To pursue a professional degree in dentistry, physical therapy, podiatry or optometry, you’ll need a strong scientific foundation and hands-on experience in the field.
Program Overview
Manifest your dreams of helping people heal as a medical professional.
If you’re interested in becoming a healthcare professional, you might be wondering which major to choose. For many career fields, there’s no one right answer. The liberal arts curriculum at Western Colorado University offers you the opportunity to take the foundational science courses you’ll need to apply to various professional programs, while also exploring other areas of interest. If you’re still figuring out your career path, you can rest assured that the Pre-Medicine program complements a variety of majors and disciplines. Through immersive courses, on-campus clubs, research assistantships and mentorship programs, you’ll gain hands-on experience to discover your passion and get a competitive edge to pursue an advanced degree.
Over the last 10 years, 89 percent of Western students who have applied for a healthcare-related professional program have been accepted. These high acceptance rates into competitive schools can be credited to the hard work of our students, the support provided by our dedicated faculty and our commitment to academic and professional success.
Firsthand experience
We help students maintain an edge by offering early exposure to healthcare fields, an abundance of research opportunities and a variety of high-quality courses.
Courses
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
| Code | Title | Credits | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 342 | Microbiology (with laboratory) | 4 | View |
| BIOL 420 | Molecular Biology (with laboratory) | 4 | View |
| CHEM 334 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 | View |
| CHEM 335 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 | View |
| CHEM 471 | Biochemistry I | 3 | View |
| MATH 151 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | 4 | View |
| MATH 213 | Probability and Statistics | 3 | View |
| PHYS 170 | Principles of Physics I (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 | View |
| PHYS 171 | Principles of Physics II (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 | View |
| PHYS 200 | General Physics I (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 | View |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics II (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 | View |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology (GT-SS3) | 3 | View |
Careers
Career preparation starts your first year at Western and is the primary focus of every degree.
Visit Career Services in Library 120 or online to discover your interests, define your goals, and land the career of your dreams.
The data below is automatically collected by Burning Glass Technologies, a firm that sources job market data and provides analytics. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.
Scholarships
Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western. Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming freshman or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.0 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found here (click). Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Description
The Western Presidential Honors Scholarships, established by the Jack and Marilyn MacAllister Foundation shall be an elite class of scholarships awarded to Western's highest achieving and most deserving students, celebrating the ideals of academic excellence and service to the campus and community. Recipients of the Scholarships will be members of the Western Colorado University Honors Program.
There are eight Presidential Honors Scholarships of $2500 each. Each year two new Presidential Honors Scholarships will be awarded to two incoming freshmen.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student's GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
News & Research
Get Involved
Expand your community and your network.
There are so many ways that you can maximize your educational experience at Western. Take advantage of these opportunities to advance your career.
- Pre-Health Club: These students collaborate to host medically-relevant events and volunteer services.
- Research Assistantships: Many professors conduct externally-funded research and are always looking for student help.
- Shadowing: Opportunities to shadow practicing clinicians exist both locally and throughout the United States.
- Thornton Biology Research Program: Students can receive funding and work with faculty on original research.
- Pre-Health Mentorship Program: Students are paired with a qualified health professional to help them gain hands-on experience and prepare for a career after graduation.
A commitment to success
Over the last 10 years, 89 percent of Western students who have applied for a healthcare-related professional program have been accepted. These high acceptance rates into competitive schools can be credited to the hard work of our students, the support provided by our dedicated faculty and Western’s commitment to success.
Additional Resources
Department Information
Natural & Environmental Sciences (NES) Department
Department Chairperson
Robin A. Bingham, Ph.D.Professor of Biology
Administrative Assistant
Samantha SiegfriedAdministrative Assistant for NES
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Hurst Hall 128
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231