The Office of Pre-Professional Advising at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) facilitates students in all colleges and all majors. The office assists undergraduate, graduate, alumni, and post-baccalaureate students with their individual process of pursuing a career in health or law related professions by providing support, guidance, and resources.
The office values developing meaningful relationships, a sense of community, personal growth, a sense of support and challenge, and overall wellness with each student.
If an individual has begun considering a health or law career or is in the process of submitting their application to a health or law program, the office assists students with planning, procedures, and providing information. The office assists students in building competitive applications, which involves reviewing personal statements, developing pre-professional resumes, conducting mock interviews, finding and building shadowing and volunteering opportunities and experiences, discovering and applying for internships and summer programs, conducting research, writing letters of recommendation (must meet requirements), and more.
To receive services and maintain status at UAH as a pre-professional student, all interested students must apply through the Pre-Professional website: uah.edu/ppa
Pre-Professional Areas
Careers supported by the Office of Pre-Professional Advising include:
- Law
- Allopathic Medicine
- Osteopathic Medicine
- Nursing Advanced Practice
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Veterinary Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physician Assistant
- Public Health
- Graduate studies in health related areas, including, but not limited to: epidemiology, genetic counseling, health behavior sciences, rehabilitation sciences, audiology, health care organization, and more.
The Office of Pre-Professional Advising offers academic preparatory options, which are flexible and provide a broad background to satisfy a wide variety of career objectives, including the diverse fields in the health professions.
Professional schools review student coursework, recommendation letters (e.g. employers, faculty, PPA committee letter), health related experiences (e.g. volunteering, shadowing, internships), quality interview skills and admissions test scores (e.g. Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Dental Admission Test (DAT), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), etc.). The Pre-Professional Advisor ensures students gather each element needed for professional schools, apply at the appropriate time of year, understand components needed for their appropriate entrance exam, and feel confident in the application process.
Many students entering professional schools (e.g. medical, law, dental, optometry) do so after earning an undergraduate and/or graduate degree. No particular academic major or minor is preferred to enter a health field (with the exception that a career in nursing will require a nursing degree). It is important to consult with the desired professional school to determine specific admission requirements. Competition for admission to professional schools is intense and minimum admission requirements do not ensure acceptance.
Courses to Consider
Typical courses for admission to many health professional programs include those listed in the following set of courses. Law schools do not have a set of required courses.
It is recommended that students discuss courses with their Pre-Professional Advisor. Specific requirements of health professional programs may be found on the Pre-Professional Advising website.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| English Composition and Literature | ||
| Select 6 semester hours | 6 | |
| General Biology (w/ lab) 1 | ||
| Select 8 semester hours | 8 | |
| General Chemistry (w/ lab) | ||
| Select 8 semester hours | 8 | |
| General Physics (w/ lab) 2 | ||
| Select 8 semester hours | 8 | |
| Organic Chemistry (w/ lab) 2 | ||
| Select 8 semester hours | 8 | |
| Mathematics and Statistics 3 | ||
| Select 6 semester hours | 6 | |
| General Social and Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Select 6 semester hours | 6 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 50 | |
| 1 | Additionally recommended: genetics, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology |
| 2 | Not required for every pre-professional area of interest. Discuss with Pre-Professional Advisor. |
| 3 | Calculus preferred for Mathematics |
Students are advised to choose programs of study according to individual interests and abilities.
Each professional school of interest may differ in requirements, both in and out of class, and meeting with the Pre-Professional Advisor in the Office of Pre-Professional Advising is important in accomplishing professional goals. Meeting regularly with the Pre-Professional Advisor may fulfill students' maximum potential for admission.
Pre-Professional Advising
2nd Floor, Student Services Building
www.uah.edu/ppa
256.824.4714