USF 1995-96 Undergraduate Catalog - Pages 62 - 64
The University of South Florida is an excellent location to prepare for a health profession. The Veterans Administration Hospital, University of South Florida Medical Center, Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida Mental Health Institute, and University Community Hospital are within walking distance of the campus and offer students excellent opportunities for observation, research, and experience.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers programs designed to prepare students for admission to professional schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatric medicine, and veterinary medicine. Usually these professions require four years of preprofessional preparation followed by four years of training in a professional school. A few well prepared students with exceptional qualifications may be admitted to some professional schools as early as the completion of the junior year of preprofessional work. The preprofessional programs do not meet requirements for a degree, but students should plan to also complete a degree while at USF because, while not specifying a major, professional schools prefer students with a bachelor's degree. Most preprofessional students major in the sciences because of their interests in the health sciences, and because of the considerable overlap between the preprofessional curriculum and the degree requirements for majors in the biology and chemistry departments. Entrance into all professional schools or programs is competitive, and students should begin establishing a record of excellence with the first semester at USF. Furthermore, it is essential that students pursue courses developing a sense of understanding of cultural and humane values and basic social problems.
The College of Arts and Sciences provides academic advising in the Health Professions Advising Office. The office maintains a library of current catalogs and books on admission requirements for professional schools and is an important resource center for preprofessional students. Students considering one of the health professions should contact the College of Arts and Sciences during the first semester at USF to declare their interest in a health professions program. Students are then assigned to the Health Professions Advising Office for curriculum planning, and each semester the office provides students with updated academic records. At the time of application to professional schools, students are provided information about admission tests and the application process, and they are assisted in the process of obtaining faculty evaluations.
This program is designed to prepare students for admission to professional schools of dentistry, medicine, osteopathic medicine, and podiatric medicine. All of these professional schools have in common the following course requirements, which should be completed by the end of the junior year, the usual time of application:
In addition to these requirements it is generally expected that preprofessional students will complete two semesters of English and mathematics appropriate for their degree. Some schools require calculus. CLEP credit usually is not acceptable to professional schools.
The following courses are recommended by some professional schools:
An early admission program has been established in affiliation with the University of Florida College of Dentistry, which would allow students to be admitted to dental school after three years at the University of South Florida, completing a baccalaureate degree and dental school in a total of seven years. In order to be eligible for early admission to the College of Dentistry, a high school student must be accepted by the University of South Florida and must meet the following requirements: overall high school gpa of no less than 3.4, as computed by the University of Florida; total SAT of no less than 1200, or ACT of no less than 28, or EACT of no less than 29; high school science gpa of no less than 3.0 with courses completed in both biology and chemistry; apply during the senior year of high school and be approved for admission by the College of Dentistry Admissions Committee following a formal interview. Following admission into the joint program, final acceptance to the College of Dentistry is contingent upon the student completing all required courses; earning a gpa of no less than 3.2 for all courses attempted and no less than 3.0 for courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics; and completing the Dental Admissions Test with a score of no less than 15 on each section of the test. It is also possible for students to apply for early admission during the freshman and sophomore years at the University of South Florida. Additional information is available in the Health Professions Advising Office.
Optometry schools differ somewhat in requirements, but all optometry schools require at least two years of pre-optometry studies, and most schools require the following courses:
The following additional courses are required by regional schools: MAC 3234, BCH 3023, PCB 4723C, PSY 2012, a psychology elective, and 8 hours of social sciences. Some schools also recommend or require ZOO 3713C, and one school also requires human anatomy and physiology with lab.
A joint program between USF and Nova-Southeastern University of the Health Sciences College of Optometry (SEUCO) allows students to complete a baccalaureate degree and doctor of optometry degree in a seven-year program. Freshmen may apply for the joint program by applying for admission to USF and also applying for admission to SEUCO. To be eligible for admission, students must meet all admissions requirements for USF, and in addition must have an SAT minimum score of 1100, an ACT minimum of 25 or an EACT minimum of 27; a minimum high school GPA of 3.3; three years of high school science including biology and chemistry; and high school mathematics through algebra and trigonometry. Once admitted to the program students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 each term and satisfactorily complete required courses and the Optometry Admissions Test. Students must be Florida residents by the time they enter SEUCO.
The pre-veterinary medicine program meets admission requirements of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, the only veterinary school in the state. Admission into veterinary school is highly selective, and to be competitive students should obtain experience working with animals, preferably through employment with a veterinarian. Pre-veterinary students should complete a degree in the major of their choice while including the following entrance requirements:
It is required that students have a minimum of 80 hours including 6 hours of English composition, 6 hours of social science, 9 hours of humanities, and 8 hours of animal science courses, which must be completed at the University of Florida. Recommended courses are ZOO 3713C (4), ZOO 4603 (4), and PCB 4723C (4).
Students who are admitted to an approved U.S. medical or dental school after completing their junior year at the University of South Florida may be awarded the B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences from the College of Arts and Sciences subject to the following conditions:
Students admitted to professional schools of veterinary medicine, optometry, or podiatric medicine prior to completion of their degree may also be able to transfer courses from the professional school and receive their bachelor's degree. However, approval of the courses to be transferred must be obtained on an individual basis from the College of Arts and Sciences, and in some cases it may be necessary for students to complete more than 90 hours prior to leaving the University of South Florida.
Send comments to:
Margaret R. Martinroe - webCat@ugs.usf.edu
Publication Date: June 1, 1995
http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/9596/hprofs.htm