This page serves as an introduction to the areas listed and make no claim to be all inclusive. See department coordinator, counselor or advisor for more complete information.
| College/School/Department | Fairmount College of Liberal Arts & Sciences |
| Name of Program Emphasis | Premedical Professions |
| Premedical Professions Advisors | Joan Snodgrass -joan.snodgrass@wichita.edu Elia Salas - elia.salas@wichita.edu Liberal Arts & Sciences Advising Center 115 Grace Wilkie Wichita State University Wichita, KS 67260-0006 PH: 316-WSU-3700 |
| Overview | Most medical
professional schools encourage students to develop the
broadest base possible in undergraduate studies. If you
want to study medicine, consider taking courses that
develop disciplined thinking, intelligent appreciation of
values and sympathetic understanding of society and human
interaction. Most medical schools base admission decisions on grade point average, entrance exam score, interview and personal references. The application process occurs one year before your intended entry date. Most schools encourage experience within a medically related setting. A baccalaureate degree is required for admission to medical and osteopathic schools and it is encouraged for other premedical professional programs. Any specific degree or major may be used as background for entry if you've completed the prerequisite core of courses in sciences and math. You'll want to cover communications, social sciences and humanities prerequisites within your degree work. |
| Places for Employment (Examples) |
Private and Professional
offices or clinics Hospital staff physicians Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Administration in hospitals, clinics, medical schools, etc. Research Teaching in medical programs Writing medical texts, editing medical journals, etc. |
| Specializations in the
Field for MD's and DO's |
Primary Care
Specialties: Family and Community Medicine, Internal
Medicine, Pediatrics Emergency Medicine General surgery Psychiatry Obstetrics & Gynecology Anesthesiology Pathology Ophthalmology Otorhinolaryngology Radiology Orthopedics Neurology Plastic Surgery Dermatology Urology Teaching, research and writing are possible activities within all specialties |
| Working Conditions | Your working conditions will generally be within modern, well-equipped clinical facilities, although some older facilities or those located in rural areas or third world countries might not have the most up-to-date furnishings. |
| Personal Qualifications | You must have a sincere
desire to help the ill and injured, often under stressful
situations and perhaps at the expense of personal or
family sacrifice. It is important that you be intelligent and mature enough to withstand the rigors of medical school. Your sincerity and personality will be important in gaining the confidence of your patients, and you must be able to make decisions in emergency situations with emotional stability, personal empathy and professional integrity. |
| Undergraduate Internships/Cooperative Educations & Job Opportunities |
Experience in one of the helping professions can be of great benefit to the prospective physician. The most desirable activities are those that provide you with direct contact with patients, but you will also find that assisting in teaching or working in a laboratory are also worthwhile, and very helpful in assuring that your interests are compatible with the medical profession. |
| Student Organization | South Central Kansas
Premedical Club Premedical Professions Club - WSU |
| Try-out Courses | Chemistry 111and 112
General (Inorganic) Chemistry Biology 210 General Biology I Mathematics 112 Precalculus Math |
Recommended High School |
The pre-college curriculum recommended by the Kansas Board of Education for high school students planning to enter college provides a solid foundation for university studies. For students interested in premedical programs, special attention to courses chosen in the sciences is critical. The best preparation for premedical prerequisites will be achieved if students complete as much math as possible and a minimum of three years of natural sciences: one year each in biology, chemistry and physics. It's more important to experience each of the science disciplines than to overload in one or two areas. Don't skip a year of high school physics. Of course, the pre-college curriculum contains space for some elective units, and an extra science in a field one enjoys may be an appropriate choice. However, students should not mistake the best preparation for premedical studies as being solely based on sciences: exploring as broadly as possible a variety of disciplines and activities will contribute to overall understanding of people, societies and potential fields of study. High school students may contact a premedical advisor in the university environment as early in their experience as possible to discuss appropriate content choices and opportunities. |
| Future Outlook | Openings in highly
specialized fields of medical practice are more limited
in number currently than in past years. Most states
continue experiencing shortages of primary care
physicians, especially in rural or less populated areas.
Flexibility in where you are willing to practice after
completing medical education will make a positive
difference in the work options available to new
physicians. Opportunities in the other medical professions (dentistry, optometry, podiatry, pharmacy, chiropractic and veterinary medicine) are certainly available but will depend to some extent on geography, population base and the type of practice a graduate wishes to pursue. |
| Famous People in the Field | Many physicians have been directly involved in research leading to break through medical discoveries that have improved the quality of life for everyone in the world. These ground breaking contributors continue to advance the frontiers of modern medicine and also impact the way health care is delivered. However, many persons whose lives have been affected positively by a caring physician would say that "famous" is in the eye of the beholder. Our personal physicians are intricately involved in intimate aspects of our daily lives and play an important role in assisting us to maintain quality health. |
| Community Counselors | If you would like to talk with someone practicing in the field of medicine, think of all the medical professionals you have known who seem to be inspired by what they do. Ask one or more to tell you what their reasons were for going into medicine, what s/he likes best, recommends, etc. |
| More Information & Resources |
See the Occupational
Outlook Handbook in the Career Services Office on the
second floor of Grace Wilkie or most any library and
check out the internet resources including the following: University of Kansas School of Medicine Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Association of American Medical Colleges The American Chiropractic Association American Association of Dental Schools The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine American Association of College of Podiatric Medicine Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges |
| General Premedical Programs Core |
English 101 and 102 Communication 111 Math - College Algebra (111) and Trigonometry (123) OR Precalculus (112) General (Inorganic) Chemistry 111 and 112 Organic Chemistry 531 and 532 (see medicine for exception) Biology 210 and 211 Physics 213 and 214 or 313 and 314 with labs (see pharmacy for exception) |
| Medicine (MD or DO) | The University of Kansas
School of Medicine also requires: Calculus (Math 144 or 242) or Statistics (Math 370) or Computer Science Comparative Anatomy (Biol 527) or Vertebrate Zoology (Biol 524) or Gross Anatomy (HS 700) or (HS 575I) Some schools may let you substitute one semester of organic chemistry and one semester of biochemistry for one year of organic chemistry. See your advisor. A biochemistry course is highly recommended. |
| Dentistry (DDS) | Core courses. The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is required. Kansas contracts with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry for dental school seats. |
| Podiatry (DPM) | Core courses. MCAT is required |
| Chiropractic (DC) | Core courses. |
| Optometry (OD) | Requirements for
professional schools of optometry differ considerably.
The premedical professions counselor can help with
specific information. The state of Kansas has contracts to provide optometry education with the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee; the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry; and the Northwestern State University College of Optometry in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Optometry Admissions
Test (OAT) is required and many college of optometry
require the following courses in addition to the core: |
| Pharmacy (Pharm. D) | This program requires
two preparatory years followed by four years in the
professional curriculum, so you may complete two years at
WSU before transferring to the University of Kansas
School of Pharmacy for a doctorate in pharmacy degree. The University of Kansas School of Pharmacy requires one year of high school physics with a grade of "B" or Physics 111. Biology 2XX is optional for KU. You'll also need the
following in addition to the core courses: Your premedical
professional counselor can suggest optimum sequencing of
the last three courses and can also help you structure
the 30 credit hours of general education that are
required. |
| Veterinary Medicine (DVM) | 70 hours of
preprofessional requirements are necessary before
entering Kansas State University's School of Veterinary
Medicine in Manhattan, KS. You may complete the following at
WSU in addition to the core courses: |
| Intellectual &
Academic Competencies Expected of Majors |
Because admission to all medical professional programs is more competitive than at any time in past years, students who are serious about applying to medical schools must illustrate consistent and high quality academic work over their university careers. Since any major in which one is interested will work in the application process, and since one or more alternatives to a medical career must be considered in overall planning, students should consider a filed of study that is fulfilling and personally challenging. Strong analytical, problem solving and communication skills will be developed in any academic major one selects. |
| As A Student in a Medical Professional School |
All medical professional programs require four years of intensive study involving course work and laboratory experiences related to core medical sciences contents. Also involved during these years are clinical studies which prepare students for licensure exams or for specialization or other graduate studies. |
| As a Graduate of a Medical Professional School |
Graduates in dentistry,
pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic and
veterinary medicine may sit for licensure exams following
four years of professional school. Passing the licensure
exams allows a person to begin professional practice. Graduates of medical schools sit for national board exams and are then able to enter a residency in a medical specialty of interest. Residencies are a minimum of three years in length with some extending to five years. Licensure exams follow successful completion of a residency. |
| As a Student in Premedical Studies at WSU |
Most students contact a
premedical counselor as soon as possible after beginning
work towards a baccalaureate degree. This is critical to
develop the best strategy of planning course work, to set
effective study goals, and to explore medical interests
as carefully as possible. Sequencing studies in the
premedical core of classes is very important so that one
content helps to strengthen to foundation for the next.
Math and chemistry are the initial classes followed by
biology and physics. In many respects, chemistry is the
primary content for all premedical professions. Biology
builds on this foundation. Around 90 credit hours or in the junior year, the application process begins. This involves scheduling any required entry exams and completing application materials. Most of the required information and materials are available in the Premedical Office, Room 200 of Lindquist Hall. Once the application is sent off and test scores are available, letters of recommendation will be requested by the schools and interviews will be scheduled for selected candidates. |
| The University reserves the right |
to revise or change rules, charges, fees, schedules, courses, requirements for degrees and any other regulations affecting students whenever considered necessary or desirable. |
| Notice of Nondiscrimination |
Wichita State University does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Director, Office of Affirmative Action, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0145; telephone (316) 978-3371. |