Students Pursuing Graduate Programs

Sterling College offers majors that prepare students for graduate study in many professional disciplines including medicine, veterinary, pharmacy, nursing, optometry, dental, occupational therapy and many other options in the healthcare field! Students interested in these programs will enroll as Biology or Chemistry majors and take additional recommended coursework necessary for each program.

It is the obligation of each student to consult with the professional school to which they intend to apply for exact requirements.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a popular option within the biology major and recent graduates have been accepted into top chiropractic programs at Cleveland University – Kansas City. Students in the program receive a top-quality liberal arts education in the biological sciences and are well prepared for chiropractic school and life after college. The science courses and training provided through the biology major provide students with the best opportunity to succeed in this area.

Course requirements:
In addition to courses required for the biology major, students are advised to select General Chemistry I (CH151) and General Chemistry II (CH152), Biology I: Zoology (BI170), and an upper-level mathematics course during their freshman year. As soon as possible following the freshman year, students should select General Psychology (BS 125), Genetics (BI260), and College Physics I & II (PH210 & PH211).
In the junior or senior year, students are encouraged to take: Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Developmental Psychology (BS225) Kinesiology (ES370), and Medical Terminology (BI210).

Experience:
Students are strongly encouraged to gain experience by shadowing medical professionals, interning with a chiropractor, or working part-time in the health-care field. Students are also encouraged to gain research experience by enrolling in Biological Research (BI441) or summer medical research programs.

Application process:
Students will typically apply to chiropractic schools in the summer between the junior and senior year. Students are encouraged to apply to several chiropractic programs and check with each program regarding specific course requirements and application deadlines. 

Useful sites:

Chiropractic programs:

Medicine

Did you know ...

Sterling College has a tradition of excellence in preparing students for success in medical school, with an overall acceptance rate into medical school that has exceeded the national average since 1965.
Outstanding junior and senior pre-med students are eligible to compete for additional scholarship awards through the Rupe-Bemis Memorial Scholarship.
An extensive network of medical doctors that are alumni at Sterling College are closely involved with the biology department and have served as seminar speakers and coordinated internships for our current students.

Recent graduates from Sterling College are currently attending medical schools ranging from the University of Kansas Medical School to The Medical School for International Health in Israel.
Biology department faculty annually attend the University of Kansas pre-med advisors conference and work closely with student advisees to ensure they meet course prerequisites for medical school.
The science curriculum is designed to offer a wide range of courses related to the health sciences, including prerequisites for major medical schools.
The biology department offers a resource room designed to provide students direct access to study guides, books, and resources to prepare students for the MCAT exam and admission to medical school.

If you are considering being a part of the pre-med program at Sterling College, the following information will be useful.

Course requirements

In addition to courses required for the biology major, students are advised to select the following courses during the freshman year:

  • General Chemistry I (CH151) and General Chemistry II (CH152)
  • Zoology (BI170)
  • Pre-calculus (MA 150)

As soon as possible following the freshman year, students should select:

  • Organic Chemistry I & II (CH261 & CH262)
  • Genetics (BI260)
  • College Physics I & II (PH210 & PH211)
  • Calculus I or II (MA 200 or MA210)
  • General Psychology (BS125)

Prior to the senior year, students are encouraged to take:

  • Human Anatomy I & II (BI211 & BI212)
  • Microbiology (BI344)
  • Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (BI350)
  • Biochemistry (CH265)
  • Developmental Psychology (BS225)

Additional recommended courses include Immunology (BI393) and Medical Terminology (BI210).

Timeline

If students are a Kansas resident, they may be eligible to apply for the Scholars in Rural Health Program at KU Medical following the sophomore year.

Students are advised to complete science requirements before the end of the junior year and to take the MCAT during the spring semester of their junior year.

Following completion of the MCAT students should submit applications to medical school via the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).

Experience

Students are strongly encouraged to gain experience by shadowing medical professionals, interning in a hospital setting, or working part-time in the health-care field. Students are also encouraged to gain research experience by enrolling in Biological Research (BI441) or summer medical research programs.

Useful sites

Nursing

Students interested in nursing will find that science courses offered at Sterling will meet all of the pre-requisites for admission into most Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) programs. Sterling College students have been successfully accepted into nursing programs at a variety of institutions including Wichita State University, New Mexico State University, and the University of Saint Mary.  The pre-nursing curriculum can typically be completed in 2 years at Sterling College in preparation for admission into a B.S.N. nursing program.  With all the pre-requisite courses completed at Sterling, students will generally need only 2 additional years to complete a nursing program.

Course requirements:
The following courses are recommended for students looking to pursue nursing.

  • College Composition I & II
  • Public Speaking
  • General Psychology
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Introduction to Chemistry or General Chemistry I & II
  • Principles of Biology
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Principles of Nutrition
  • College Algebra
  • Elementary Statistics
  • Developmental Psychology

Students should also consider specific pre-requisite courses that may be required for various nursing programs that they are interested in applying for. Faculty advisors will help work with students to ensure that the coursework sequence will meet any specific pre-requisites that may be required for a particular nursing program.

Pharmacy

Either a chemistry or biology major will provide students the science courses and training to best prepare for pharmacy school.  Recent graduates have been accepted into top pharmacy programs at the University of Oklahoma and other programs. At Sterling, students will receive a top-quality liberal arts education in the biological sciences and are well prepared for pharmacy school and life after college. 

Course requirements:
In addition to courses required for the biology or chemistry major, students are advised to select General Chemistry I (CH151) and General Chemistry II (CH152), Biology I: Zoology (BI170), and an upper-level mathematics course during their freshman year.  As soon as possible following the freshman year, students should select, Calculus I (MA200), Genetics (BI260), Organic Chemistry I & II (CH261 & CH262), and College Physics I & II (PH210 & PH211).
In the junior or senior year, students are encouraged to take: Microbiology (BI344), Biochemistry (CH265), and Immunology (BI370).

Experience:
Students are strongly encouraged to gain experience by shadowing medical professionals, interning with a pharmacist, or working part-time in the health-care field.  Students are also encouraged to gain research experience by enrolling in Biological Research (BI441) or summer medical research programs.

Application process:
Students will typically apply to pharmacy programs in the summer between the junior and senior year.  Students are encouraged to apply to several pharmacy programs and check with each program regarding specific course requirements and application deadlines. 

Useful sites:

  • Pharmacy College Application Service - PHARMCAS: Information about the application process and career preparation.

Pharmacy Schools:

Physicians Assistant

Preparing for Physician Assistant (PA) school is a popular option within the biology major and recent graduates have been accepted into top PA programs at Missouri State University and other programs. At Sterling, students will receive a top-quality liberal arts education in the biological sciences and are well prepared for PA school and life after college.  The science courses and training provided through the biology major provide students with the best opportunity to succeed in this area.

Course requirements:
In addition to courses required for the biology major, students are advised to select General Chemistry I (CH151) and General Chemistry II (CH152), Biology I: Zoology (BI170), and an upper-level mathematics course during their freshman year.  As soon as possible following the freshman year, students should select General Psychology (BS 125), Genetics (BI260), Organic Chemistry I & II (CH261 & CH262) and College Physics I & II (PH210 & PH211).
In the junior or senior year, students are encouraged to take: Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II (BI211 & BI212), Developmental Psychology (BS225), and Medical Terminology (BI210).

Experience:
Students are strongly encouraged to gain experience by shadowing medical professionals, interning with a physician’s assistant, or working part-time in the health-care field.  Students are also encouraged to gain research experience by enrolling in Biological Research (BI441) or summer medical research programs.

Application process:
Students will typically apply to PA programs in the summer between the junior and senior year.  Students are encouraged to apply to several PA programs and check with each program regarding specific course requirements and application deadlines. 

Useful sites:

  • PA Focus: Information on the Physician Assistant profession and great information about the application process and career preparation.
  • Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA): Submit applications to PA programs directly through this site.

Physician Assistant programs:

Veterinary

Students interested in veterinary medicine will find career opportunities as large or small animal veterinarians in a variety of settings. Students interested in this field of study will need to complete pre-requisite coursework for veterinary programs, intern with local veterinarians, and successfully complete the GRE test prior to submitting applications for admission.

Course requirements:

Typical courses required for veterinary medicine programs are listed below. Additional recommended courses for pre-veterinary students include Vertebrate Biology, Organic Chemistry II, and additional upper-level science and mathematics courses.

  • College Composition I & II
  • Public Speaking
  • General Chemistry I & II
  • Organic Chemistry I
  • Biochemistry
  • Physics I & II
  • Principles of Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Genetics

Please also consult specific veterinary medicine program admissions requirements for the latest recommended courses for this program.

Experience:

Students are strongly encouraged to gain experience by shadowing local veterinarians or working part-time as a veterinary technician. Students are also encouraged to gain research experience by enrolling in Biological Research (BI441) or participating in summer research programs.

Useful sites: