Step 6) Consider pre-professional interests
PHARMACY
Students interested in pharmacy complete two years at Mary Washington and four years at Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia. Students interested in pharmacy school must enroll in BIOL 121 and CHEM 111, ENGL 101, MATH 111 or MATH 121, and an elective course in the liberal arts or behavioral sciences (art history, psychology, philosophy, classics, sociology, history, music history or theory, etc.).
Mary Washington offers courses which students may use to prepare for transfer to allied health programs at other institutions. Students spend one to four years at Mary Washington and two to four years at another institution, depending on the specific program. Since fluctuating student demand does not always exactly match the availability of seats in particular courses, there is no way that the University of Mary Washington, or any other college, can guarantee that a student will be able to complete all transfer requirements in the minimum period of time. These students are not required to satisfy UMW degree requirements since their degrees are conferred by the institutions at which they complete their coursework.
Admission to these programs is competitive, so students must maintain a high grade-point average. All allied health preparatory courses taken at UMW satisfy Mary Washington degree requirements. Therefore, should allied health students choose to pursue a four-year degree at UMW, they may do so without loss of credit.
To be eligible to enter one of the Allied Health Fields, students need not complete all of the required courses within a two or three-year period. Some students complete their B.S. or B.A. degree at Mary Washington before entering allied health programs. Other students enter allied health programs after completing only two or three years of study at UMW. Each student choosing to do the later must closely follow a prescribed plan of study for his/her particular field of interest, because all required courses must be completed before the student will be allowed to begin one of the following programs.