Pre-Professional Programs

Rhodes College offers an interdisciplinary major and minor in Educational Studies which consists of a combination of courses in education and other disciplines in the liberal arts. The major has two tracks: Teaching and Learning; Policy and Social Change. Students may also choose to pursue teacher licensure as part of their Educational Studies major. Students interested in this opportunity should schedule a meeting with an Educational Studies faculty member to discuss the process. Students who want to be teachers should select the Teaching and Learning track. In addition to declaring their major, students pursuing teacher licensure at Rhodes must complete an application to the licensure program, which includes completing required PRAXIS exams. Students seeking licensure in secondary education must double major in the content area in which they plan to teach. Students seeking elementary licensure are not required to double major. Note that in addition to major requirements, all students pursuing teacher licensure must complete a semester-long student teaching practicum, which may be completed in their eighth semester or post-graduation in a ninth semester.  

Contact Person:  
Dr. Zac Casey, caseyz@rhodes.edu, 901-843-3742  
Education Web Site:   http://www.rhodes.edu/education 

The major in Educational Studies requires 44 or 45 credits. The required courses for the major are listed below. More information about elective courses for the three tracks can be found in the College Catalogue (http://catalog.rhodes.edu/catalog/requirements-major-educational-studies) 

Core Requirements (5 courses, 20 credits)

1. Foundations of Education - EDUC 201 
2. Educational Psychology - EDUC 222
3. Philosophy, Policy, & Equity (two of the following):
   1. Urban Education - EDUC 220
   2. African American Experiences in U.S. Schools - EDUC 225
   3. History of Education - EDUC 230
   4. Urban Education Policy - EDUC 240 [only for Teaching & Learning track]
   5. Philosophy of Education - EDUC 270
4. Race, Class, Gender, & Sexuality in Education - EDUC 320
   1. Education & Immigration - EDUC 330
   2. Social & Community Contexts of Education - EDUC 335
   3. Some sections of EDUC 265 (when appropriate)

5. Education Senior Seminar EDUC 485

Track Requirements

Track 1: Teaching and Learning (24 credits)

1. Principles of Curriculum and Instruction - EDUC 355*
2. Educational Technologies - EDUC 300*
3. Reading, Writing, and Urban Schools - EDUC 310
4. Content Area Teaching Methods Course (one of the following, according to the student's curricular focus):
   1. Elementary Literacies - EDUC 370*
   2. Methods of Teaching Secondary STEM - EDUC 380*
   3. Methods of Teaching Secondary Humanities - EDUC 390*
5. Inclusive Education - EDUC 410*
6. Clinical Field Experiences - EDUC 360 (4 credits) 
   1. One credit must be taken co-requisite with each of the courses above marked with * .

Track 2: Policy and Social Change (25 credits)

1. Urban Education Policy - EDUC 240
2. Qualitative Methods in the Social Sciences - EDUC 395*
3. Clinical Field Experience - EDUC 360 (1 credit; *co-requisite with EDUC 395)
4. Interdisciplinary Course Requirement (1 course):
   1. The City - ANSO 241
   2. Social Movements - ANSO 243
   3. Introduction to Public Policy - PLAW 205
   4. Urban Policy and Polities - PLAW 206
   5. Race and Ethnic Politics - PLAW 207
   6. Black Political Thought - PLAW 230
   7. Health Care Policy - PLAW 320
   8. Community Psychology - PSYC 330
   1. Nonprofits in the City - URBN 340
5. One additional 4-credit EDUC course
6. Two additional 4-credit Educational Studies Electives

Teacher Licensure

Students completing an Educational Studies major on the Teaching and Learning track can also pursue elementary or secondary teacher licensure. Teacher licensure requires completion of additional requirements, including: 

1. edTPA Preparation - EDUC 450 (1 credit, taken co-requisite with 1 credit of EDUC 360; typically taken semester prior to EDUC 499)
2. Clinical Practice (Student Teaching) - EDUC 499 (16 credits; typically completed either in the 8th semester or in a post-baccalaureate 9th semester)

Students pursuing secondary teacher licensure must double major in the subject area plan to teach (e.g., English; Biology). More information about teacher licensure can be found on the Educational Studies micro-site or by contacting Dr. Joseph Kelly, Teacher Licensure Coordinator (kellyj@rhodes.edu). 

Degree offered: NA
Concentrations: Pre-engineering certificate; Dual Degree engineering programs
Total Credits required for the major: NA
Minor: NA

Courses appropriate for students seeking foundation credit:

• PHYS 111-112 Introductory Physics for the Physical Sciences I and II (F6, F7). Lecture and required laboratory (PHYS 113-114) must be taken together.
• CHEM 120 General Chemistry (F7). Lecture and required laboratory (CHEM 125) must be taken together.
• MATH 122, 223 Multivariable Calculus (F6)
• COMP 141 Computer Science I: Programming Fundamentals (F6)

Courses appropriate for students considering a major:

• NA

Class Sections available this fall:

• PHYS 111 Introductory Physics for the Physical Sciences I (F6, F7). Lecture and required laboratory (PHYS 113) must be taken together.
• CHEM 120 General Chemistry (F7). Lecture and required laboratory (CHEM 125) must be taken together.
• MATH 122, 223 Multivariable Calculus (F6)
• COMP 141 Computer Science I: Programming Fundamentals (F6)

Student can earn a Pre-Engineering Certificate, which specifies a set of courses for physics or chemistry majors interested in pursuing graduate study in engineering.

Rhodes offers several Dual Degree Engineering programs: a dual bachelor’s degree program with Washington University (St. Louis), a BS-MS degree program with Washington University in St. Louis, a dual BS program with Christian Brothers University, and a BS-MS degree program in Biomedical Engineering or Electrical Engineering with the University of Memphis. Students receive a bachelor’s from Rhodes (BS or BA), and a second degree (BS or MS) from the partner institution.

Please see the Pre-Engineering advising site for specific course information: https://sites.rhodes.edu/pre-engineering

Contact Person: Ann Viano, Ph.D.
Department of Physics
901-843-3912; viano@rhodes.edu

Additional Notes:

Students considering a dual degree program should arrange an appointment with the engineering liaison faculty member listed above as early as possible in their Rhodes career.

Rhodes does not have a pre-law program major or minor. Students considering careers in law can major in any subject, preferably one that they enjoy and in which they do well. We do offer pre-law advising for students in any department who are interested in applying to law school. Students interested in applying to law school should set an appointment with the college's pre-law advisor by the fall of their junior year. Pre-law advising will include suggested courses, personal statement review, application advice, and testing preparation. 

Contact Person: 
Professor Anna Eldridge, Pre-Law Advisor
901-843-3330

Recommended Courses:
The Association of American Law Schools recommends that a student’s undergraduate education fulfill the following objectives:

• The student should learn to express thoughts clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• The student should develop creative power in thinking as well as logical reasoning about research, fact completeness, and fact differentiation.
• The student should acquire a critical understanding of human institutions and values with which law deals.

While there are no required courses, any student considering law school should select some courses that emphasize language precision and the careful analysis of language such as Constitutional Law, Rights of the Accused, Philosophy of Law, Business Law, or Politics & Law courses. Forensic experiences, including public speaking, theater, mock trial, and the like, are also highly recommended.

Taking the LSAT:
The Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT) should be taken in the summer before the senior year or at the very latest in October of the senior year.  Law schools have become more likely to use the student’s best score, rather than the average of multiple scores, but there are still disadvantages to re-taking the exam. For example, law schools are likely to look more favorably on the applicant who made the high score in one try, and the applicant’s re-take score could be worse. Thus, the test should only be re-taken if the initial score fell well outside the student’s practice-test range, extraordinary problems arose in taking the exam, or significant new preparation techniques will be employed. 

Recommended GPA:
Law School admissions is a balancing test of GPA and Test score. Success in one category does mitigate a lower score in the other category. As a general rule, for students hoping to gain acceptance to the most competitive law schools, they should try to maintain a GPA above a 3.7 and seek to score above the 90th percentile on the Law School Admissions Test. Students who want to go to a strong regional law school should seek to stay above a 3.0 with an LSAT score of 60% percentile.

Additional Information:
Any student considering a career in law should arrange a "pre-law appointment" with Anna Eldridge as soon as possible, but preferably no later than fall of the junior year.

Internships are not required for law school applications. Internships may provide opportunities to learn what types of law are of interest to the student, but do not meaningfully impact the application itself. Rhodes offers a variety of internship opportunities for students interested in learning more about various legal fields.

Mock Trial: 

Students who want to participate in our mock trial program must register for Trial Procedures (Politics & Law 262) in the fall of their first year. This two-credit course is mandatory for all students who plan to compete in mock trial. This course is appropriate for first year students.

Additional Notes: N/A

Rhodes has a supportive, advisory pre-ministry program for students who are considering seminary or divinity school following graduation, and for those who are exploring vocations in ministry and church-related professions. Many Rhodes students have a broad-based understanding of ministry and may wish to explore the pre-ministry program in preparation for careers in pastoral ministry, global service, medicine, social work, teaching, counseling, or law. Students interested in attending seminary or divinity school as preparation for a career in teaching or research should contact the Chaplain or any member of the Department of Religious Studies.

Contact Persons:
Students considering a career in ministry should speak with Dr. Stephen Haynes, Professor of Religious Studies (901-843-3583) or with Rhodes’ Chaplain, Rev. Beatrix Weil (901-843-3822) as soon as possible in their undergraduate careers. By registering with the Preparation for Ministry program, students will have access to advisers, supervised ministry opportunities, and a supportive structure for exploring vocations in ministry.

Because requirements for ordination to the ministry vary greatly among religious denominations, students interested in ordination should also contact a church representative to familiarize themselves with these requirements.

Preparation:
There is no "required curriculum" for students considering the ministry. Traditionally, however, a well-rounded curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences has been the standard preparation for seminary or divinity school. In addition to the Basic Humanities Requirement ("Search" or "Life"), these courses in Language, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Psychology can provide a particularly strong background for seminary or divinity school:

• Addiction, Recovery and Spirituality (RS 300)
• Anti-Semitism (HIST 405)
• Faiths in Conflict (HIST 205)
• Greek & Roman Studies 101-102: Elementary Greek
• Greek & Roman Studies 265: Barbarians and Gentiles: Cultures in the Ancient Mediterranean 
• Hebrew 101-102: Biblical Hebrew
• History 243: The Civil Rights Movement 
• History 277: Modern Islamic Thought History 375: Islamic History and Civilization
• International Studies 334: Religion & Politics
• Introduction to African American Religion (AFS 205)

• Philosophy 240: Philosophy of Religion 
• Politics and Law 214: Modern Ideologies
• Psychology 311: Counseling Psychology
• Religious Studies 210: History of Christian Thought
• Religious Studies 211: Contemporary Theology
• Religious Studies 214: Early Christian Literature
• Religious Studies 231: Faith, Health, and Justice (F1)
• Religious Studies 233: Pain, Suffering and Death
• Religious Studies 251: Religion in America
• Religious Studies 253, 255, or 258: Living Religions
• Religious Studies 460: Health Equity Internships
• Spanish 365: Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Spain: Past and Present

Languages:
Hebrew and Greek are required at some seminaries to study the original biblical texts. Latin, Arabic, Spanish, French, and German may be necessary for certain areas of advanced study.

Experiential Education and Supervised Ministry:
Students should also gain experience in urban studies or urban ministry, faith-based social services, international programs, and local church ministries through internships and volunteer programs. Contact the Chaplain′s office for supervised ministry opportunities and other church-related internships.

Seminary Inquiry:
Seminaries, divinity schools and global mission recruiters frequently visit the Rhodes campus. Because there are a variety of theological degrees (M.Div, MTS, MA, D.Min, Th.D, Ph.D) and combined degrees (with social work, law, public policy, or counseling) students should consult with their advisers about the graduate degree best suited to their vocation. During their Junior and Senior years, pre-ministry students have opportunities for weekend visits to theological schools to consider graduate study and the discernment of vocation more closely.

Taking the GRE and Applying to Graduate School:
Most seminaries and divinity schools attended by Rhodes graduates are accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and will require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Undergraduate GPA requirements for admission are at least 2.50 for the M.Div. and higher for research degree programs. Rhodes students have a nearly 100% acceptance rate at major seminaries and theological schools. Scholarships for attending seminary, divinity school, or graduate school in religion are generally competitive and based on undergraduate achievement. In recent years, Rhodes

students have been accepted and offered significant scholarships by Columbia Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Emory University, Candler School of Theology, Union Theological Seminary in New York, Harvard Divinity School, Yale Divinity School, Virginia Theological Seminary, McCormick Theological Seminary, Boston University School of Theology, Duke Divinity School, and University of Chicago Divinity School.

Additional Notes: NA

The Health Professions Advising Office provides comprehensive support for students pursuing healthcare careers, offering guidance on prerequisite course selection, essential experiences, and building competitive applications for professional schools. 

Students interested in pursuing a healthcare career should connect with the HPA office early in their academic journey and each semester to ensure they stay on track with their pre-professional healthcare goals.

Health Professions Advising (HPA) Team Contacts

• Lauren Pringle, Assistant Director, pringlel@rhodes.edu (Caseload: Last Name A-L)
• Jessica Kelso, Associate Director, kelsoj@rhodes.edu (Caseload: Last Name M-R)
• Melissa Campbell, Director, campbellm@rhodes.edu (Caseload: Last Name S-Z)

Use our website to schedule an appointment with your HPA advisor.

Pre-Health Paths We Advise

• Anesthesiology Assistant
• Athletic Training
• Audiology
• Chiropractic
• Dentistry
• Genetic Counseling
• Medicine
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy
• Optometry
• Pharmacy
• Physician Assistant
• Physical Therapy
• Public Health
• Speech-language Pathology
• Veterinary Medicine 

Learn more about healthcare career options. 

Choosing a Major

Students interested in healthcare careers can major in any subject they find engaging and excel in academically. We encourage exploring majors that interest you—the best major is one you are excited about. Use courses within the foundations curriculum to help discover your interests. There is no single path to professional school, as these schools value overall academic performance and experiences more than a specific major. Professional school programs require a set of prerequisite courses. While students should ensure they complete pre-health prerequisites, they also have the freedom to choose additional coursework that aligns with their passion.

Courses Recommended for First-Year Students

• For students who are strongly considering medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, physician assistant, or pharmacy, start a science sequence in the fall of your first year, typically BIOL 130/131L or CHEM 120/125L.
• Consider your previous experience and interests when choosing between biology and chemistry as your first science sequence.
• For students who are strongly considering nursing, physical therapy, or occupational therapy, begin with Biology I (BIOL 130) and Biology I Lab (BIOL 131L).
• For students who are strongly considering a physics major, begin with the Physics I sequence in the fall of your first year (PHYS 111 & 113L or PHYS 109 & 113L with department approval).
• Consider the health professions-themed course section, "Navigating Your Pre-Health Plan", of First-Year Experience Seminar (FYS 101). 

Pre-Health Courses that Fulfill Foundation Credit

• F7: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics courses will fulfill this requirement.
• F6: MATH 211 and PSYC 211 are widely accepted by professional schools. ECON 290 may be considered depending on major requirements.
• F6: MATH 115, 122 (Calculus options)
• F8: Introductory Sociology (ANSO 105)
• F8: Introduction to Psychological Science (PSYC 150) 

Additional Pre-Health Course Considerations

• First-semester students should enroll in 17 credits.
• First-year students are generally limited to one science course during priority registration. If you would like to enroll in a second science course during the open enrollment period, please speak with your HPA advisor first.
• AP credit policies vary by professional school. Biology I & II are generally recommended to be taken at Rhodes regardless of AP credit. Students should consult with their HPA advisor before accepting their biology AP credit.
• For other AP credit courses (Physics, Statistics, Calculus, English, or Psychology being the most common), it is important to check each professional school's policy before deciding whether to accept or deny the credit. Please consult with your HPA advisor regarding questions about AP credit and professional programs. Generally, AP credit in additional subject areas not listed above does not impact prerequisite requirements.  
• Some professional schools require Statistics and/or Calculus.
• Most health profession programs require or recommend coursework in the social and behavioral sciences.
  • Both Introduction to Psychological Science and Introductory Sociology can help pre-medical students prepare for the MCAT.
  • Introduction to Psychological Science is often a prerequisite for students pursuing careers in Optometry, Physician Assistant, Nursing, and Physical/Occupational Therapy.

Students should work with their faculty advisor and HPA advisor each semester to ensure all degree and professional school requirements are met.

Typical Science Sequences for First-Year Students

BIOLOGY FIRST

• Fall: Biology I (BIOL 130 & 131)
• Spring: Biology II (BIOL 140 & 141)

CHEMISTRY FIRST

• Fall: Foundations of Chemistry (CHEM 120 & 125)
• Spring: Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 211)

PHYSICS FIRST 

This option should only be considered for students considering a physics major. 

• Fall: Physics I (PHYS 109* & 113 OR PHYS 111 & 113)
• Spring: Physics II (PHYS 110* & 114 OR PHYS 112 & 114)
• *Dept. Approval Needed for Major

BIOLOGY + CHEMISTRY TOGETHER SECOND SEMESTER

This option is considered for students who are doing well in BIOLOGY I and feel confident in their ability to take both courses together in the spring. However, students are not guaranteed a seat in CHEM 120/125 as there is only one section offered in the spring.

• Fall: Biology I (BIOL 130 & 131)
• Spring: Biology II (BIOL 140 & 141) + Foundations of Chemistry (CHEM 120 & 125)

BIOLOGY + CHEMISTRY TOGETHER FIRST SEMESTER

This plan is typically considered for students with AP Biology credit (score of 5) and a strong Chemistry background. Excellent time management and study skills are necessary to take both courses concurrently in the first semester. 

Please note that first-year students are generally limited to one science course during priority registration. If you would like to enroll in a second science course during the open enrollment period, please speak with your HPA advisor first.

• Fall: Biology I (BIOL 130 & 131) + Foundations of Chemistry (CHEM 120 & 125)
• Spring: Biology II (BIOL 140 & 141) + Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 211)