GENERAL SCOPE

Preprofessional programs are those in which a student completes two to four years of college as a prerequisite for admission to a school where his professional studies will begin with the length of time spent preparing as an undergraduate varing by program. However, there are two underlying elements in the coursework that do not vary. First, since admission to professional schools is highly competitive, it is vital that a student maintain high grades in her coursework. Second, preprofessional programs are career choices, not academic majors. Thus, all students typically choose a departmental major at GCSU and work toward its completion as they also take the required preprofessional coursework.

Our preprofessional advising programs are divided into two categories: prebaccalaureate and baccalaureate. Prebaccalaureate programs require two to three years of preprofessional courses. Upon successful completion of the preprofessional curriculum and acceptance by a professional school, students transfer to that school to complete the baccalaureate or higher degree in the professional major. Georgia College & State University has prebaccalaureate transfer programs in engineering, forestry and natural resources, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and physician assistant. However, it is increasingly common for a student to have completed his or her Baccalaureate degree prior being successfully admitted to the latter two programs. Baccalaureate programs involve the completion of an undergraduate degree before matriculation into professional school. These programs include dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine.

Most preprofessional course requirements can be met at any accredited college or university. However, preprofessional advising at Georgia College & State University is one of our strengths, as our University's professional advisors work to maintain a strong and current advising program. At Georgia College our advising program is designed to enhance professional school admission opportunities and facilitate a student's transfer into a professional school. The advisement structure includes a coordinator of preprofessional advising and at least one faculty advisor for each preprofessional program area as described on the following pages.