Additional Pre-Health Studies

VETERINARY, PHYSICAL or OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, and MORE!  

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A CAREER AS A VETERINARIAN

A veterinarian is an animal doctor. They diagnose, treat, and provide preventative care for many different species of animals. Veterinarians can have varying duties but often include performing physical exams, giving vaccinations, prescribing medications, providing dental care, and performing surgical procedures. They also play a role in educating pet caretakers, animal welfare, and monitoring the spread of diseases passed between animals and humans. Veterinarians can further standard education and training requirements to specialize in certain areas. 

EDUCATION LEVEL: GRAD-Doctorate (DVM)

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COMPETITVE PRE-VET STUDENTS:

 

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

UTA STUDENT ORGANIZATION

PREREQUISITES - REQUIRED & RECOMMENDED COURSES

The prerequisites below are the typical requirements for Texas Veterinary Schools. Each school may vary in their requirements. It is the students’ responsibility to check admissions requirements for each specific school (Texas programs below). Prerequisite requirements must be for science majors completed with a C or better (most schools DO NOT accept a C minus). Some schools have a 7-10 year expiration date, however, recent course work is preferred. Accepted students typically exceed the minimum requirements and have 16+ hours in upper-level sciences. Non-Traditional/Post Bacc Students should also visit this page.

 

 

REQUIRED HOURS

 ACCEPTED UTA Course Codes

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

minimum 11 semester hours for traditional science majors **Note: Competitive candidates typically take more than 11 hours in Biology

(Nursing, Kinesiology, and any other allied health course DO NOT SATISFY required courses)

These courses are NOT ACCEPTED:

BIOL 2457 & 2458 - Anatomy and Physiology I and II

BIOL 2460 - Nursing Microbiology

BIOL 3303 - Drugs and Behavior

BIOL 3320 - Biology of Texas

BIOL 3324 - Human Ecology of Food

BIOL 3316 - Astrobiology

Any BIOL TA, CO-OP, Seminar, Preceptorship, or Research courses

BIOL 1441 - Cell and Molecular Biology

BIOL 1442 - Evolution and Ecology

BIOL 2444 - Microbiology

BIOL 3315 - Genetics

BIOL 3442 - Human Physiology

BIOL 3446 - Human Anatomy

BIOL 3301 - Cell Physiology

BIOL 3312 - Immunobiology

BIOL 4312 - Intro to Virology

BIOL 3322 - Brain and Behavior

***Note: Additional Biology courses may count towards this requirement

GENERAL CHEMISTRY

8 semester hours including the corresponding lab (6 hours of lecture & 2 hours of lab) for traditional science majors.

(Nursing, Kinesiology, and any other allied health courses DO NOT SATISFY requirements)

These courses are NOT ACCEPTED:

CHEM 1400 - Intro to Chemical Principles

CHEM 1451 - Chemistry for Health Sciences

 

CHEM 1441 - General Chemistry IORCHEM 1341/1181 - General Chemistry I (for CHEM majors)

CHEM 1442 -General Chemistry IIORCHEM 1342/1182 - General Chemistry II (for CHEM majors)

***Note: CHEM 1465 (for ENG majors) can count towards 4 hours and CHEM 1188/9 can count towards lab credit IF lecture completed with C or better.

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

8 semester hours, including the corresponding laboratory experience. (6 hours of lecture & 2 hours of lab)

CHEM 2321 - Organic Chemistry I & CHEM 2181 - Organic Chemistry I Lab

CHEM 2322 - Organic Chemistry II & CHEM 2182 - Organic Chemistry II Lab

CHEM 2283 & 2284 - Synthesis & Analysis Lab (acceptable for labs only)

BIOCHEMISTRY

3 semester hours of Biochemistry

Note: Cannot be Intro level (1000/2000 level)

 

CHEM 4311 - Biochemistry I

PHYSICS

3-4 semester hours

PHYS 1441 - General College Physics I OR PHYS 1443 - General Technical Physics II

 

ENGLISH & COMMUICATION

3 semester hours of writing intensive college English

3 hours Communication (other classes may be accepted)

ENGL 1301 - Rhetoric & Composition I

COMS 2305 - Business & Professional Communication

STATISTICS

3 semester hours of Statistics

(3 semester hours of an upper-level Statistics for Texas A&M)

NOTE: Additional courses may satisfy this requirement

MATH 1308 - Elementary Statistics

BIOL 2300 - Biostatistics

PSYC 2300 - Statistics in Psychology

PSYC 2443 - Research and Design I

IE 3301 - Engineering Probability

MATH 3316*** - Statistical Inference

***Upper-level statistics REQUIRED by TAM Vet School

 ANIMAL NUTRITION

(not offered at UTA)

  3 hours 

 N/A - must be taken at institution that offers this course

Contact Health Professions Office for list

APPLICATION SERVICES & APPLYING

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A CAREER AS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST

A physical therapist is a healthcare provider that focuses on improving your bodies movement and function with the goal of preventing injuries and minimizing pain. They help patients recover and manage pain from surgeries, injuries, and other health conditions by developing individualized treatment plans. Physical Therapists work in hospitals, clinics, and can even visit patients in their place of residence. They are an integral part of a healthcare team.  

EDUCATION LEVEL: GRAD-Doctorate (DPT)

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COMPETITVE PRE-PT STUDENTS:

UTSW and UTA: ADVANCING PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM (APT)

  • The APT Program is a direct path for admissions to UT Southwestern Doctorate of Physical Therapy program for highly qualified Kinesiology or Exercise Science majors. There are specific criteria that must be met. For more information, please contact Dr. Judy Wilson at jrwilson@uta.edu. 

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

PREREQUISITES - REQUIRED & RECOMMENDED COURSES

The prerequisites below are the typical requirements for Texas PT Schools. Each school may vary in their requirements. It is the students’ responsibility to check admissions requirements for each specific school. Prerequisite requirements must be for science majors completed with a C or better (most schools DO NOT accept a C minus). Most PT schools do not have an expiration, but they expect recent coursework. Non-Traditional/Post Bacc Students should also visit this page.

 

REQUIRED HOURS

 ACCEPTED UTA Course Codes

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

minimum 16 semester hours for traditional science majors

(Nursing, Kinesiology, and any other allied health course DO NOT SATISFY required courses)

These courses are NOT ACCEPTED by most programs:

BIOL 2457 & 2458 - Anatomy and Physiology I and II

BIOL 2460 - Nursing Microbiology

BIOL 1441 - Cell and Molecular Biology

BIOL 1442 - Evolution and Ecology

BIOL 3442 - Human Physiology

BIOL 3446 - Human Anatomy

GENERAL CHEMISTRY

8 semester hours including the corresponding lab (6 hours of lecture & 2 hours of lab) for traditional science majors.

(Nursing, Kinesiology, and any other allied health courses DO NOT SATISFY requirements)

These courses are NOT ACCEPTED:

CHEM 1400 - Intro to Chemical Principles

CHEM 1451 - Chemistry for Health Sciences

CHEM 1441 - General Chemistry IORCHEM 1341/1181 - General Chemistry I (for CHEM majors)

CHEM 1442 -General Chemistry IIORCHEM 1342/1182 - General Chemistry II (for CHEM majors)

PHYSICS

8 semester hours, including lab (6 hours of lecture & 2 hours of lab) for traditional science majors

PHYS 1441 - General College Physics IORPHYS 1443 - General Technical Physics II

PHYS 1442 - General College Physics IIORPHYS 1444 - General Technical Physics II

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

6 semester hours

 

PSYC - Intro to Psychology 

PSYC 3310 -Developmental Psychology

STATISTICS

3 semester hours of Statistics

 

NOTE: Additional courses may satisfy this requirement

MATH 1308 - Elementary Statistics

BIOL 2300 - Biostatistics

PSYC 2300 - Statistics in Psychology

IE 3301 - Engineering Probability
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED/RECOMMEND COURSES

 Varies by program

 

These classes are helpful towards this career. Most competitive students take more than the bare minimum course requirements.

NURS 3309 - Medical Terminology 

MATH 1302 - College Algebra or higher

PSYC 3318 - Abnormal Psychology

KINE 3415 - Exercise Physiology

KINE 3401 - Biomechanics

KINE 3388 - Motor Development 

 

APPLICATION SERVICES & APPLYING

  • PTCAS Application Instruction

    • CYCLE DATES: 6/15/23 - deadlines vary
    • COST: $165 for 1 school ($65/additional school)

    • PT Program Deadlines

    • Fee Waivers
    • Supplemental Requirements

    • Keep track of your hours! Some programs require documentation:

      • Documentation of hours, days, time, and type of clients observed must be provided and signed by a licensed physical therapist (include physical therapist’s license number in the documentation). This documentation will be submitted to PTCAS.

         

    • ADMISSIONS TEST - GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION (GRE)

    • The GRE is currently the admissions test requirement for some PT Programs
    • SCORE: 130-170 in reasoning sections and 0-6 in writing section
    • SECTIONS: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing
    • COMPETITIVE SCORE: >150 in each reasoning section and >4 in writing
    • COST: $220
    • IDEAL time to TAKE: Can vary; summers are ideal
    • Register at: GRE ETS Site
    • General information
    • TEST PREP RESOURCES 

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A CAREER AS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

An occupational therapist is a healthcare provider that focuses on interventions to improve daily tasks and activities. This can include volunteering, taking care of oneself or others, working, school, and many other life experiences. Occupational Therapists evaluate and create a plan to reach goals and then evaluates outcomes. Their patient population can be very diverse and include people with various conditions that impact daily tasks. They are an important part of a healthcare team.  

EDUCATION LEVEL: GRAD-Masters or Doctorate (MOT or DOT)

PREREQUISITES - REQUIRED & RECOMMENDED COURSES

The prerequisites below are the typical requirements for Texas OT Schools. Each school may vary in their requirements. It is the students’ responsibility to check admissions requirements for each specific school. Prerequisite requirements must be completed with a 'C' or better (most schools DO NOT accept a C minus). Most OT schools do not have an expiration, but they expect recent coursework. Non-Traditional/Post Bacc Students should also visit this page.

 

REQUIRED HOURS

 ACCEPTED UTA Course Codes

BIOLOGY

minimum 8-12 semester hours

 

BIOL 1441 - Cell and Molecular Biology

BIOL 2457 & 2458 - Anatomy & Physiology I & II 

OR

BIOL 3446 & 3442* - Human Anatomy & Human Physiology 

*Prereqs: BIOL 1441 & 1442  

PHYSICS

3-4 semester hours for traditional science majors

PHYS 1441 - General College Physics IORPHYS 1443 - General Technical Physics II

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

6 semester hours

PSYC 1315- Intro to Psychology

PSYC 3310-Developmental Psychology

STATISTICS

3 semester hours of Statistics

 

MATH 1308 - Elementary Statistics

BIOL 2300 - Biostatistics

PSYC 2300 - Statistics in Psychology
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED/RECOMMEND COURSES

Varies by program

 

These classes are helpful towards this career. Most competitive students take more than the bare minimum course requirements.

NURS 3309 - Medical Terminology

KINE 3401 - Biomechanics

KINE 3388 - Motor Development

KINE 3300 - Functional Anatomy

Sociology or Anthropology courses

 

OBSERVATION HOURS

Most OT programs require a minimum of 20-40 hours of observation or shadowing a Occupational Therapy Professional (OTP, OTR, COTA). Some schools require a signature and documentation of hours. Below are templates to log hours:

APPLICATION SERVICES & APPLYING

 

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MORE HEALTHCARE CAREER OPTIONS

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UTA PROGRAMS

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PREREQUISTES

The requirements for each program vary by school. Below are links to the requirements of some popular programs. Visit the admissions website of any additional school and program you are interested in for information.

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APPLICATION SERVICES

  • TMDSAS - Texas Veterinary Schools 
  • CSDCAS - Audiology/Communication Science & Disorders Programs 
  • VMCAS -   U.S. Veterinary Schools (except Texas)
  • OPCAS -   Orthotics & Prosthetics 
  • SOPHAS - Public Health Schools 
  • OTCAS & OTACAS - Occupational Therapy & Occupational Therapy Assistant Schools
  • PTCAS -   Physical Therapy Schools
  • AACPMAS - Podiatric Schools 

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: