Health Professions
Preparation for Health Professions
www.whitworth.edu/health-professions
Whitworth has a long history of preparing students for graduate programs and successful careers in the health professions, such as athletic training, chiropractic, dental, medical, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy and veterinary medicine. Recent graduates have been accepted into professional schools at the following institutions:
| Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Saint Louis University |
| A.T. Still University | San Jose University |
| Bastyr University | Stanford University |
| Central Washington University | Touro University |
| Cornell University | University of Arizona |
| Creighton University | University of Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Des Moines University | University of Hawaii |
| Eastern Washington University | University of Indiana |
| Hastings College | University of Indianapolis |
| Idaho State University | University of Kentucky |
| Indiana University | University Nevada, Las Vegas |
| Iowa State University | University of Oregon |
| Jefferson University | University of Pennsylvania |
| Loma Linda University | University of Pittsburgh |
| Mayo School of Health Sciences | University of Puget Sound |
| Mayo Graduate School of Medicine | University of Southern California |
| Michigan State University | University of Utah |
| Midwestern University | University of Virginia |
| Oregon Health and Science University | University of Washington |
| Pacific Northwest University | Virginia-Maryland Regional |
| Pacific University | Utah State University |
| Palmer College of Chiropractic | Washington State University |
| Rosalind Franklin University | Western University of Health Sciences |
The choice to pursue a career or graduate program in the health and wellness arena connects seamlessly to the mission of Whitworth University: equipping graduates to honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity. Whitworth’s rigorous liberal arts education gives students a broad knowledge base and a set of analytical, critical-thinking and communication skills that enable them to thrive in graduate school and in their chosen careers. During their time at Whitworth, students are encouraged to explore new areas of interest and to choose a major that focuses on an area that they find most exciting. Most health-related graduate programs accept students from all majors and disciplines, as long as they have taken the required prerequisite courses. Therefore, all students preparing for careers in the health professions are encouraged to work closely with an advisor in their chosen major and with the health professions advisor (listed below each program’s title) to develop a curriculum that prepares them to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the Dental Admission Test (DAT), or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and/or to apply to the graduate school of their choice.
Specific prerequisites for programs may differ; it is the student’s responsibility to check the prerequisites for the institution to which the student wishes to apply. The following are some examples of health professions and the suggested courses for entrance into these graduate programs.
Pre-Chiropractic
Advisor: Daman Hagerott
Chiropractic schools vary widely in their prerequisites. Check with your advisor and the D.C. school in which you are interested for specific course requirements. Also, meet with your advisor regularly to develop an academic plan that meets your interests and goals.
Pre-Dentistry
Advisors: Karen Stevens, Mike Sardinia, Deanna Ojennus, Elizabeth Abbey, Alisha Epps
The following courses are usually required for pre-dentistry students:
| BI 140 & 140L | General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution and General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution Lab | 4 |
| BI 143 & 143L | General Biology II: Ecology and,Evolution and Ecology and Evolution Lab | 4 |
| CH 161 & 161L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| BI 306 | Medical Microbiology | 4 |
| BI 306L | Medical Microbiology Lab | 0 |
| CH 181 & 181L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CH 271 & 271L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CH 278 & 278L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CH 401 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| or BI 311 | General Biochemistry | |
| PS 151 | General Physics I | 3 |
| PS 153 | General Physics II | 3 |
| One year of college English | 6 | |
Pre-Medicine
Advisors: Karen Stevens, Mike Sardinia, Deanna Ojennus, Elizabeth Abbey, Alisha Epps
Pre-requisites for medical schools can vary widely and represent only the minimum amount of required preparation. The following are those courses that the pre-med advising committee advises that pre-med students take to best prepare for medical school. It is recommended that pre-med students enroll in two seminar courses that have been specially designed by the Whitworth faculty to provide information to pre-med students and help prepare students for the MCAT and application process. Those seminar courses are: SC/STEM 126 Seminar for Health Professions and STEM 351 Preparatory Seminar: Health Professions. It is also strongly suggested to meet with an advisor to review planned coursework.
| Courses recommended to be a strong, competitive applicant: | ||
| BI 140 & 140L | General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution and General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution Lab | 4 |
| BI 143 & 143L | General Biology II: Ecology and,Evolution and Ecology and Evolution Lab | 4 |
| CH 161 & 161L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CH 181 & 181L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CH 271 & 271L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CH 278 & 278L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| One of the following biochemistry courses: | 3-4 | |
| Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Lab | ||
Or | ||
| General Biochemistry | ||
| One of the following sets of physics courses: | 8 | |
| General Physics I and General Physics I Lab | ||
| General Physics II and General Physics II Lab | ||
| Or | ||
| College Physics for Life Sciences and College Physics for Life Sciences Labora,tory I | ||
| College Physics for Life Sciences II and College Physics for Life Sciences Lab II | ||
| PY 101 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| SO 120 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| One year of college English. | 6 | |
| BI 323 & 323L | Animal Physiology and Lab: Animal Physiology | 4 |
| BI 350 & 350L | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Lab: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | 4 |
| BI 354 & 354L | Developmental Biology and Lab: Developmental Biology | 4 |
| One of the following genetics courses: | 4 | |
| Genetics and Lab: Genetics | ||
| Molecular Genetics and Molecular Genetics Lab | ||
| BI 412 | Cell Physiology | 3 |
| CH 403 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| MA 171 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MA 256 | Elementary Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| One of the following ethics courses: | 3 | |
| Ethics | ||
| Medical Ethics | ||
Pre-Med Tech
Advisor: Deanna Ojennus
Note: Medical technology schools vary widely in their prerequisites. Check with your advisor and the med-tech school in which you are interested for more specific courses required.
The courses shown here are required by the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (PSHMC) medical laboratory science program.
| BI 140 & 140L | General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution and General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution Lab | 4 |
| BI 143 & 143L | General Biology II: Ecology and,Evolution and Ecology and Evolution Lab | 4 |
| CH 161 & 161L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| BI 306 & 306L | Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Lab | 4 |
| CH 181 & 181L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CH 271 & 271L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CH 278 & 278L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CH 401 & 401L | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Lab | 4 |
| MA 256 | Elementary Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| Immunology* | ||
| Other recommended courses: | ||
| BI 308 | Biology of HIV/AIDS | 3 |
| BI 346 | Field Parasitology | 3 |
| BI 354 & 354L | Developmental Biology and Lab: Developmental Biology | 4 |
| BI 363 & 363L | Genetics and Lab: Genetics | 4 |
| BI 399 & 399L | Molecular Genetics and Molecular Genetics Lab | 4 |
| BI 412 | Cell Physiology | 3 |
| CH 335 & 335L | Modern Analytical Chemistry and Modern Analytical Chemistry Lab | 4 |
| CH 336 & 336L | Spectroscopic Analysis and Spectroscopic Analysis Lab | 4 |
| CH 403 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| HS 185 | Medical & Anat. Terminology | 1 |
| HS 220 & 220L | Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab: Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| HS 221 & 221L | Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab: Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| HS 410 | Chronic Disease Epidemiology and,Prevention | 3 |
| * Immunology is not offered at Whitworth and must be completed at another institution or online. See your advisor for a list of possible online courses. | ||
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Advisor: Loriann Helgeson
The prerequisite courses for professional occupational therapy programs vary by institution. The list of courses below is based on the requirements for the more rigorous programs that Whitworth students consider. Check with your advisor and the OT schools in which you are interested for more specific course requirements. Also, meet with your advisor regularly to develop an academic plan that meets your interests and goals.
Information about Whitworth University's occupational therapy doctoral program may be found here.
| BI 140 & 140L | General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution and General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution Lab | 4 |
| CH 101 | Introduction to Chemistry | 3 |
| or CH 161 | General Chemistry I | |
| CH 101L | Introduction to Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| or CH 161L | General Chemistry I Lab | |
| HS 185 | Medical & Anat. Terminology | 1 |
| HS 220 & 220L | Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab: Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| HS 221 & 221L | Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab: Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| HS 320 | Structural and Mechanical Kinesiology | 4 |
| PY 101 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| PY 210 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PY 358 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| PS 151 | General Physics I | 3 |
| or PS 131 | College Physics for Life Sciences | |
| SO 120 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or SO 200 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | |
| PY 201 | Psychological Statistics | 3 |
| or MA 256 | Elementary Probability and Statistics | |
| EL 211 | Introduction to Professional Writing | 3 |
| Performing Arts and Humanities: We also recommend one course that emphasizes the creative process (art, dance, film, music, theatre, or creative writing) and one class that emphasizes the lived experience (ethics, gender studies, history, languages, literature, philosophy, religion and theology). | ||
Pre-Pharmacy
Advisors: Karen Stevens, Deanna Ojennus
Note: Pharmacy schools vary widely in their prerequisites. Check with your advisor and the pharmacy school in which you are interested for more specific courses required.
The following set of courses is recommended for all pre-pharmacy students:
| BI 140 & 140L | General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution and General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution Lab | 4 |
| BI 143 & 143L | General Biology II: Ecology and,Evolution and Ecology and Evolution Lab | 4 |
| CH 161 & 161L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CH 181 & 181L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CH 271 & 271L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CH 278 & 278L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CH 401 & 401L & CH 403 | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Lab and Biochemistry II | 7 |
| EC 210 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| MA 171 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MA 256 | Elementary Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| COM 210 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| One year of college English | 6 | |
| One of the following: | 4 | |
| Medical Microbiology (plus lab) | ||
Pre-Physical Therapy
Advisor: Smokey Fermin, Matt Silvers
The prerequisite courses for professional physical therapy programs vary by institution. The list of courses below is based on the requirements for the more rigorous programs that Whitworth students consider. Check with your advisor and the PT schools in which you are interested for more specific course requirements. Also, meet with your advisor regularly to develop an academic plan that meets your interests and goals.
Information about Whitworth University's physical therapy doctoral program may be found here.
| BI 140 & 140L | General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution and General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution Lab | 4 |
| BI 143 & 143L | General Biology II: Ecology and,Evolution and Ecology and Evolution Lab | 4 |
| CH 161 & 161L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CH 181 & 181L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| HS 220 & 220L | Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab: Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| HS 221 & 221L | Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab: Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| HS 320 | Structural and Mechanical Kinesiology | 4 |
| MA 256 | Elementary Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| PS 151 & 151L | General Physics I and General Physics I Lab | 4 |
| or PS 131 & 131L | College Physics for Life Sciences and College Physics for Life Sciences Labora,tory I | |
| PS 153 & 153L | General Physics II and General Physics II Lab | 4 |
| or PS 133 & 133L | College Physics for Life Sciences II and College Physics for Life Sciences Lab II | |
| PY 101 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| PY 358 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| SO 120 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| One year of college-level writing (e.g. EL 110 + another EL writing course) | 6 | |
Pre-Physician Assistant
Advisor: Elizabeth Abbey
The prerequisite courses for professional physician assistant programs vary by institution. The list of courses below is based on the requirements for the more rigorous programs that Whitworth students consider. Check with your advisor and the PA schools in which you are interested for more specific course requirements. Also, meet with your advisor regularly to develop an academic plan that meets your interests and goals.
| HS 220 & 220L | Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab: Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| HS 221 & 221L | Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab: Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BI 140 & 140L | General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution and General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution Lab | 4 |
| BI 143 & 143L | General Biology II: Ecology and,Evolution and Ecology and Evolution Lab | 4 |
| BI 306 | Medical Microbiology (plus lab) | 4 |
| CH 161 & 161L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CH 181 & 181L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| MA 256 | Elementary Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| PY 101 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| or SO 120 | Introduction to Sociology | |
| One year of college English | 6 | |
| Other courses that are recommended may include: | ||
| CH 271 & 271L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| BI 311 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
| BI 363 & 363L | Genetics and Lab: Genetics | 4 |
| or BI 399 & 399L | Molecular Genetics and Molecular Genetics Lab | |
| HS 185 | Medical & Anat. Terminology | 1 |
| PY 210 | Developmental Psychology (some schools require both of these) | 3 |
| or PY 358 | Psychopathology | |
Pre-Veterinary
Advisors: Mike Sardinia
The following courses are usually required for pre-veterinary students:
| BI 140 & 140L | General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution and General Biology I: Genes, Cells and,Evolution Lab | 4 |
| BI 143 & 143L | General Biology II: Ecology and,Evolution and Ecology and Evolution Lab | 4 |
| BI 323 & 323L | Animal Physiology and Lab: Animal Physiology | 4 |
| BI 363 & 363L | Genetics and Lab: Genetics | 4 |
| BI 350 & 350L | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Lab: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | 4 |
| BI 354 & 354L | Developmental Biology and Lab: Developmental Biology | 4 |
| CH 161 & 161L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CH 181 & 181L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CH 271 & 271L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CH 278 & 278L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CH 401 & 401L | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CH 403 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| or BI 311 | General Biochemistry | |
| MA 171 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MA 172 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MA 256 | Elementary Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| PS 151 | General Physics I | 3 |
| PS 153 | General Physics II | 3 |