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Pre-Health Program

Pre-health students at Shenandoah can pursue one of a variety of health professional careers such as athletic training, dentistry, medicine, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, public health, and veterinary medicine.

The Pre-Health Program at Shenandoah University:

  • provides guidance within an environment that supports diversity and inclusion to students interested in a career within the health professions
  • coordinates and provides academic experiences focused on building knowledge and skills necessary for a successful transition into graduate health profession education
  • provides advising tailored to a student’s individual progress toward developing a strong application for entry into their chosen professional schools

The program is designed to help guide students as they develop as competitive applicants to graduate schools that match their desired profession and their academic and pre-professional profile. Because the program encourages growth in pre-professional development, the program elements of student self-assessment and reflection build the skills and knowledge to continue to develop to meet individual needs after graduation. The Pre-Health Program provides students with opportunities in three different areas: Curriculum & Coursework, Pre-Health Advising, and Pathways to the Graduate Health Professions.

Pre-Health Advising

Pre-Health Advising at Shenandoah University consists of in-person advising sessions either in a group or individual setting that seek to provide guidance to students interested in pursuing a career in within the health professions.  Sessions focus on ensuring that pre-health students are on track for timely application to their professional school of choice and preparing their applications. Advising is provided by both the Director of Pre-Health Education and by peer advisors. Together, they provide students with important insights into how to succeed in their career pursuit.

Curriculum & Coursework

Academic success is an important part of a student’s journey into a career in the health professions. At Shenandoah, we offer several academic opportunities for students to be better prepared for their graduate health professions education.

Exploring the Health Professions (EHP) Seminar Courses

Classes cohorted with students in the Pre-Health Program

Pre-Health Professional Certificate

Health Humanities Certificate

Pathways to the Graduate Health Professions

Shenandoah University offers a variety of pathways to admissions into the graduate health professions.

A student at Shenandoah completes a bachelor’s degree and applies to the graduate program(s) of their choice.

Shenandoah University Schools of Health Professions and Pharmacy have established articulation agreements with undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences. These articulation agreements are designed to build strong partnerships between the SU College of Arts and Sciences and the graduate health professions programs. These agreements provide a pathway into the graduate admission process by reserving a set number of seats in their programs for students applying from within Shenandoah.

The Early Assurance (EA) Pathway is our most rigorous pathway. It is available for incoming freshman applicants and is highly competitive. This pathway guarantees an admission interview with a graduate program as long as criteria are maintained during the undergraduate years at Shenandoah. The graduate schools reserve placements with their graduate program for all EA students passing the interview. Some graduate programs offer an early assurance pathway that accelerates a student’s transition into the graduate program by overlapping the first year of graduate school with their fourth year of undergraduate study.

Early Assurance Pathway Programs:
Morgan Luck

Contact Us About The Pre-Health Program

Additional questions about Shenandoah’s pre-health pathways and advising may be directed to:

Director of Pre-Health Education

Morgan Luck| mnowak2@su.edu