two students walking outside a building on campus

Pre-Professional Studies

Pre-Dentistry

Biology Advisors

Professor John Mullican
john.mullican@washburn.edu

Associate Professor Andrew Herbig
andrew.herbig@washburn.edu

Associate Professor Paul Wagner
paul.wagner@washburn.edu

Associate Professor Tracy Wagner
tracy.wagner@washburn.edu

Chemistry Advisor

Professor Sam Leung
sam.leung@washburn.edu

Students preparing to enter dental school should consult an advisor during their first year in college. Students should consult the catalog of the dental school(s) to which they plan to apply. Specific admissions requirements on each dental school may be found at www.adea.org but in general students must have a four-year degree with strong foundations in the natural sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, and physics) with coursework in the social sciences, humanities, applied arts, and business being strongly recommended. In general, the program for the pre-dental student is similar to that for pre-medical students.

Pre-Law

College of Arts and Sciences Advisor

Associate Professor Linsey Moddelmog,
linsey.moddelmog@washburn.edu

School of Applied Studies Advisor

Associate Professor Amy Memmer
amy.memmer@washburn.edu

School of Business Advisor

Professor Rosemary Walker
rosemary.walker@washburn.edu

The student preparing to enter Washburn School of Law or any quality school of law should seek a broad undergraduate education which should include courses in English, economics, history, political science, philosophy, and sociology. Courses that develop the ability to write and speak clearly and correctly, as well as those courses that help to attain exactness of thought and the ability to make valid analytical comparisons and differentiations, are desirable. Familiarity with American and English history and the government of those countries is necessary in a proper background for the study of law. The student interested in pre-legal education should seek the advice of a pre-law advisor early in his/her college career. Pre-law advisors may be found in a number of departments including Political Science, History, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, English, Communication, and the School of Business. You should begin preparing for the LSAT early in your college career. Extracurricular activities such as Washburn Student Government Association, the Washburn Transformational Experience, Debate, Mock Trial, and the Pre-Law Club can help students gain valuable experience outside the classroom in preparation for law school.  For information about pre-law related activities, contact Dr. Linsey Moddelmog, (linsey.moddelmog@washburn.edu). School of Applied Studies or School of Business students can contact their School pre-law advisor.

Law Early Admission Program

Washburn has an early entry program for out students who desire to attend the Washburn School of Law. The Law Early Admission Program (LEAP) allows Washburn undergraduates to apply, and if accepted, apply courses toward the law degree to the completion of the undergraduate degree.

There are two different LEAPs and eligibility for each depends on the undergraduate program.

LEAP for College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Degree Programs

If accepted to this LEAP, students earning degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences may enter Washburn’s School of Law during what would have been their last year of undergraduate work. The program allows for the last 29 credits of undergraduate work (elective credits) to be satisfied by the successful completion of the first year of law school (or 29 credits). LEAP was primarily designed for incoming freshmen as it requires careful consultation with an advisor to make the credits work out right. However, theoretically, any enrolled Washburn student may apply for entry into LEAP if they can make the credit requirements. Not all majors can LEAP to Law School, please see the appropriate pre-law Coordinator or one of the School advisors for advising or the Washburn LEAP webpage for a list of applicable majors.

CAS LEAP Admission Requirements

  • A high school GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4 point scale; or
  • An ACT score in the top quartile (28-36) or a comparable SAT score; or
  • A GPA of 3.0 for current Washburn or transfer students with at least 15 or more undergraduate credit hours; and
  • An application and an acceptance decision by the pre-law coordinator.

CAS LEAP Completion Requirements

  • Maintain a 3.0 undergraduate GPA
  • Take the LSAT as administered by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)
  • Apply to Washburn Law by the deadline for the semester that the student plans to attend
  • Earn admission to Washburn Law, including mandated character and fitness review that is necessary for admission to both law school and the bar
  • Complete all requirements for undergraduate graduation (see more information below, excluding the remaining 29 credit hours to be completed with law school credits)

LEAP for School of Business (SOBU) and School of Applied Studies (SAS) Degree Programs

If accepted to this LEAP, students earning degrees from SOBU or SAS may enter Washburn’s School of Law during what would have been their last semester of undergraduate work. The program allows for the last 14 or 15 credits of undergraduate work (elective credits) to be satisfied by the successful completion of the first 14 or 15 credits of law school. LEAP was primarily designed for incoming freshmen as it requires careful consultation with an advisor to make the credits work out right. However, theoretically, any enrolled Washburn student may apply for entry into LEAP if they can make the credit requirements.

SOBU and SAS LEAP Admission Requirements

  • An ACT score in the top quartile (28 or higher) or a comparable SAT score;  or
  • A high school GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4-point scale; or
  • A GPA of 3.0 for current Washburn or transfer students with at least 15 or more undergraduate credit hours; and
  • An application and an acceptance decision by the pre-law coordinator.

SOBU and SAS LEAP Completion Requirements

  • Maintain a 3.0 undergraduate GPA
  • Take the LSAT as administered by the School of Law Admissions Counsel (LSAC)
  • Apply to Washburn Law by the deadline for the semester that the student plans to attend
  • Earn admission to Washburn Law, including mandated character and fitness review that is necessary for admission to both law school and the bar 
  • Complete all requirements for undergraduate graduation (see more information below, excluding the remaining 15 credit hours to be completed with law school credits)

LEAP Benefits

  • Washburn Law will provide LEAP students with a mentor from the Washburn Law faculty, or from the local bench or bar, to assist the student with preparation for law school and a career in the law
  • Fee waiver for application to Washburn Law
  • In-state tuition fees for each year of enrollment
  • A full-tuition scholarship for the first year of law school at Washburn University
  • Minimum of $5,000 scholarship per year for years two and three of law study, contingent on successful academic progress

Pre-Medicine

Biology Advisors

Professor John Mullican
john.mullican@washburn.edu

Associate Professor Susan Bjerke
susan.bjerke@washburn.edu

Associate Professor Paul Wagner
paul.wagner@washburn.edu

Associate Professor Tracy Wagner
tracy.wagner@washburn.edu

Chemistry Advisor

Professor Sam Leung
sam.leung@washburn.edu

Students preparing to enter medical school should ideally consult an advisor during their first year in college. Most medical schools prefer a four-year degree preparation with strong foundations in the natural sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, and physics), the humanities and social sciences (e.g., anthropology, sociology and psychology) and English. Additionally, pre-medical students should acquire significant experience in a health care environment involving direct patient contact, and become active in appropriate service activities. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for students applying to either an allopathic (M.D.) or osteopathic (D.O.) medical school and is typically taken shortly after the junior year in college. The pre-medical student is urged to consider chosing certain medical schools to which they might apply before the junior year in college. The exact course of study applicable to any student’s background can best be established in consultation with a pre-medicine advisor.

Pre-Nursing

Louisa Schurig, Advisor
louisa.schurig@washburn.edu

Washburn University offers the four-year baccalaureate program in Nursing and pre-nursing course requirements for students preparing to enter the Nursing Major. The Bachelor of Science degree prepares the graduate to write the national licensure exam (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse.

Pre-nursing students interested in the Washburn Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing should schedule academic advisement in the School of Nursing (Petro Allied Health Center, Rm 203).

Pre-Pharmacy

Biology Advisor

Professor Matt Arterburn
matt.arterburn@washburn.edu

Chemistry Advisor

Associate Professor Seid Adem, Advisor
seid.adem@washburn.edu

Most students in the pre-pharmacy program transfer to the School of Pharmacy at the University of Kansas, which requires about 68 hours (approximately two years) of college level pre-professional studies prior to admission to the professional program. The exact course of study applicable to any student’s background can only be established in consultation with the pre-pharmacy advisor. Students normally complete the Associate of Arts in Laboratory Science as part of the pre-pharmacy curriculum.

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Assistant Professor, Benjamin Reed, Advisor
benjamin.reed@washburn.edu

Most state schools of veterinary medicine have preferred admission of residents of that state, and certain numbers of applicants from cooperating states lacking veterinary schools. Private schools accept applications from all qualified students. Kansas residents would ordinarily apply to the Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine. All of the required Pre-Veterinary courses can be taken at Washburn. Practical experience with animals, especially in a veterinary context, is important in making successful application. Program details are available from the pre-veterinary advisor or the Department of Biology.