The Pre-Engineering Program
Pre-Engineering students have the option of completing an engineering degree at an affiliated school of engineering: Marquette University, the University of Detroit-Mercy, the University of Missouri at Columbia, or the University of Missouri at Rolla. If they so desire, they may arrange to receive a dual degree from both Rockhurst University and the school of engineering they select.

Pre-Law
The American Association of Law Schools and the Committee on Pre-legal Education recommends an undergraduate degree program with a strong liberal arts education content, which complements the Core Curriculum, assists in preparing the student for the Law Scholastic Aptitude Test, and enhances the student's success in law. Those students interested in pre-law should contact the pre-law advisor who provides and assists with preparation for admission to law school, as well as legal career counseling.

Pre-medical Post-Baccalaureate Program
The Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate Program is intended for those students who have completed a baccalaureate program, usually in a non-science area, and who now desire to come back to school to fulfill their science requirements for medical school. This program is applicable to those preparing for either the allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) medical schools. Find out more about this program.

The Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Program
Rockhurst University has a very active program for those who wish to pursue a career in medicine or dentistry. Its liberal arts core, along with a major in biology or chemistry, meets all the medical and dental school requirements of science and non-science courses.

From the first declaration of intention, the pre-medical or pre-dental student is assigned a member of the Pre-medical and Pre-dental Advisory Committee as academic adviser. The function of the adviser is to see that students meet the course work requirements on schedule and to encourage them to maintain high performance and motivation. The adviser will also provide catalogs, literature and guidance about medical or dental school requirements. The adviser also counsels students on the MCAT (Medical College Aptitude Test) or the DAT (Dental Aptitude Tests) which are usually taken at the end of the third year of college.

Finally, the Pre-medical and Pre-dental Committee interviews the prospective applicant during the junior year and writes the official letter of recommendation. Pre-medical and pre-dental students are encouraged to consult frequently with their advisors concerning their course work. The chairpersons of the Pre-medical and Pre-dental Advisory Committee are members of the American Association of Advisors to the Health Professions.

The Pre-Medical Scholars Program
By arrangement between Rockhurst University and Saint Louis University, students interested in attending Saint Louis University's medical school may obtain early acceptance into its MD program - normally after the end of their sophomore year. The student then continues at Rockhurst to complete the bachelors degree (B.S. or A.B.).

To become a Pre-Medical Scholar, a student must have a strong high school academic record, strong letters of recommendation, and strong scores in the ACT (composite 30) or SAT (composite 1400 with 700 verbal). The Rockhurst University Pre-Medical Advisory Committee invites students into this program upon their entrance into the College of Arts and Sciences.

Pre-Medical Scholars Partners Program
By special arrangement between Rockhurst University and the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (formerly University of Health Sciences), students interested in Osteopathic Medicine may obtain early acceptance to KCUMB. The student must have an ACT score of 27 and by the end of first year at Rockhurst have a GPA of 3.5. After an interview, two students are selected each year for the program. The selected students transfer to KCUMB after their third year at Rockhurst, and graduate from Rockhurst after their first year at KCUMB. The student applies for the program at the beginning of sophomore year; the selections will be made that semester. This program gives special recognition to Rockhurst students of exceptional abilities. It is intended to reduce much of the stress and anxiety that pre-medical students often experience.

The Pre-Optometry Program
Rockhurst offers a four-year pre-professional program for students interested in obtaining the Doctorate in Optometry, O. D. This program, based in the Division of Natural Sciences, leads to a BS degree and provides students with the undergraduate courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and math necessary to pursue the advanced professional degree. There is no uniform listing of courses required by all Colleges of Optometry. Hence it is important that students interested in this program should consult regularly with the pre-optometry advisor.

The Pre-Pharmacy Program
Pre-Pharmacy is a non-degree track within the College of Arts and Sciences at Rockhurst University. This track is typically a two-year program that will assist you in the completion of the requirements for entry into a school of pharmacy. Most schools of pharmacy require four years of professional study after completion of at least two years of pre-pharmacy.

Your pre-pharmacy advisor will provide you with guidance and help you plan your schedule each semester. In general, students are required to take course work including general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus and English composition. The school of pharmacy to which you plan to transfer will dictate additional prerequisite classes that may be required. It is advisable to identify several schools of pharmacy that may interest you and fulfill the prerequisite requirements for all to expand your professional school options.

The Pre-Physician Assistants Program
Rockhurst offers a four-year pre-professional program for students interested in pursuing a Master of Physician Assistant degree. This program, based in the Division of Natural Sciences, leads to a BS degree and provides students with the undergraduate courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and math necessary to pursue an advanced professional degree. Students interested in this program should consult with the pre-physician assistants advisor.

The Pre-Veterinary Medicine Program
Rockhurst offers a four-year pre-professional program for students interested in becoming veterinarians. This program, based in the Division of Natural Sciences, leads to a BS degree and provides students with the undergraduate courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and math necessary to pursue the Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, D. V. M. Since the requirements from one College of Veterinary Medicine to another vary somewhat, it is important that students interested in this program should consult with the pre-Veterinary Medicine advisor.

Scientific modes of inquiry
Scientific modes of inquiry are logical systems of principles and procedures developed to discover the shape, form, properties, and behavior of the constituent parts of nature. This mode requires rigorous tests of hypotheses and confidence statements about causality, and the explanations that result have as their ultimate goal the falsification or confirmation of theories. This mode of inquiry relies on controlled scientific experiments which can reveal causal relationships. Students must successfully complete at least one approved four-hour level-one course in science. This course must have a laboratory component. Students must also successfully complete at least one approved level-two three-hour course in either the scientific-causal or scientific-relational mode of inquiry.