Pre-Professional Curricula

Students preparing to study architecture, pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, engineering, or law, should enroll in the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree as suggested by the advisors listed below. Before each registration, the student should consult his or her advisor.

Architecture. Architectural degree programs are offered as four, five and/or six year options. Schools offering Architectural programs in Texas include The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at San Antonio, The University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Tech University, The University of Houston, Rice University, and Texas A&M University. Majors include areas associated with architectural design, architectural engineering, regional and city planning, and landscape architecture.

Those courses accepted by most architecture schools are: English 1310, 1320, Mathematics 1315, 1317, History 1310, 1320, Political Science 2310, 2320, Physics 1410, 1420 and physical education activities, two semester hours. Other courses could be selected based on the selected school, architectural major, and student's background. Selected options in architecture use a broad based general academic or liberal arts program as a foundation to build the degree plan, while others will use only a minimum of these courses.

Because of the many choices of curricula in the field of architecture, all pre-architecture students, from the time they first enroll, should regularly consult with their advisor in selecting courses. Failure to do so may result in loss of transfer credit. Even courses accepted for transfer credit by another university may not apply toward a degree in architecture. Only those courses acceptable by the dean of the student's elected architecture school may be counted toward the corresponding degree. Advisor: Department of Technology.

Health Professions Programs. Students interested in health professions programs should visit or contact the School of Health Professions Advising Center at 512/245-3506. Information about the following fields is available: clinical laboratory science, communication disorders, health care administration, health information management, long term health care administration, radiation therapy, respiratory care and social work. Although the School does not offer degrees in nursing or occupational therapy, it does provide pre-professional advising for these fields.

Combination Degree in Medicine or Dentistry. After completing at least 96 hours of prescribed work at SWT, a student who is later certified by an approved medical or dental school as having satisfactorily completed one year's work at that institution may be granted a bachelor's degree by Southwest Texas State University. The student must meet all catalog requirements for the degree and must earn the last 30 of the 96 undergraduate hours at SWT. Advisor: Dean, School of Science.

Dentistry. Dental schools require two years of college work for entrance; however, most students accepted by dental schools have more than this. A bachelor's degree is preferred. Included in the required courses are the following: Chemistry 1410, 1420, 2410, 2420; Biology 1410, 1420, 2430, 2460; Physics 1410, 1420; English 1310, 1320. It is recommended that the students complete, in addition to the above courses, the General Studies requirements and the requirement for the Combination Degree leading to a B.S. in General Biology with a minor in Chemistry. Additional courses for the latter include Mathematics 2321 and 2331 (or 2417, 2471, and 2472) and Biology 3450 and 4416. Please note that the Combination Degree is more rigorous than the minimal courses required by most dental schools. An early admission program agreement between SWT and UTHSCSA Dental School is also available. Advisor: Dr. Caroline Benjamin, Department of Biology.

Engineering. There are two pre-engineering options. Students taking the first option (called a 3-2 option) spend approximately six semesters in a mathematics or physics curriculum or, for chemical engineering, a chemistry curriculum. After the completion of at least 96 hours of prescribed work, the last 30 of which must be earned in residence, a student in the 3-2 pre-engineering program who later earns an engineering degree from an approved engineering school may be granted a bachelor's degree by Southwest Texas State University. The student must (1) satisfy all General Studies requirements, and (2) complete a degree outline in their major departmental office before leaving SWT. After completing the entire program, students receive both an engineering degree from the school they attended and a BS in chemistry, mathematics, or physics from Southwest Texas State University. With the second option, students spend three to six semesters taking courses basic to the field of engineering they intend to enter and then transfer to the engineering school to pursue a degree.

Because of the many choices of curricula in the field of engineering, all pre-engineering students, from the time they first enroll, should regularly consult with their advisor in selecting courses. Failure to do so may result in loss of transfer credit. Even courses accepted for transfer credit by another university may not apply toward a degree in engineering. Only those courses acceptable by the dean of the student's elected engineering school may be counted toward the corresponding degree.

Concerning transfer of courses, SWT has entered into transfer articulation agreements with The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, Texas Tech University, and the University of Texas at San Antonio. These agreements specify suggested equivalences of courses. For additional information, contact your academic advisor.

If their mathematics background is inadequate to enroll in Mathematics 2471, first semester freshmen are advised to earn credit in Mathematics 1315, 1317, and 2363 (or 2417) in the summer session immediately preceding the regular session in which they plan to enroll. (See the catalog description for the proper prerequisites.) If this suggestion is not followed, the student's program is usually delayed by at least one semester. Students making a "D" in a technical course that serves as a prerequisite to another course are strongly urged to repeat the course. Advisor: Dean of the School of Science or Chair of the Department of Technology. For information on engineering technology see Department of Technology/Engineering Technology.

Law. All accredited law schools in the state-Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, South Texas School of Law, St. Mary's University, Texas Southern University, Texas Tech University, The University of Houston, and The University of Texas at Austin-require the following from applicants prior to admission: (1) a bachelor's degree, (2) superior grades, and (3) a satisfactory score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

It is strongly recommended that as many of the following courses be taken during the junior and senior years as the major curriculum permits: Criminal Justice 2315; Economics 2310, 2320; Finance 3301, Business Law 2361, 3362; Geography 3320, 4338; History 3315, 3316, 3344, 3349; Philosophy 2330, 3320-3321, 3331-3332, 3340; Political Science 3310, 3311 (or 3312), 3314, 3329, 4311, 4340 (or 4313 or 4356), 4352, 4361; Speech Communication 4331; and Sociology 3307 (or Political Science 3377), 3308, 3343.

Pre-law students are urged to consult the pre-law advisor and a pre-law representative, as appropriate, from the various schools: Professor John McLaren, Department of Criminal Justice, School of Applied Arts and Technology; Professor John McGee, Department of Finance and Economics, School of Business; Dr. Vincent Luizzi, Department of Philosophy, School of Liberal Arts; and Dr. Susan Day, Department of Sociology, School of Liberal Arts. The pre-law student should also become familiar with the services available through the Student Learning Assistance Center (SLAC). Advisor: Dr. Paul Kens, Department of Political Science.

Medicine. Medical schools recommend an appropriate bachelor's degree for entrance. A suggested program that will satisfy pre-medical requirements is as follows: Chemistry 1410, 1420, 2410, 2420; Biology 1410, 1420, 2430, 2460; Physics 1410, 1420; Mathematics 2321 and 2331, (or 2417, 2471, 2472); English 1310, 1320. Students who anticipate applying for the Combination Degree leading to a B.S. in General Biology with a minor in Chemistry should include the General Studies requirements and Biology 3450 and 4416. Advisor: Dr. Caroline Benjamin, Department of Biology.

Pharmacy. Pharmacy is a five- or six-year program, two years of which may be taken at SWT. The following courses are required for the four pharmacy schools in Texas, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, Texas Southern University and Texas Tech University: Biology 1410, 1420; Chemistry 1410, 1420, 2410, 2420; History 1310, 1320; Physics 1410; Political Science 2310, 2320. Requirements for mathematics, English and other courses vary according to the pharmacy school. Consequently, it is imperative that pre-pharmacy students consult with the advisor prior to and during their pre-pharmacy program. Advisor: Dr. B. J. Yager, Department of Chemistry.

b The only College of Veterinary Medicine in Texas is at Texas A&M University. Prior to admission, students must complete at least 64 hours of course work, which constitutes a pre-veterinary program. At SWT, all students must choose a major in one of the 4-year bachelor's programs. While any major is acceptable, majors in Agriculture/Animal Science, Biology or Chemistry most nearly parallel the courses required in the pre-veterinary program, which are as follows:

Biochemistry 4375 3
Vertebrate Zoology, Biology 1420 4
General Microbiology, Biology 3440 4
Inorganic Chemistry, Chemistry 1410,1420 8
Organic Chemistry, Chemistry 2410 4
English 1310, 3 hours literature, 3303
and Speech Communication 1310, 2320 or 2338 12
Agriculture 3301 or Biology 3450 3
Mathematics 1329, 2321/2331, 2471/2472, or 3305 3
Agriculture 3325 or 4325 3
Physics 1410, 1420 8

Formal application on a special form supplied on or about July 15 each year by the office of the dean at the Veterinary School must be filed with that office before October 1. A complete and official transcript from each college or university the applicant has attended must accompany the application forms. A record of courses in progress (and a record of courses planned for the following spring term and summer terms if the applicant will be enrolled) must also be submitted. The application must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of $35.00 (check or money order payable to Texas A&M University) which is used to partially defray the cost of processing the application.

The applicant must have an overall grade-point average of 2.75 or better or a 3.00 grade-point average or better for the last 45 semester credits completed (A=4.00 grade points).

Each applicant must submit scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). It is recommended that the applicant take the spring testing. However, the September testing date will be acceptable. The GRE will be given at various centers throughout the United States, including SWT. To determine the most convenient location, prospective applicants should write to the GRE, General Test Coordinator, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, N.J., 08541-6000. Students may also call (609) 951-6505 or contact the SWT Placement Center.

Advising for students who wish to qualify for the professional curriculum in veterinary medicine is available at SWT by contacting the SWT Pre-Veterinary Advisor or by appointment with the Office of the Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 (telephone (409) 845-5054). Advisor: B. Michael Abel, D.V.M., Department of Agriculture, (512) 245-2130.