Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Prehealth Professions, B.S.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study

The Prehealth Professions major is designed for a student who plans to become a physician, dentist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, chiropractor, pharmacist, veterinarian, physician assistant, optometrist, podiatrist, anesthesiologist assistant, or other comparable healthcare professional. The program helps to prepare the student for an appropriate doctoral or master’s level health professions program leading to their career choice. The special entrance requirements of the health profession schools to which the student plans to apply are considered when electives are chosen.

Core Requirements


All students must complete the Avila University Core Curriculum as a part of their degree programs. The Core consists of a minimum of 39 credit hours that meet the requirements listed below. Please go to Core Curriculum  for more information and to view all Core classes.

Core Foundations (9-11 credit hours)


Foundations requirements provide the basic skills essential for effective participation in other classes as well as the professional world.

Core Pillars & Levels (30 credit hours)


Pillars and Levels requirements address the breadth of knowledge expected of a liberal arts education and challenges students to integrate prior knowledge and create new ideas through higher levels of coursework.

Cross-Application Note: All courses that meet a Pillar also meet a Level and may meet a Designation requirement. Some courses taken for major and/or minor requirements may also meet Core requirements.

CORE CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES
    Social Justice & Civic Life Pillar 
(6 credit hours required)

Creativity & Culture Pillar
(6 credit hours required)

Belief & Reason Pillar
(6 credit hours required)
Explorations of Nature Pillar 
(6 credit hours required)

24 credit hours required 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACQUIRE LEVEL        
TRANSFORM LEVEL        
6 credit hours required CONTRIBUTE LEVEL

 

 

     

Core Designations


Core Component Designations requirements incorporate assignments and experiences focused on developing and deepening student understanding to prepare students for responsible lifelong contributions to the global community.

CORE Designations

Interdisciplinary Studies (IS)

(9 credit hours)

Global Studies (GS)    

(9 credit hours)     

Community Engagement (CE)    

(3 credit hours) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfer Students


The Core Component Designations requirement for transfer students is determined by the number of credit hours transferred to Avila University. Please see the Transfer Students  page within this catalog.

Cross-Application


As noted above, courses can have multiple designations and thus meet multiple requirements at once.

Example: BI 215 - Humans & the Environment (3)  meets all of the following requirements:

  • Belief & Reason Nature Pillar
  • Transform Level
  • Global Studies (GS) Designation
  • Major Requirement

Program Requirements


The candidate for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Prehealth Professions must complete at least 120 credit hours of academic work with a minimum grade point of 3.0, complete the final 30 hours at Avila University, complete at least 12 hours in the major at Avila University at the 300 and 400 level, and complete all other general degree requirements as stated in the Core Curriculum.

Technology Requirement


Computer competency will be demonstrated by successful completion of the following course:

Post-Baccalaureate Program


Avila University has a Post-Baccalaureate Program to help prepare students with a baccalaureate degree in a non-science field to obtain the science courses and academic advising to gain admission to a Health Professions School. The Prehealth Professions advisor works with each Post-Baccalaureate student to plan the student’s individual program of study.

Prehealth Professions Agreements

The following summarizes the special agreements that Avila University has with Health Professions Schools. Additional information on these programs can be obtained from Avila’s Prehealth Professions advisors.

Allopathic Medicine

Avila University students are eligible to apply to the University of Missouri - Kansas City, UMKC, Medical Scholars Program. Eligible students may apply for early admission status to the UMKC School of Medicine in their sophomore or junior year at Avila.

Osteopathic Medicine

Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience

First-year Avila University students who have an ACT composite score of 28 or higher are eligible to apply for openings each year in the medical school class at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, KCUMB. The students for this special program will be interviewed and selected in their second year of study at Avila. If the students who are accepted maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 and a science GPA of 3.5, they will be able to start medical school at KCUMB during their senior year at Avila. After successful completion of their first year of course work at KCUMB and meeting Avila’s degree requirements, the students will graduate with a B.S. degree in Biology from Avila.

A.T. Still University, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, KCOM

Second-year Avila University students who have and maintain a minimum of a 3.4 overall and science GPA and who have completed at least 75 percent of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine’s prerequisite courses with a grade of “B” or higher are able to apply to the Still Scholars Early Acceptance Program. The students for this special program will apply by June 1st of their second year at Avila and will be interviewed and selected the following summer. Accepted students need to maintain the minimum of a 3.4 overall and science GPA as well as participate in KCOM Still Scholars events and other activities to maintain their pre-admission status.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, LECOM, School of Medicine

First- and second-year Avila University students who have high ACT/SAT scores and grades are eligible for early acceptance into LECOM’s Three plus Four or Four plus Four medical school program. This program is also open to strong high school students who will attend Avila University.

Chiropractic

Cleveland University

Avila University students who have an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher and who complete courses prerequisite to admission to Cleveland Chiropractic College by the end of the third year at Avila are eligible for the Avila - Cleveland Chiropractic Three plus Three Program. Accepted students will complete their senior year at Cleveland Chiropractic. After successful completion of their course work at Cleveland during this year and meeting Avila’s degree requirements, the students will graduate with a B.S. degree in Biology from Avila.

Logan College of Chiropractic

Avila University students who have an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher and who complete courses prerequisite to admission to Logan College of Chiropractic by the end of their third year at Avila are eligible for the Avila - Logan Three Plus Three Program. Accepted students will complete their senior year at Logan. After successful completion of their course work at Logan during this year and meeting Avila’s degree requirements, the students will graduate with a B.S. degree in Biology from Avila.

Northwestern Health Sciences University

Avila University students who have an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher and who complete courses prerequisite to admission to Northwestern Health Sciences University Doctor of Chiropractic Program by the end of their third year at Avila are eligible for the Avila Northwestern Three plus Three Program. Accepted students will complete their senior year at Northwestern Health Sciences. After successful completion of their course work at Northwestern during this year and meeting Avila’s degree requirements, the students will graduate with a B.S. degree in Biology from Avila.

University of Western States

Avila University students who have an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher and who complete courses prerequisite to admission to the University of Western States Doctor of Chiropractic Program by the end of their third year at Avila are eligible for the Avila - University of Western States Three plus Three Program. Accepted students will complete their senior year at the University of Western States. After successful completion of their course work at the University of Western States during this year and meeting Avila’s degree requirements, the students will graduate with a B.S. degree in Biology from Avila.

Dentistry

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, LECOM, School of Dentistry

First- and second-year Avila University students who have high ACT/SAT scores and grades are eligible for early acceptance into LECOM’s Three plus Four or Four plus Four dental school program. This program is also open to strong high school students who will attend Avila University.

Pharmacy

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, LECOM, School of Pharmacy

First- and second-year Avila University students who have high ACT/SAT scores and grades are eligible for early acceptance into LECOM’s Three plus Four or Four plus Four pharmacy school program. This program is also open to strong high school students who will attend Avila University.

Physical Therapy

Rockhurst University

The Rockhurst University Physical Therapy program reserves two seats in each cohort for qualified Avila students who have met the Rockhurst Physical Therapy program’s application criteria. Avila students who meet these application criteria must apply through www.PTCAS.org prior to October 1 of the year preceding the desired summer of admission to be eligible for consideration for these two seats.

A. T. Still University, Arizona School of Health Sciences

Avila University students who maintain a 3.0 overall and science grade point average and who meet application criteria set by A.T. Still University are given priority consideration for admissions to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

Mount St. Mary’s College

Avila University students who maintain a 3.0 overall and science grade point average and who meet application criteria set by Mount St. Mary’s College will be granted an interview for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Qualified Avila University students will be granted up to two seats per class.

Southwest Baptist University

Avila University students who have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average and who meet application criteria set by Southwest Baptist University will receive preference points when they apply to Southwest Baptist’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Students must complete their application through PTCAS by the deadline of their intended enrollment date. Additional requirements are available from Avila’s Prehealth Advisors.

Occupational Therapy

Rockhurst University

The Rockhurst University Occupational Therapy program reserves two seats in each cohort for qualified Avila students who have met the Rockhurst Occupational Therapy program’s application criteria. Avila students who meet these application criteria must submit a letter of intent to the Rockhurst Department of Occupational Therapy office by May 1st of their junior year with a copy of their official transcripts and must apply through www.OTCAS.org prior to September 1st of the year preceding the desired summer of admission to be eligible for consideration for these two seats.

Physical Assistant Program

Avila University students are eligible to apply to the University of Missouri - Kansas City, UMKC, Allied Health Scholars Program. Eligible students may apply for early admission status to the Master of Medical Science Physician Assistant Program in their junior year at Avila.

Anesthesiologist Assistant Program

Avila University students are eligible to apply to the University of Missouri - Kansas City, UMKC, Allied Health Scholars Program. Eligible students may apply for early admission status to the Master of Science in Anesthesia Program in their junior year at Avila.

Outcomes


Upon graduation, a student majoring in Prehealth Professions should be able to:

Outcome 1.

Demonstrate a working knowledge of the basic principles of biology, chemistry, and physics. (BI 111  and BI 112 , CH 137 , and PH 232 )

Outcome 2.

Apply scientific knowledge to solving problems. (BI 492  and BI 499  or CH 497  and CH 499 )

Outcome 3.

Demonstrate the clear communication of the basic principles of science through speaking and writing. (CH 342 )

Outcome 4.

Demonstrate an understanding of current issues in the health professions. (HE 101 )

Assessment


The outcomes for the Prehealth Professions major are assessed through a combination of examination results, term papers, oral reports, and mentor evaluations.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study