Engineering

Full details about Beloit’s engineering offerings are given in Chapter 2. To summarize:

• 3-2 engineering, a Beloit College major through which students also earn an engineering degree
• 4-2 engineering, a Beloit College degree followed by an engineering degree
• Engineering Physics, a Beloit College major

Pharmacy

Full details about Beloit’s pharmacy offerings are given in Chapter 2. To summarize:

• 3-3 pharmacy, a dual degree program with the Medical College of Wisconsin through which students can earn a doctorate in pharmacy (PharmD)

Pre-Law Preparation

Beloit provides special advising to students interested in law school. Pre-law advisors help students develop an appropriate course of study that will maximize their chances for successful entrance into law school.

The college offers a minor in law and justice but does not offer a “pre-law” major because most law schools prefer applicants who have not majored in “pre-law.” Instead, the college’s pre-law advisors help students design the best academic program for their interests and acquire the skills needed to perform well on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and apply successfully to law school.

For more information, contact professor Charles Westerberg.

Pre-Med/Pre-Health Professions

Preparation for Medicine, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary, and Physical Therapy

A student preparing for a career in the health professions must simultaneously fulfill (i) the general requirements for graduation from Beloit College, (ii) the requirements for a field of concentration (a “major”), and (iii) the specific admission requirements for the chosen post-baccalaureate health professional program. Many pre-health professions students major in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, or health and society because the requirements for these majors align most directly with admissions requirements for post-baccalaureate health professions programs. However, careful planning allows students to major in other disciplines and to complete professional school admission requirements. It is also possible to complete all requirements and study abroad, but early consultation with an advisor is highly recommended.

The Beloit College Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) maintains a webpage with up-to-date information about applying to professional schools at www.beloit.edu/hpac and schedules regular group and individual advising sessions. HPAC is composed of informed and experienced faculty responsible for the advising of students considering careers as physicians, nurses, veterinarians, dentists, pharmacists, physician assistants, physical therapists, social workers, and public health specialists. The requirements for various professional schools differ, and students are encouraged to consult the online catalogs of programs from their home state or programs that fit the student’s particular area of interest. In addition to course requirements, students should investigate shadowing and clinical requirements for specific professional programs.

The Health Professions Advisory Committee works with interested students and their academic advisors to develop schedules that can accommodate study abroad and other Beloit experiences, along with the prerequisite courses and standardized testing required for pursuing different health professions. Students should meet with a health professions advisor during their first semester at Beloit College to develop a four-year plan.

Students who plan to attend medical school need to take the following courses to meet basic requirements:

1. Natural sciences and mathematics: 2 biology courses; Chemistry 117, 220, 230, and 235; biochemistry (Biology/Chemistry 260 and/or Biology/Chemistry 300); Physics 101 and 102; and Mathematics 110 or 113. Many medical schools also require statistics courses offered in biology, mathematics, psychology, or sociology disciplines at Beloit.
2. Social sciences: 2 courses, preferably including psychology and/or sociology.
3. Arts and humanities: 2 courses including English literature and/or composition.

Students who plan to attend post-baccalaureate nursing programs usually need to take the following courses. Nursing prerequisites differ, however; students are advised to carefully check the catalogs of programs that interest them.

1. Natural sciences and mathematics: Biology 208, 247, 256, and 257, Chemistry 117 and 230. Some programs also require a course in nutrition (Biology/Chemistry 260) and a course in statistics.
2. Psychology 100 and 210.
3. Arts and humanities: 2 courses including English literature and/or composition.

Students preparing for physician’s assistant (PA) and physical therapy (PT) programs may need to take additional courses in human anatomy and physiology and/or kinesiology. Students should consult the programs in which they are interested to determine specific requirements.

Students who plan to pursue a career in the health professions should take advantage of Beloit College’s opportunities for community service and leadership. While students are encouraged to shadow health professionals and to volunteer with community health agencies, it is unlikely that these experiences will be sufficient for admission to health professions programs. Therefore, HPAC highly recommends training and experience, such as CNA or EMT, which provides real world healthcare proficiency.