Biology, Health Professions Concentration, BS

Shippensburg University's Biology, Health Professions Concentration, BS program allows you to specialize in a number of health sciences, including: pre-chiropractic, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-optometry, pre-podiatry and pre-veterinary medicine.

What Will I Learn?

The core courses in this concentration enable you to build a strong foundation that will be valuable for continued studies in a health professional program. There are a number of upper level molecular/cellular, anatomy and physiology electives, as well as other areas. The program also requires you to take a number of courses in mathematics, physics and chemistry.

Meet Rosalia Cappadora '20

"The Biology Department is full of very knowledgeable professors. You will be challenged and helped every step of the way."

How Rosalia Found Success at Ship

What are the requirements for this degree?

If you complete at least 90 credits of specific coursework (with advisement), Ship will accept credits transferred from an affiliated health program after you complete your first professional year. You are then awarded a Bachelor of Science.

You must maintain at least a 2.8 GPA in your major and overall program through graduation.

What Degrees Are Similar or Might Pair Well With This Program?

Chemistry and psychology are the most direct minor or double major opportunities for students in this program. Additionally, some students have minored in Spanish, anthropology, gerontology, exercise science and art, as well as others.

Pre-Chiropractic

Health science advisors give advice to pre-chiropractic students regarding chiropractic colleges including the colleges’ prerequisite requirements, application procedures and current admissions trends.

Shippensburg University students have been accepted to institutions that include:

Cleveland College of Chiropractic
Life Chiropractic
Logan University
New York Chiropractic College
Palmer College
Parker College
Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic
Texas Chiropractic College

Pre-Dentistry

Pre-dentistry advisors work closely with you to:

Schedule prerequisite courses required by dental programs
Prepare for the Dental Admissions Test
Apply to dental school

To be a competitive and successful pre-dentistry student you need to:

Communicate frequently with your pre-dentistry advisor
Maintain a GPA of 3.4 or better
Conduct internships in dental settings
Exhibit leadership and community or human service
Have a willingness to volunteer
Plan a strategy early in your college career

Pre-Medicine

Pre-med advisors work closely with you to:

Schedule prerequisite courses required by medical school
Prepare for the Medical College Admissions Test
Apply to medical school

To be a competitive and successful pre-med student you need to:

Communicate frequently with your pre‑med advisor
Maintain a QPA of 3.5 or better
Conduct internships in medical settings
Demonstrate leadership and community or human service
Have a willingness to volunteer
Plan a strategy early in your college career

Pre-Optometry

Pre‑optometry advisors work closely with you to:

Schedule prerequisite courses required by optometry schools
Prepare for the Optometry Admissions Test
Apply to optometry school

To be a competitive and successful pre‑optometry student you need to:

Communicate frequently with your pre‑optometry advisor
Maintain a QPA of 3.3 or better
Perform above average on the Optometry Admissions Test
Complete internships in optometry settings
Demonstrate leadership and community or human service
Have a willingness to volunteer
Plan a strategy early in their college career: course sequences

Pre-Podiatry

To be a competitive pre‑podiatry student, you should:

Communicate frequently with your pre‑podiatry advisor
Maintain a QPA of 3.2 or better
Perform well on the Medical College Admissions Test
Complete internships in podiatric settings
Demonstrate leadership and community or human service
Show a willingness to volunteer
Plan a strategy early in your college career to take the right course sequences

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

To be a competitive pre‑vet student, you should:

Communicate frequently with your pre‑vet advisor
Maintain a QPA of 3.4 or better
Perform above average on the Graduate Record Exam
Complete internships in veterinary settings
Demonstrate leadership and community or human service
Show a willingness to volunteer
Plan a strategy early in your college career to take the right course sequences

What Types of Careers Could I Get With This Degree?

There are many opportunities available in health professions. Our students enjoy rewarding careers as:

Physician
Optometrist
Dentist
Podiatrist
Physical therapist
Physician assistant
Pathologists' assistant
Nurse
Radiologic imager
Veterinarian
Chiropractor

Shippensburg University has an excellent placement record of qualified students gaining admission to a wide variety of health professional programs. Ship has several agreements with health professional schools that enable qualified and motivated students to enter a professional program before they complete their requirements for their bachelor's degree. Though admission is not guaranteed, the programs do give Ship students preferred consideration for admission. Accelerated articulation agreements exist with:

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Salus University - College of Optometry
Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
Temple University School of Dentistry
New York Chiropractic College
Logan Chiropractic College
Thomas Jefferson University - Jefferson College of Health Professions

An articulation program also exists with Arcadia University's physician assistant master's degree program.

Some students continue on to master's and Ph.D. programs, engaging in research, working for National Institutes of Health or becoming college professors.

What Career Outcomes Do Alumni Have With This Degree?

A list of of the top job titles for Biology alumni

What Kinds of Experiences Could I Have?

Expect to receive a great deal of personalized attention from expert faculty while you learn in small classes. Many students in this program engage in research to expand their ability to solve problems, collect and analyze data and present the results of their findings in a formal presentation. Most students are also members of the Health Sciences Club that sponsors a blood drive each semester in addition to hosting speakers and having social events.

Additionally, the Health Professions Committee constructs committee reference letters and provides practice interviews for students who apply to programs that prefer committee letters in lieu of individual letters.