Pre-Professional Programs

Many opportunities exist for Biola students who are actively seeking professional education and training. A significant number of Biola graduates are currently serving in professional capacities. They routinely cite their excellent undergraduate education programs as predictors of success in their professional endeavors.

Students who are interested in pursuing professional degrees after attending Biola should plan carefully and consult with potential professional schools concerning their requirements. In many cases, assistance from a major advisor should be supplemented by other advising resources available at Biola. The Office of Career Services assists students with extensive career preparation and support. The Biola Office of Health Professions Advising (BOHPA) mentors students specifically pursuing health careers, providing support for health professional school applications, graduate exam preparation, mock interviews and clinical shadowing experiences. If a student is unsure about where to go for pre-professional advising, help should be sought from the Office of Academic Advising. The following provides some basic information about pre-professional educational programs at Biola.

Pre-Dentistry

Students who wish to pursue a career in dentistry should plan to build a strong foundation in biology and chemistry, similar to the preparation needed for medical school. Students should contact the dental schools of their choice for specific entrance requirements. The Biola Office of Health Professions Advising can assist with this process, as well as providing information on the American Dental Association Dental Admission Test.

Pre-Medicine

Students who wish to pursue a career in medicine should plan to build a strong foundation in the sciences and mathematics. Courses in biology, chemistry and physics form the core of this preparation. While many students at Biola who are preparing to enter medical school major in Biological Science or Biochemistry with a pre-med concentration, there are other majors that provide pathways to a medical career if the student completes all of the core science courses required by medical schools. These include one year of general biology, one year of general chemistry, one year of physics, one year of organic chemistry, and one semester of biochemistry. Students should be aware that taking courses outside of their major requirements may have consequences to their financial aid and student athlete eligibility, thus regular advising with the Biola Office of Health Professions Advising is highly encouraged.

Medical schools also expect a broad background in the liberal arts such as is provided by Biola's program in Core Curriculum. In addition, Biola's biblical and theological studies requirement and its integration of a biblical perspective in all courses equips the prospective Christian health professional in mind and character to impact the world for Jesus Christ.

A Pre-Medical Advisory Committee helps support students through the rigorous application process. In particular, the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee generates a committee letter of recommendation for applying students that qualify. The Biola Office of Health Professions Advising assists with this process, as well as providing information on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Pre-Occupational Therapy

Students interested in pursuing Occupational Therapy should choose the Pre-Occupational Therapy concentration in the Allied Health major. This concentration is designed to meet the entrance requirements for most Master's or Doctoral degree programs in Occupational Therapy. Students will learn the fundamental theories of Occupational Therapy and the common conditions seen in the field. Additionally, they will be trained to make patient assessments and to implement appropriate interventions for these conditions. The curriculum in this concentration emphasizes clinical skills, giving students hands-on opportunities that will allow them to enter graduate programs with confidence.

Pre-Physical Therapy

Students interested in pursuing Physical Therapy should choose the Kinesiology major in the Department of Kinesiology and Public Health. This major will meet most of the entrance requirements for Doctoral degree programs in Physical Therapy, including selected courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and psychology. Students should contact the physical therapy schools of their choice for specific entrance requirements. The Biola Office of Health Professions Advising can assist with this process, as well as providing information on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Pre-Physician Assistant

Students interested in pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant should choose the Health Sciences major in the Department of Biological Sciences. This major will meet most of the entrance requirements for physician assistant health professional programs. Students should contact the physician assistant schools of their choice for specific entrance requirements. The Biola Office of Health Professions Advising can assist with this process, as well as providing information on how to pursue the needed paid clinical work experiences out in the local community.

Pre-Veterinary

Preparation for entrance into veterinary school is similar to preparation for medical school. Students should contact the veterinary schools of their choice for specific entrance requirements. Courses can be chosen that will focus more on animal biology than human biology. The Biola Office of Health Professions Advising can assist with this process, as well as providing information on either the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Pre-Engineering

Biola's pre-engineering program is a 3+2 cooperative degree completion program in which a student takes three years of classes at Biola, including the foundational science and mathematics courses of a typical engineering program. In addition, the student takes the biblical studies and Core Curriculum courses to meet Biola's requirements. Biola has a formal arrangement with the University of Southern California that permits the student, if qualified, to complete the remaining two years of an engineering curriculum at USC and receive both the Bachelor of Science degree from Biola in Engineering Physics, and the Bachelor of Engineering degree from USC. Some students in this program elect to transfer to an engineering school other than USC; students interested in this option should contact the school of their choice no later than the beginning of their sophomore year.

Students interested in this program should major in engineering physics with the Department of Chemistry, Physics and Engineering.

Pre-Seminary

Biola University provides an excellent background in undergraduate education for seminary training. Students would be greatly assisted in preparing for their graduate studies by undergraduate courses in areas such as biblical studies, philosophy, logic, history of Western civilization, and advanced composition. The pre-seminary student should compare the program at Biola University with the requirements of the particular seminary the student plans to enter. Talbot School of Theology at Biola University offers a number of standard seminary degree programs (e.g., M.A., M.Div., etc.) with a variety of specializations. Furthermore, Biola’s undergraduate Bachelor of Arts in Bible, Theology, and Ministry offers several specialized concentrations enabling students to earn one of Talbot’s two-year master of arts degrees with just one additional year of study (commonly called 4+1 accelerated degree programs); these include such programs as M.A. in Biblical & Pastoral Ministry, M.A. in Bible Exposition, M.A. in Old Testament, M.A. in New Testament, M.A. in Theology, M.A.C.M.L. in Ministry & Leadership, and M.A.C.M.L. in Pastoral Care and Counseling. A 3+2 accelerated degree program is also available incorporating the undergraduate Bachelor of Arts in Bible, Theology, and Ministry degree with Talbot’s Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree.

Pre-Speech/Language Pathology and Pre-Audiology

A student wishing to prepare for a career as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist should choose the communication sciences and disorders major. Coursework in this major follows the guidelines of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and provides students with an understanding of both normal communication processes as well as communication disorders. Students have the opportunity to begin their clinical training in the on-campus Biola Speech and Language Clinic that provides speech-language assessment and treatment for members of the local community in a carefully supervised setting. Students who complete this major are prepared for the graduate studies necessary to obtain professional credentials.

The communication sciences and disorders major at Biola University is a member of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders. In addition, the major has a local chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), which is the American Speech-Language Hearing Association's pre-professional organization for students in communication disorders programs.