No grade below C- in biology courses is accepted for graduation requirements in the biology major. After the first full year of enrollment, a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.2 must be achieved by the beginning of each fall semester to remain in the Pre-Medical Concentration.
Preparation for Medical, Dental, or Veterinary School after Longwood
This concentration, is designed to help students develop the skills and knowledge necessary for gaining admission to Medical, Dental, or Veterinary School. This concentration also can be chosen by students who want to continue their education in other health-related advanced degree programs to become Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Genetic Counselors, Physician Assistants, Surgical Assistants, Nurse Anesthesiologists, Nurses (accelerated BS to BSN), or to work in the private sector. Prerequisite course requirements for individual schools vary. In addition to completion of this concentration, students interested in pursuing careers in these professions should become familiar with selected professional school(s) early in their academic career. In concert with this concentration, Longwood’s Pre-Med Scholars program will provide targeted advising for students.
To be a strong candidate for admission to professional schools, students should have a high GPA, score competitively on the entrance exam, and demonstrate firsthand experience in their chosen field of study. The latter is accomplished through experiential learning: clinical “shadowing” experiences, volunteer or paid work in a hospital, clinic, or other health setting, scientific research in a related field, or by working with large and small animals in a veterinary setting. Students can earn Longwood internship credits for these experiences. Biology majors may take a combined maximum of 5 credits total in internship and research courses (392, 492, 494, 496, 497) for quality points (A, B, and C grades). Beyond 5 credits, such courses must be taken on a pass/fail basis and will not count toward requirements for the major. Please note: 40 hours of internship/research experience equals 1 university credit hour.
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