Preprofessional Studies

Pre-MDV Studies at Azusa Pacific University is not an academic major or stand-alone program. It is an advising pathway that provides a curriculum formatted around the prerequisites for taking preprofessional admissions tests (MCAT, DAT, GRE, etc.) and further equipping students with the academic skills, guidance, and resources necessary for successfully applying to medical (MD, MD/PhD, and DO), dental (DDS and DMD), and veterinary (DVM and VMD) programs.

While Azusa Pacific’s biochemistry and biological sciences degrees align most directly with the required and recommended coursework, Pre-MDV Studies is open to all students, regardless of academic major. Due to extensive curricular overlap, students pursuing Pre-MDV Studies with a major from outside of APU’s Department of Biology and Chemistry are encouraged to complete a chemistry minor as part of their academic credentialing.

Entry into Pre-MDV Studies requires students to formally apply through APU’s Pre-MDV Studies Committee. Applications are available to eligible students during the spring semester of each academic year. Eligibility is based on the student having completed a minimum of 20 units of required or recommended biology, chemistry, physics, and math coursework (see below), including at least 4 units at the 200 level or above.

Admission into Pre-MDV Studies is reserved for those who possess the capacity to maintain high academic standards and have actively demonstrated a strong commitment to their preprofessional preparation.

Students accepted into Pre-MDV Studies are assigned a faculty advisor from the Pre-MDV Studies Committee to guide them through the processes of completing their coursework, preparing for admissions tests, and applying to their preferred medical, dental, or veterinary schools.

Only students in Pre-MDV Studies are eligible to enroll in a two-semester sequence of BIOL 470 Science for the MCAT, in which content-specific review and simulated testing are used to familiarize students with the format and scope of the MCAT and other common standardized admissions tests.

Prior to their application cycle, Pre-MDV Studies students participate in mock admissions interviews with members of the Pre-MDV Studies Committee. As part of their application, students receive a committee letter that serves as a summative evaluation of their preparedness for entry into graduate studies and which is submitted along with their individual letters of recommendation as part of a collated committee letter packet complete with a cover letter from the Pre-MDV Studies Committee chair in support of their candidacy.

Students do not lose access to these benefits upon graduation from Azusa Pacific University and can rely on continuing support from the Pre-MDV Studies Committee even if they chose to delay applying until years after completing their degrees.

Students who successfully complete the requirements of Pre-MDV Studies and apply with the support of the Pre-MDV Studies Committee enjoy graduate program acceptance rates greater than 86%—well above the national averages for medical (41%), dental (58%), and veterinary (49%) schools.

Recent applicants have gone on to medical school programs at UCLA, Loma Linda University, University of Texas, University of North Carolina, and Johns Hopkins University; dental schools including University of Southern California, Oregon Health Sciences University, Loma Linda University, and University of Michigan; and to veterinary schools including University of California Davis, University of Wisconsin, Western University of Health Sciences, and Purdue University.

Required Courses (44 units)

BIOL 151 General Biology I (4)

BIOL 152 General Biology II (4)

CHEM 151 General Chemistry I (4)

CHEM 152 General Chemistry II (4)

CHEM 251 Organic Chemistry I (3) + CHEM 261 Organic Chemistry Lab I (1)

CHEM 252 Organic Chemistry II (3) + CHEM 262 Organic Chemistry Lab II (1)

MATH 130 Introduction to Statistics (3) + MATH 165 Calculus I (3)

or MATH 165 Calculus I (3) + MATH 166 Calculus II (3)

PHYC 155 Physics for Life Science I (3) + PHYC 145 Physics Laboratory I (1)

PHYC 156 Physics for Life Science II (3) + PHYC 146 Physics Laboratory II (1)

SOC 120 Introduction to Sociology (3)

PSYC 110 General Psychology (3)

Recommended Courses

BIOC 270 Biomolecular Chemistry (4) + BIOC 370 Biomolecular Metabolism (4)

or BIOC 360 Principles of Biochemistry (4)

BIOL 280 Cell Biology (4)

BIOL 300 Genetics (4)

BIOL 346 Regional Human Anatomy (4)

BIOL 350 Mammalian Physiology (4)

BIOL 470 Science for the MCAT (1-2)

CHEM 300 Quantitative Chemical Analysis (2) + CHEM 310 Quantitative Chemical Analysis Lab (2)

BIOL/CHEM 394 Directed Research (1-3)

Pre-Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy (Pre-PT/OT) Studies at Azusa Pacific University is not an academic major or stand-alone program. It is an advising pathway that provides a curriculum formatted around the prerequisites for physical and occupational therapy programs and helps equip students with the academic skills, guidance, and resources necessary for successfully applying to these programs.

Entry in Pre-PT/OT Studies requires students to formally apply through APU’s Pre-PT/OT Studies Committee. Applications are available to eligible students while completing BIOL 251 Human Physiology. Admission into Pre-PT/OT Studies is based on an evaluation of the student’s academic success and realistic plans for a health-related career.

Students accepted into Pre-PT/OT Studies are assigned a faculty advisor from the Pre-PT/OT Studies Committee to guide them through the processes of completing their coursework and applying to physical/occupational therapy schools through PTCAS/OTCAS. Prior to the application cycle, Pre-PT/OT Studies students participate in mock admissions interviews with members of the Pre-PT/OT Studies Committee. As part of their application, students receive a committee letter that serves as a summative evaluation for their preparedness for entry into physical/occupational therapy programs. Students do not lose access to these benefits upon graduation from APU and can rely on continuing support from the Pre-PT/OT Studies Committee even if they choose to delay applying until years after completing their degrees.

Students interested in this pathway should consider the BA in Allied Health, which is designed to fulfill the PT/OT graduate program requirements without any need for additional coursework.

Students who successfully complete the requirements of Pre-PT/OT Studies and apply with the support of the Pre-PT/OT Studies Committee enjoy graduate program acceptance rates of >80%, well above the national averages for physical therapy and occupational therapy programs (20%-40% depending on the DPT programs, and 20% for OT programs). Recent applicants have gone on to DPT programs at Loma Linda University, USC, University of Texas, UCSF, San Diego State, and Azusa Pacific. Recent graduates have gone to OT schools including Cal State San Marcos, USC, Loma Linda University, and Washington University.

The following is typical of the academic prerequisites required by most physical and occupational therapy programs:

BIOL 151 General Biology I

BIOL 250 Human Anatomy

BIOL 251 Human Physiology

BIOL Elective

CHEM 151 General Chemistry I

CHEM 152 General Chemistry II

PHYC 155 Physics for Life Science I + PHYC 145 Physics Laboratory I

PHYC 156 Physics for Life Science II + PHYC 146 Physics Laboratory II

Exercise Physiology

Psychology

Sociology

Statistics