Northern Michigan University provides non-degree, pre-professional programs of study. These programs have been developed to prepare students with specific professional goals to meet the admission qualifications of other colleges and universities. Some professional schools require students to complete a baccalaureate degree prior to admission. In some cases students may elect to enter one of Northern Michigan University’s degree programs while still receiving advising toward one of the pre-professional programs. Information about each of the pre-professional programs can be obtained from the department listed below as the administrative and advising department.

Pre-Architecture

Students intending to enter an architectural program at another institution may select an academic foundation at Northern Michigan University. Advising is provided by the Art and Design Department.

Pre-Dental

Students pursuing the pre-dental program are assigned to the pre-dental advisor who assists students in selecting the courses required or recommended for admission into dental school. Students must declare a major sometime during their freshman year. Although the choice of major is not restricted and students should choose a major that will interest them and provide a possible career for them, most pre-dental students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology, biochemistry or chemistry. Such majors not only provide the necessary prerequisites for dental school but also ensure the student has a strong science background.

The university has a Pre-dental Advisory Board that oversees the pre-dental program. This board is made up of practicing dentists and professors. Board members provide information to pre-dental students regarding application procedures, the profession of dentistry, and the Dental Admission Test (DAT).

When a student applies to dental school, the board may write a letter of evaluation that assesses the suitability of the student for the profession of dentistry. This letter is written if a student has been granted a board interview, based on the student’s grade point average and Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores. In writing the letter the board considers such information as Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores, grade point average, letters of reference and responses to questions during the personal interview.

A pre-dental handbook is available from the pre-dental advisor and is also located on the Pre-medical/Pre-dental web page. Students who are interested in this program may contact the Physics Department.

Pre-Engineering

Students interested in engineering who plan to transfer to an engineering school should contact the Physics Department for program details and assignment of an academic adviser. Northern Michigan University offers courses in several departments that provide the program needs of engineering students, exclusive of professional engineering courses, which comprise the first two years of engineering programs.

Students interested in a career in the legal profession should contact the university pre-law adviser in the Political Science and Public Administration Department. The department’s pre-law program, taken in conjunction with other appropriate course work, prepares students for law school.

Pre-Medical

Pre-Optometry

Pre-Pharmacy

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Pre-veterinary students who are residents of Michigan normally plan an academic program to meet requirements for admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. Those requirements can be met at Northern Michigan University, where students take specified courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, college composition, social science and humanities. Students are encouraged to earn a bachelor’s degree at Northern Michigan University by completing a regular major and minor in such fields as biology, biochemistry, chemistry, mathematics or psychology.

Specific advisement information is found in the Pre-veterinary Medicine Handbook, available from the Biology Department. Factors considered in acceptance of students into the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University include legal residency, grade point average of all college course work, grade point average in required prev-eterinary science courses, results of the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE), total college course credits completed, average course load per semester, a personal interview, essay, veterinary experience and animal exposure and extracurricular activities. Students interested in the pre-veterinary program should contact an adviser in the Biology Department.