May 09, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Health Professions Majors and Programs


See the Science & Health Department for Health Professions Programs and Advising.

Medical, dental, pharmacy, and veterinary schools do not require a science major, but a strong preparation in science is required. While medical schools do not have a prescribed list of science BION courses applicants must take, a sound understanding of the following areas is required:  a) biological, biochemical, chemical, and physical foundations of living systems, b) psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior, and c) critical analysis and reasoning skills. Asbury students interested in medicine are assigned to the Health Professions Advisor who assists them in planning their schedules and meeting other admissions requirements.

Email the Health Professions Advisor for more information.

Biology - Pre-Nursing (BION) Program *

Asbury University offers a major in Pre-Nursing which provides options to students interested in pursuing a career in nursing.

1. Students may complete an Asbury University degree by transferring to and completing credits at an approved school of nursing in their fourth year. Students take a prescribed course of study (BION) and Foundations courses at Asbury University. The BION major must transfer to an accredited 4-year school of nursing. Upon completing the first 30 hours of professional nursing courses the credits must be transferred back to Asbury University to complete the Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology - Pre-Nursing. Asbury has arrangements with UK-CON and with IWU-SON for accepting qualified Asbury students, but other Schools of Nursing may be used.

A. University of Kentucky - College of Nursing (UK-CON) - Students can complete two degrees by successfully completing this program, a Bachelor of Arts in Biolog - Pre-Nursing from Asbury and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Kentucky. Participating students take the prescribed course of study at Asbury, including Foundations courses, and then transfer to UK-CON. To complete the Asbury University degree in Biology - Pre-Nursing the first 30 credits of nursing courses from UK must be officially transferred to Asbury University upon completion. Entrance requirements for UK-CON must be met, and spaces are limited (Contact the Health Professions Advisor for more information).

B. Indiana Wesleyan University - School of Nursing (IWU-SON) - Students can complete two degrees by successfully completing this program, a Bachelor of Arts in Biology - Pre-Nursing from Asbury and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University. Participating students take the prescribed course of study at Asbury, including Foundations courses, and then transfer to IWU-SON. To complete the Asbury University degree in Biology - Pre-Nursing the first 30 credits of nursing courses from Indiana Wesleyan must be officially transferred to Asbury University upon completion. Entrance requirements for IWU-SON must be met, and spaces are limited (Contact the Health Professions Advisor for more information).

C. Other schools of nursing - Students may transfer to other approved nursing schools although there is no agreement on admission or programs at these other schools. The Asbury degree is completed by the official transfer of the first 30 credits of nursing courses. Degrees and requirements for the other nursing schools vary. The school must be approved for use in the Biology - Pre-Nursing degree program. (Contact the Health Professions Advisor about other schools).

2. Students may complete the pre-nursing requirements and seek admission to a nursing program without completing the Asbury three-year pre-nursing curriculum and Foundations requirements. This option will not lead to a degree from Asbury. No transfer of nursing courses would be needed.

3. Students with other Asbury majors may complete pre-nursing requirements without declaring the BION major. Contact the Health Professions Advisor if you are interested in any nursing / medical related field.

*Biology - Pre-Nursing (BION) Program Restrictions

A. BION Student completes the major requirements at Asbury. BION majors transfer to an accredited 4-year school of nursing to complete the major and the AU degree by finishing 30.0 hours of nursing courses. These credits must be officially transferred back to Asbury University to receive an AU degree. Students must have 124.0 total hours to receive an AU degree. Entrance requirements at the school of nursing must be met.

B. BION Student may not have a double major. If completing any other Asbury major the Pre-nursing major will not be listed. Student will complete and graduate from Asbury University in the other major only. However, any student who is preparing to apply for nursing or medical schools should contact the Health Professions Advisor about taking required pre-nursing or pre-medical courses outside their declared major.

C. The 75.0 hours maximum transfer rule applies and includes the 30.0 nursing hours which limits all other transfer hours and institutional credit to 45 hours.

D. Transfer course restrictions: 50% of the BION major must be completed at Asbury University (minimum 33.0 major hours at Asbury) with the transferred nursing hours accounting for the other 50% of the major. If any of the other required major courses are taken at other schools the student will be required to take additional Asbury University course hours in BIO, PSY, CHE, or SOC to account for the 50% at Asbury.

E. All Pre-Nursing students are reviewed at the end of the sophomore year (60.0 cumulative hours). After 2 years, students should have no grade below a “C” in all BIO and CHE courses in order to continue in the program. Schools of nursing have stringent GPA requirements for admission (Contact the Health Professions Advisor for information).

F. Changing out of the BION major - A student who decides not to pursue nursing needs to make this decision by the first semester of the junior year to allow time to complete the courses needed for another major. Discuss major changes with the Health Professions Advisor.

 

Early Acceptance Programs in Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy

Asbury University has contractual agreements with certain schools of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy whereby students can gain early acceptance to these medical programs by meeting specific requirements.

A. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) - The Early Acceptance Program (EAP) is designed to facilitate the admission of Asbury students into LECOM’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) program. LECOM will interview eligible students prior to their enrollment at Asbury University or within the first two years of study at Asbury. Students interviewing successfully will be offered a provisional acceptance in LECOM’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. Upon meeting the criterial for final acceptance they will matriculate at the LECOM campus of their choice (dependent upon space availability). Each academic year a maximum combined total of 5 students will be accepted by LECOM from Asbury University. Contact the Health Professions Advisor for eligibility information.

B. University of Kentucky College of Medicine - Northern Kentucky Campus - The Early Assurance Program (EAP) is designed to provide students from Northern and North Central Kentucky early assurance of admission to medical school. Students apply to the EAP during the spring semester of their sophomore year at Asbury University. An indicated clear interest in establishing medical practice in the Northern / North Central region of Kentucky, and commitment to participate in all elements of the EAP are required. Contact the Health Professions Advisor for eligibility information.

C. LECOM - School of Dental Medicine - The Early Acceptance Program (EAP) is designed to facilitate the admission of Asbury students into LECOM’s Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) program. LECOM will interview students prior to their enrollment at Asbury or within the first two years of study at Asbury. Students interviewing successfully will be offered a provisional acceptance to LECOM’s Doctor of Dental Medicine program. Upon meeting the criteria for final acceptance, they will matriculate at the LECOM Bradenton, FL campus. Each academic year a maximum combined total of 5 students will be accepted by LECOM from Asbury University. Contact the Health Professions Advisor for eligibility information.

D. LECOM - School of Pharmacy - The Early Acceptance Program (EAP) is designed to facilitate the admission of Asbury students into LECOM’s Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program. LECOM will interview students prior to their enrollment at Asbury or within the first two years of study at Asbury. Students interviewing successfully will be offered a provisional acceptance to LECOM’s Doctor of Pharmacy program. Upon meeting the criteria for final acceptance, they will matriculate at the LECOM campus of their choice. Each academic year a maximum combined total of 5 students will be accepted by LECOM from Asbury University. Contact the Health Professions Advisor for eligibility information.

E.  University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy - The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy agrees to give priority applicant status during the admissions process to the Doctor of Pharmacy program.  The student must fulfill the requirements of the Biology Pre-pharmacy (BIOP) three-year program at Asbury University including Foundations and must make formal application for Early Decision admission to the UK Pharmacy program.  The student will be included in the early decision review of applications and possibly invited for an interview during the first two interview visit dates.  If accepted the student would transfer into the Doctor of Pharmacy program and the first 28 credits of completed pharmacy courses must be officially transferred to Asbury University to count towards completion of the Asbury Bachelors of Arts degree in Biology - Pre-Pharmacy (BIOP) Program .   Entrance requirements for UK-COP must be met, and spaces are limited (Contact the Health Professions Advisor for more information).