares students for entrance into a professional curriculum for athletic training at institutions that offer a master’s degree. To become a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), you must earn a Master of Science in Athletic Training degree (MSAT). Most students interested in attending an MSAT program need to complete a four-year degree in their selected major in addition to completing athletic training prerequisites. The athletic training prerequisites include but may not be limited to at least 1 course in anatomy & physiology, biology, chemistry, physics, biomechanics, exercise physiology, and statistics.

Prerequisites may change; students are strongly encouraged to contact professional programs for the most current requirements. Most athletic training schools require some observation experience in the athletic training field. The National Athletic Training Association maintains information about individual MSAT program prerequisites. See www.nata.org and www.atcas.org for additional information.

Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Students in these areas are advised to select a major, consistent with their needs and interests, which leads to a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. Each student must obtain a firm foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology – the disciplines that provide essential tools for medical, dental and veterinary sciences. Medical education demands preparation not only in the natural sciences, but also in behavioral and social sciences and humanities.

Recommended Courses

BIO 113 – Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics (3)
BIO 114 – Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics Laboratory (1)
BIO 123 – Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology (3)
BIO 124 – Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology Laboratory (1)
BIO 234 – Medical Terminology
BIO 303 – Genetics (4)
BIO 313 – Microbiology I (4)
BIO 323 – Cellular/Molecular Biology (4)
CHEM 121 – General Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHEM 122 – General Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
CHEM 131 – General Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 132 – General Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 321 – Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHEM 322 – Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
CHEM 331 – Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 332 – Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 441 – Biochemistry (3)
MATH 104 – Probability and Statistics (4)
MATH 121 – Calculus I (4)
PHYS 111/PHYS 112 Introductory General Physics I and Introductory General Physics I Laboratory (4)

AND PHYS 121/PHYS 122: Introductory General Physics II and Introductory General Physics II Laboratory (4)

PHYS 211/PHYS 212: General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory (4)

AND PHYS 221/PHYS 222: General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory (4)

PSY 101 or PSY 201 – Introduction to Psychology OR Human Development (3)

Must take one of the following:

PEH 435 – Health Ethics and Society (3)
PHIL 301 – Introduction to Ethics (3)
SOC 100 – Principles of Sociology (3)

Must take one of the following:

BIO 231/232 and BIO 241/242 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Laboratory AND Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Laboratory (8)
BIO 308 – Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4)
BIO 403 – Animal Physiology (4)
It is strongly advised that students take their social/behavioral science courses during the academic year directly before taking the MCAT.

Pre-Engineering

Kentucky Wesleyan College, in conjunction with ABET accredited engineering schools, offers a 3+2 program in engineering. A student choosing this program would complete the pre-engineering program at Kentucky Wesleyan and then transfer to an accredited engineering school. Many different engineering degrees are available from accredited engineering schools including but not limited to: Aerospace, Agricultural, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Electronics, Environmental, Health and Safety, Industrial, Marine, Materials, Mechanical, Mining, Nuclear, and Petroleum engineering.

The types of science degrees available from Kentucky Wesleyan include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.

Students in pre-engineering complete 91 hours (about three years) of math and science courses, and all of the General Education requirements at Kentucky Wesleyan College. Upon completion of the pre-engineering program at Wesleyan, students transfer to an accredited engineering school to finish their engineering degree. To complete a science degree at Kentucky Wesleyan College, students transfer back from the engineering school the necessary courses to complete a science major and a total of 120 hours.

Additional courses may be required at Wesleyan for some of the particular engineering and science degrees.

The following courses should be complete at Kentucky Wesleyan College.

Required Courses

CHEM 121 – General Chemistry Laboratory 1 (1)
CHEM 122 – General Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
CHEM 131 – General Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 132 – General Chemistry II (3)
ENGR 101 – Introduction to Engineering (3)
ENGR 106 – Computer Graphics/Communication (3)
MATH 121 – Calculus I (4)
MATH 221 – Calculus II (3)
MATH 222 – Calculus 3 (3)
MATH 301 – Differential Equations (3)
PHYS 211 – General Physics I (3)
PHYS 212 – General Physics I Laboratory (1)
PHYS 221 – General Physics II (3)
PHYS 222 – General Physics II Laboratory (1)
PHYS 308 or PHYS 342 – Modern Physics (offered every other fall) OR Heat and Thermodynamics (4) (offered every other spring)

Must take one of the following:

ENGR 221 – Statics (3)
ENGR 380 – Design of Logic Circuits (4) (offered as required)
PHYS 340 – Analog Electronics (4) (offered every other spring)
PHYS 342 – Heat and Thermodynamics (4) (offered every other spring)
ENSC 220 and ENSC 221 – Environmental Science and Environmental Science Laboratory (4) (offered every fall)

Must take one of the following:

MATH 309 – Discrete Mathematics (3) (offered every other spring)
MATH 403 – Partial Differential Equations (3) (offered every other spring)

Completion of Kentucky Wesleyan College General Education required.

Pre-Law

The 3+3 Accelerated Law program at the University of Louisville allows eligible undergraduate students to apply to the Brandeis School of Law in their junior year. Students admitted under the program fulfill their senior year of undergraduate credits through the successful completion of their first-year law school courses, allowing them to graduate with both a baccalaureate degree at the end of their first year of law school from Kentucky Wesleyan College and Juris Doctor degree from the University of Louisville two years later, saving a year of tuition and related costs.

Program Requirements

To be eligible for this program, students must meet the following requirements:

Complete three years (90 hours) of undergraduate coursework at Kentucky Wesleyan College
Must satisfy the general education requirements for the bachelor’s degree.
Must satisfy all major coursework requirements or receive approval that certain first-year law courses will count toward satisfying the major’s requirements.
Meet all other undergraduate requirements for graduation.

Admission Process

Students who satisfy the above requirements may apply for admission to the Brandeis School of Law under the 3+3 program prior to completing their junior year. Admissions requirements include:

Submission of a completed application to Brandeis Law during the junior year prior to any deadline established by Brandeis Law for that year’s admissions cycle.
Timely submission of scores from the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) to permit the LSAT score to be considered in the application for admission.
Interview with a Brandeis School of Law admissions representative
Complete all other Brandeis School of Law admission requirements: https://law.louisville.edu/admission/apply

At the time of application to the 3+3 program and at the end of the student’s junior year, it is recommended that a typical candidate for this program will have earned an undergraduate GPA of least the median undergraduate GPA earned by the previous year’s entering law class (min. cumulative GPA 3.5). The candidate will have also earned an LSAT score of at least the median LSAT score earned by the previous year’s entering law class.

Coursework

The student will be considered a law student during the 4th year/1L year. If the student fails to complete or fails the law school course it will be the decision of individual programs whether to accept any of the law school credits towards the undergraduate degree. If the student successfully completes the 1L year the undergraduate degree is awarded at the conclusion of the 1L year, once an official transcript has been received by Kentucky Wesleyan College.

Tuition

The student will pay the Law school rate for all three years they are in the law school. The University of Louisville has the Rachel C. and G. Wallace Thacker Scholarship to support a qualified Kentucky Wesleyan College graduate.

Thacker Scholarship Minimum Requirements

Must be a full-time student seeking a law degree at the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. Recipients must be among the law school’s most highly qualified and sought-after applicants with a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and an admissions test score in the top half nationally. Preference shall be given to those students with financial need. The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is a graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Ky.

Benefits

$7,500 renewable scholarship to be used at the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.

The Rachel C. and G. Wallace Thacker Scholarship is a $7,500 annual scholarship for the primary benefit of a qualified graduate from Kentucky Wesleyan College to be used at the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. The purpose of the scholarship is to attract academically talented students to the school and to provide financial aid to meet expenses that include, but are not limited to, tuition, books and course-related fees.

The scholarship may be renewed until the time of the selected student’s graduation from the Brandeis School of Law, as long as the student remains in good standing. If the scholarship is renewed for a continuing student, a new recipient will not be selected in that year.

Pre-Nursing

Kentucky Wesleyan College offers a 2-year Pre-Nursing Program for students seeking admission to the University of Louisville’s School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program. In the beginning of the fourth semester at Wesleyan, students should apply to the University of Louisville B.S.N. program in Owensboro. Upon completion of the curriculum at that facility, through successful nursing-specific coursework and practical experience, students will be awarded a B.S.N. degree from the University of Louisville.

Pre-nursing course requirements for entry into University of Louisville*

Pre-Occupational Therapy

The Pre-Occupational Therapy program prepares students for entrance into a professional curriculum for occupational therapy at institutions that offer a doctoral degree. All Occupational Therapy schools now confer only doctoral degrees, Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). Most students interested in attending a OTD program need to complete a four-year degree in their selected major in addition to completing occupational therapy prerequisites. The occupational therapy prerequisites include but may not be limited to at least 1 course in anatomy & physiology, statistics, chemistry and/or physics. Additional courses in psychology may be required as well.

Prerequisites may change; students are strongly encouraged to contact professional programs for the most current requirements. Most occupational therapy schools require some observation experience in the occupational therapy field. The American Occupational Therapy Association maintains information about individual OTD program prerequisites. See www.aota.org and www.otcas.org for additional information.

Pre-Optometry

The Pre-Optometry program prepares students for entrance into a professional curriculum for optometry at institutions that offer a Doctor of Optometry degree program. Most students complete a four-year degree at Kentucky Wesleyan College in their selected major, in addition to completing the optometry school prerequisites. In this model, students’ complete degree requirements in their chosen major, as well as the pre-optometry prerequisites for entrance into a Doctor of Optometry program. Pre-optometry prerequisites should include but may not be limited to at least a year of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, general physics, and microbiology; English, college mathematics; and other social science and humanities courses. The science courses should be pre- professional level courses designed for science majors or health professional students and should offer laboratory experience.

There is an option for students to apply to some Doctor of Optometry school programs without completion of an undergraduate degree, but this track is much less common. Students in the pre-optometry program should accumulate a minimum of 90 semester hours including pre-optometry courses listed above. The remainder of the curriculum includes courses selected to fulfill the General Education requirements of the optometry college the student is to attend. The student could apply for admission to a Doctor of Optometry school after a minimum of three (3) years at Wesleyan.

Doctor of Optometry schools require applicants to complete the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). Prerequisites may change; students are strongly encouraged to contact professional programs for the most current requirements. The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry maintains information about Doctor of Optometry prerequisites. See www.opted.org and www.optomcas.org for more information.

Pre-Pharmacy

The Pre-Pharmacy program prepares students for entrance into a professional curriculum for Pharmacy at institutions that offer a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program. Most students complete a four year degree at Kentucky Wesleyan College in their selected major, in addition to completing pharmacy school prerequisites. In this model, students complete degree requirements in their chosen major, as well as the pre-pharmacy prerequisites for entrance into a professional pharmacy program. Pre-pharmacy prerequisites include but may not be limited to 2 years of chemistry, 3 semesters of biology and 2 semesters of physics.

There is an option for students to apply to professional pharmacy school programs without completion of an undergraduate degree but this track is much less common. Students in the pre-pharmacy program should accumulate a minimum of 66 semester hours including 2 years of chemistry, 3 semesters of biology and 2 semesters of physics. The remaining courses are selected to fulfill the General Education requirements of the pharmacy college the student is to attend. The student could apply for admission to a professional pharmacy school after a minimum of 2 years at Wesleyan.

Most professional pharmacy schools require applicants to complete the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). Prerequisites may change; students are strongly encouraged to contact professional programs for the most current requirements. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy maintains information about individual Pharm.D. program prerequisites. See www.aacp.org.

Pre-Physical Therapy

The Pre-Physical Therapy program prepares students for entrance into a professional curriculum for physical therapy at institutions that offer a doctoral degree. All Physical Therapy schools now confer only doctoral degrees, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). Currently, the accepted, entry-level clinical degree to practice as a Physical Therapist is the DPT. Most students interested in attending a DPT program need to complete a four-year degree in their selected major in addition to completing physical therapy prerequisites. The physical therapy prerequisites include but may not be limited to 2 semesters each in anatomy & physiology, biology, chemistry, and physics. Courses in exercise science, psychology, and statistics may be required as well.

Prerequisites may change; students are strongly encouraged to contact professional programs for the most current requirements. Most physical therapy schools require some observation experience in the physical therapy field. The American Physical Therapy Association maintains information about individual DPT program prerequisites. See www.apta.org and www.ptcas.org for additional information.

Pre-Physician Assistant

The Pre-Physician Assistant (P.A.) program prepares students for entrance into a professional curriculum for Physician Assistant at institutions that offer a master’s degree in this field. Students interested in attending a P.A. program need to complete a four-year degree in their selected major in addition to completing the P.A. program prerequisites. P.A. program prerequisites include but are not limited to two semesters each in chemistry, physics and social sciences, four semesters in biology with the remaining hours in humanities and electives. The institution offering the P.A. program confers a master’s degree upon completion of the program.

Several educational paths exist for students who wish to enter the physician assistant field. Due to the many variables in the educational options, students are encouraged to thoroughly research this profession and determine which educational path best leads to their particular career goals. Students should check the particular prerequisites of the P.A. educational programs that best interest them. Prerequisites may change; students are strongly encouraged to contact professional programs for the most current requirements. The American Academy of Physician Assistants maintains information about individual program prerequisites. See www.aapa.org.

BIO 228/229 – Medical Microbiology with Laboratory¹ (4)
BIO 231/232 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Laboratory^{1, 2} (4)
BIO 241/242 – Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Laboratory^{1, 2} (4)
CART 141 – Basic Public Speaking (3) (recommended)
CHEM 105/106 – Concepts in Chemistry with Laboratory (4)
CHEM 230 – Chemistry of Life Processes¹ (3)
IDS 202 – Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences (3)
MATH 101 – College Algebra³ (3)
PSY 201 – Human Development (3)

*Course requirements if students obtain an associate degree. If students do not obtain an associate degree, additional courses are required for entry into the University of Louisville.

¹Grades in these classes must be C or higher.

²BIO 231/232/241/242 – Human Anatomy & Physiology may be repeated only one time and must be completed in sequence at the same institution.

³Is not required if the student achieves a MATH ACT of 25 or above.

Kentucky Wesleyan College students also have the option of completing a four-year degree in their selected major, typically Health Science, in addition to completing nursing program prerequisites for their school of interest. Students then typically enter an Accelerated Nursing Program, which confers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Clinical Nursing Leader (Master of Science) upon completion of the program.

Prerequisites may change and students are strongly encouraged to contact professional programs for the most current requirements. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing maintains information about individual nursing program prerequisites. See https://www.aacnnursing.org/students