Pre-Professional Programs

Webster University offers a number of pre-professional programs within the undergraduate colleges and schools.

Some of these special study options are dual degree programs offered in cooperation with specific professional schools; others are broad preparatory programs enabling students to pursue graduate study in institutions of their choice.

Pre-professional programs offered:

• Pre-Counseling
• Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, and Pre-Veterinary
• Pre-Engineering
• Pre-Law
• Pre-Nursing
• Pre-Occupational Therapy
• Pre-Pharmacy

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Pre-Counseling

Psychology (BA) with an Emphasis in Mental Health/Counseling (MA)

Webster University offers a 3-2+ program which combines the Psychology (BA) with an emphasis in mental health (120 hours) and the Counseling (MA) (60+ hours). In this 3-2+ program, students who complete all of their undergraduate requirements for the Psychology (BA) with an Emphasis in Mental Health (degree, Global Citizenship and International Language requirements) within the first 90 credit hours can complete the remainder of their elective credits (30 hours) as a student in the Counseling (MA) program. Once the student completes 120 hours, the student can petition to graduate with the BA. The student would then work to complete the remaining 30+ hours toward their graduate degree (MA) in Counseling. The student would need to complete at least 30 hours at the graduate level once they receive their undergraduate degree.

Please note, 90 hours is the minimum a student would need to complete at the undergraduate level. For example, a student could take 100 hours to complete their required psychology degree, Global Citizenship Program and International language requirements. In that case, the student would count 20 graduate hours toward their undergraduate degree and complete the remaining graduate hours as a graduate student. 

The program is open to undergraduate students at the St. Louis main campus. 

To take advantage of this 3-2+ program, students need to:

• Complete a minimum of 90 hours as an undergraduate with at least 30 of the student's last 36 hours as an undergraduate student taken in residence at Webster University. The remaining hours must be taken as a graduate student within the Counseling program at Webster University.
• Complete all the Webster University degree requirements associated with the Psychology (BA) with an Emphasis in Mental Health, the International language requirement and any Global Citizenship Program requirements prior to entering the Webster University graduate counseling program.
• Check with the Webster University Financial Aid Office when considering this combined degree option and prior to applying to the program. Students are eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate while taking undergraduate classes. Once a student begins taking graduate classes, the student is subject to graduate financial aid requirements. 
• Undergraduate students interested in the 3-2+ program should discuss this program with their undergraduate advisor.
• Apply to the Webster University graduate counseling program. Admission criteria and information is available at https://webster.edu/catalog/current/graduate-catalog/degrees/counseling.html#admission. 

Please note, due to the volume of applicants, the 3-2+ program is competitive. Consequently, it is possible an applicant will not be accepted into the 3-2+ program. However, this should not prevent a student from applying to the Webster University Counseling program after completing their undergraduate degree.

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Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Veterinary

Webster University provides a variety of programs and courses designed to meet the needs of the pre-dental, pre-medical, and pre-veterinary student. Most dental and medical schools accept a BA or BS in any field of study but require specific courses in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. The BS Biological Sciences will allow students to meet the prerequisites for the professional programs listed above. 

For more information on this dual degree program, please contact natscim@webster.edu.

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Pre-Engineering

Webster University participates in a dual-degree program in engineering with Washington University and Missouri University of Science and Technology. This program leads to a bachelor’s degree from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Washington University or Missouri University of Science and Technology. The dual-degree program combines a high-quality professional engineering education with a strong background in the humanities, mathematics and the natural and social sciences. The programs at Washington University and Missouri University of Science and Technology includes biomedical engineering, computer science, data science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, systems science and engineering, chemical engineering and mechanical engineering. The professional degrees offered in each area are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET).

For more information on this dual degree program, please contact natscim@webster.edu.

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Pre-Law

The study of law continues to be an objective of many undergraduate students. Generally speaking, law schools look for broadly educated individuals who can think, speak, and write with precision and clarity. Webster encourages pre-law students to choose a major based on their own interests and abilities. Then, in consultation with an academic advisor, pre-law students will design a course of study that reflects the recommendations for pre-legal education developed by the Association of American Law Schools. The association’s policy statement recommends an undergraduate education that emphasizes:

• Verbal skills: comprehension, writing and speaking.
• Critical understanding of human institutions and values with which the law deals.
• Creative power in thinking.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Legal Studies will allow students to gain the content and skills recommended for pre-law education. 

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Pre-Nursing

BA Biology (Webster) and BSN (Goldfarb) 2+2 Program

Webster University offers a 2+2 program which combines the BA Biology (60 credits) and the BS Nursing (60 hours). Webster BA Biology students who have successfully completed the required prerequisite courses and Global Citizenship Program requirements can apply to transition into the Goldfarb School of Nursing. 

Students who are selected for the 2+2 program will petition to graduate at the end of their 4th year and obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. Goldfarb School of Nursing will accept prerequisite coursework from Webster University. Webster University will accept a reverse transfer of up to 60 credits from Goldfarb School of Nursing to be applied to upper-level BA Biology requirements. Webster University will waive the residency requirement for students participating in this 2+2 program. 

At the current time, the program is open to undergraduate students at the Webster Groves campus. 

To take advantage of this 2+2 program, students need to:

• Complete the requirements of the first two years BA Biology program 
• Complete all the Webster University degree requirements associated the Global Citizenship Program (GCP) requirements prior to entering Goldfarb School of Nursing
• Check with the Webster University Financial Aid Office when considering this degree option and prior to applying to the program. 
• Apply to Goldfarb School of Nursing

Please note, due to the volume of applicants, entry into Goldfarb School of Nursing is competitive. Consequently, it is possible an applicant will not be accepted into the 2+2 program. However, this should not prevent a student from applying to Goldfarb School of Nursing following completion of their BA Biology degree. 

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Pre-Occupational Therapy

Webster University offers a cooperative 3-2 program with the Washington University School of Medicine in occupational therapy (OT). This dual degree program enables students to complete a BA in Biology, BS in Biological Sciences, BS in Exercise Science, BS in Psychological Science or BA in Psychology from Webster University and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) from Washington University within a five-year period.

Occupational therapy is a client-centered health profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life.

To take advantage of this cooperative 3-2 program, students need to:

• Complete a minimum of 90 credit hours toward the declared Webster undergraduate degree, with at least 30 of those credit hours taken in residence at Webster University, and two years at Washington University.
• Complete the Webster University Global Citizenship Program and the requirements for their undergraduate major at Webster (BA in Biology, BS in Biological Sciences, BS in  Exercise Science, BS in Psychological Science or BA in Psychology) prior to entering the Washington University program.
• Apply to the Washington University School of Medicine Occupational Therapy program. Most students apply in early fall of their junior year. A summary of the application requirements are listed below. Interested students should examine the materials on the Washington University site to make sure they have the current set of admission requirements (https://www.ot.wustl.edu/education/3-2-program-143).
  • 3.25 cumulative GPA is required for admission into the MSOT program.
  • Complete (grade of B or better) a set of prerequisite courses (Life Science, Physiology, Developmental Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Statistics and a Social Science Elective) prior to admission to the occupational therapy program.
  • Complete a minimum of 30 hours of OT-related experience or observation. It is strongly recommended, but not required, that a portion of the hours include observation with an OT.
  • Request three letters of recommendation - one from a faculty member or academic advisor, one from someone involved in your observation experience, and one from another person of your choice (not a family member or friend).
  • Demonstrate an understanding of OT and exhibit excellent writing skills in the application essay.
  • Participate and evidence leadership in extracurricular activities.
  • International students: TOEFL and TWE taken no more than one year prior to application.
  • Students should have completed four of the six MSOT prerequisite categories at the time of their application to the MSOT program at Washington University (typically in early fall of their junior year), and will complete the remaining two by the end of the fall semester of their junior year at Webster University.
  • The application and three letters of recommendation must be submitted to OTCAS (centralized application system) by January 15th of the student's junior year at Webster. See the Washington University site for more information (https://www.ot.wustl.edu/education/3-2-program-143).
• Submit a petition to graduate from Webster University upon earning a minimum of 120 credit hours (after year 1 or year 2 at Washington University). Note that petitions are due each February for a May graduation date. The official transcript from Washington University with final grades must be submitted to the Registrar's Office at Webster upon the conclusion of the spring semester.

The MSOT prerequisite courses at Webster University are:

• BIOL 3010 Human Anatomy and Physiology I* (3 hours)
  and BIOL 3011 Human Anatomy and Physiology I: Lab* (1 hours) (Life Science, Physiology)
• BIOL 3020 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (3 hours)
  and BIOL 3021 Human Anatomy and Physiology II: Lab (1 hour) (Physiology)
• PSYC 2300 Lifespan Development* (3 hours) (Developmental Psychology)
• PSYC 2750 Introduction Measurement and Statistics (3 hours)
  or MATH 2200 Statistics (3 hours)
  or STAT 3100 Inferential Statistics (3 hours) (Statistics)
• PSYC 3125 Abnormal Psychology* (3 hours) (Abnormal Psychology)
• Social Science Elective (ANSO, ECON, POLT, PSYC) (3 hours) (Social Science)

*Students must meet the required prerequisites for these courses at Webster.

For more information on this dual degree program, please contact natscim@webster.edu.

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Pre-Pharmacy

BS Biological Sciences (Webster) and Doctor of Pharmacy (University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy) 3+4 Program

Webster University offers a 3+4 program which combines the BS Biological Sciences (90 hours) and the Doctorate of Pharmacy (120 hours). Webster BS Biological Sciences students who have successfully completed the required prerequisite courses and Global Citizenship Program requirements can apply to transition into the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy. 

Students who are selected for the 3+4 program will petition to graduate at the end of their 4th year and obtain a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences as the requirements of the 4-year degree will have been satisfied. University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy will accept prerequisite coursework from Webster University. Webster University will accept a reverse transfer of up to 30 credits from University of Health Science and Pharmacy to be applied to upper-level BS Biological Sciences requirements. Webster University will waive the residency requirement for students participating in this 3+4 program. 

Please note, 90 hours is the minimum a student would need to complete at the undergraduate level. For example, a student could take 100 hours to complete their prerequisite courses and Global Citizenship Program requirements. In that case, the student would count 20 graduate hours toward their undergraduate degree.

At the current time, the program is open to undergraduate students at the Webster Groves campus. 

To take advantage of this 3+4 program, students need to:

• Complete the requirements of the first three years BS Biological Sciences program with a GPA of at least 2.7.
• Complete all the Webster University degree requirements associated the Global Citizenship Program (GCP) requirements prior to entering the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy. 
• Check with the Webster University Financial Aid Office when considering this degree option and prior to applying to the program. 
• Apply to University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy by Dec 1 of the year prior to their anticipated fall semester start at UHSP. 

Please note, due to the volume of applicants, entry into the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy is competitive. Consequently, it is possible an applicant will not be accepted into the 3+4  program. However, this should not prevent a student from applying to UHSP following completion of their BS Biological Sciences degree. 

For more information on this dual degree program, please contact natscim@webster.edu.