Pre-professional Programs

Students who have received early admission to graduate or professional schools may petition the College to receive the B.A. degree after the successful completion of one year of graduate or professional study. In order to be awarded the degree, the student must have completed the McDaniel Plan Requirements, have their total program approved by the major department(s), and have completed sufficient hours of course work at the College and in the graduate or professional school to equal the 128 credit hours required for the College’s graduation. The Provost and the chair of the major department(s) will determine whether these requirements have been met. Having met the requirements, the student will receive their degree and may participate in graduation ceremonies.

A broad liberal arts education is an asset for students who wish to pursue a professional education, and entrance examinations and admissions requirements for many professional schools favor individuals who have benefited from an undergraduate liberal arts education. For over a century, McDaniel College has offered pre-professional education, and graduates have proceeded to study and practice the learned professions with distinction.

Pre-Allied Health

Contact: Steve McCole, Ph.D. and Jennifer McKenzie, Ph.D.

There are many paths and a variety of career options in the allied health field. McDaniel College students are encouraged to choose a major that encourages their passions and challenges them to be successful. Each graduate and professional program has their own set of prerequisite courses to gain entry. Students, in consultation with the allied health advisors, can generally meet these requirements through any of the McDaniel majors.

McDaniel students have gone on to graduate and professional programs for physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, clinical exercise physiology, applied health physiology, athletic training, orthotics & prosthetics, nursing, and medicine among others. Since 2018, the acceptance rate of our graduates going into these fields has averaged 80-85%.

Allied health advising can begin as early as the first semester on campus or whenever a student first decides to pursue a health-related career. Students are strongly encouraged to have regular meetings with the allied health professions advisors, Dr. Steve McCole and Dr. Jennifer McKenzie, throughout their time on campus.

RECOMMENDED COURSES

Physician assistant, physical therapist, and occupational therapist are the three most common allied health professions that our students have pursued. Because the prerequisites vary for each graduate school program, students are encouraged during their sophomore and junior years to identify the specific prerequisites for schools of interest. While each graduate program may have different requirements, a list of commonly required classes for each of the professions appears below. Note that most of the science classes listed below also have required lab components.

Occupational Therapy

• Human Anatomy (BIO 1120)
• Human Physiology (BIO 2211)
• Introduction to Psychology (PSY 1106)
• Developmental Psychology (PSY 2209)
• Abnormal Psychology (PSY 2211)
• Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1104)
• Statistics (STA 2215)

Completion of these courses at McDaniel College does not guarantee that the student will meet the prerequisite requirements for Occupational Therapy education programs. Additional courses in Psychology, Physics, Kinesiology, and Biology may also be required. There is no restriction for a specific major. Common majors include Kinesiology, Health Sciences, Psychology, Biology, and Sociology

Physical Therapy

• Human Anatomy (BIO 1120)
• Human Physiology (BIO 2211)
• 2 semesters of Biology (BIO 1111 and BIO 1117)
• 2 semesters of Chemistry (CHE 1103 and CHE 1104)
• 2 semesters of Physics (PHY 1104 or PHY 1114 and PHY 1105 or PHY 1115)
• Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1104)
• Psychology (PSY 1106)
• Statistics (STA 2215)

Completion of these courses at McDaniel College does not guarantee that the student will meet the prerequisite requirements for Physical Therapy education programs. Additional courses in Biology, Kinesiology, Math, Psychology, and Sociology may also be required. There is no restriction for a specific major. Common majors include Kinesiology, Health Sciences, Biology, and Chemistry.

Physician Assistant

• Human Anatomy (BIO 1120)
• Human Physiology (BIO 2211)
• 2 semesters of Biology (BIO 1111 and BIO 1117)
• 2 semesters of Chemistry (CHE 1103 and CHE 1104)
• Organic Chemistry (CHE 2217)
• Psychology (PSY 1106)
• Statistics (STA 2215)

Completion of these courses at McDaniel College does not guarantee that the student will meet the prerequisite requirements for physician assistant education programs. Additional courses in Biology, Chemistry, Kinesiology, Math, Psychology, and Sociology may also be required. There is no restriction for a specific major. Common majors include Biology, Kinesiology, Health Sciences, and Chemistry

Pre-Law

Contact: Matthew Mongiello, Ph.D.

McDaniel has a long history of success in preparing students for legal careers. In recent years, McDaniel students have been admitted to elite law schools across the county, including admission to the many excellent law schools in the local DC-Baltimore region. 87% of McDaniel students who apply to Law School are accepted.

McDaniel College is committed to helping students who are interested in pursuing legal careers in deciding if law school is the right choice, getting into law school, and gaining the skills to succeed in law school. 

McDaniel offers academic and real world exposure to legal fields helping students decide if law school is right for them. McDaniel is uniquely located nearby seats of local, state, and national government. We support students in building their academic records, preparing for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and assembling their application materials to get them accepted to law school. We ensure students leave McDaniel with the academic skills needed to succeed in law school.

McDaniel’s Pre-law program is run by its two Pre-Law Advisors who provide personalized counseling at each step of the pre-law process, from planning LSAT preparation to reviewing application essays. Dr. Kathryn Dobson teaches Legal Writing in the English Department and has worked as a consultant for DC area law firms. Dr. Matthew Mongiello teaches Constitutional Law in the Political Science and International Studies Department. He is a member of the Northeast Association of Prelaw Advisors.

COURSES PRE-LAW STUDENTS MIGHT CONSIDER

We have compiled a list of courses that may be of interest as you prepare yourself for law school. Your professors have recommended these courses either to help you gain insight into the legal system and/or to cultivate skills relevant to the study and practice of law. Courses with an “*” are especially recommended.

Courses Providing Exposure to Legal Issues, Analysis, and Writing

• *ENG 3308: Writing in Law and Policy
• *PSI 3308: American Constitutional Law
• *PSI 3319: American Civil Liberties
• BUA 2205: The Legal Environment of Business
• REL 2219: Religion and American Law
• PSI 2203: International Law and Organization
• PSI 2243: Law, Morality and the Cinema
• PSI 2244: Philosophy of Law
• SOC 3348: Legal Forensics
• SOC 3225: Deviance and Social Control

Courses Building Critical Thinking, Logical Reasoning, Communication and Research Skills (Writing intensive English courses, Research/analysis/logic intensive social science courses, and logic/analysis intensive philosophy courses are generally recommended)

• *PHI 1102: Critical Thinking
• *PHI 2233: Elementary Logic
• *ENG 2212: Professional Communication
• *COM 2205: Public Speaking
• ENG 3309: Approaches to Everyday Discourse
• ENG 3312: Writing for Nonprofit Organizations
• COM 1102: Introduction to Communication I: Interpersonal
• COM 2204: Qualitative Procedures
• THE 1113: Acting
• PSI 2207: American Public Policy
• ENV 2215: Environmental Policy

Courses Covering the Background Values and Institutions of the US Legal System
(US History courses, American Politics courses, and Philosophy/Political Theory courses are generally recommended)

• *HIS 1109: Survey of Modern U.S. History, 1865-2000
• *PSI 2201: American Political Institutions
• *PSI 2206: American Political Thought
• *ECO 1103: Introduction to Economics
• *PHI 1101: Introduction to Philosophy
• PHI 1105: Contemporary Issues In Ethics
• PSI 2202: State and Local Government
• PSI 2208: Inventors of Political Ideas
• ECO 1101: Introduction to Political Economy
• ECO 1102: Economic Issues and Policy
• SOC 2205: Criminology
• SOC 2427: Gender and Society
• PHI 2211: Issues of Social Justice

Pre-Med

Contact: Susan Parrish, Ph.D.

Since 1874, graduates of the College have become physicians and other health professionals. Medical, dental, and veterinary schools do not require students to have a specific academic major, although completion of the relevant science coursework is required. Each health professions school will have its own unique prerequisite coursework and testing requirements; therefore, students are encouraged to identify schools of interest early in their academic career.

Students are strongly encouraged to obtain patient-care experience and complete an independent laboratory research project with a faculty member. In addition, teaching experiences, participation in athletics, extracurricular activities, service, and study abroad opportunities can enhance your application.

Through personal attention from dedicated professors and immersive experiential learning experiences, our pre-medical students develop a custom plan to fulfill prerequisite courses and prepare for admission tests for graduate study.