Advising and Career Development Center
Pre-Health (First Time Freshman)
The Pre-Health Program within Fresno State's College of Health and Human Services is a structured, three-semester initiative designed for first-time freshmen exploring careers in health and human services. It offers academic advising and career exploration for students interested in fields such as Nursing, Exercise Science, Public Health, Social Work, and Speech Language Pathology.
Prospective students who are interested in these majors should choose Pre-Health as their intended major on their Fresno State application.
The Advising and Career Development Center oversees advising for the Pre-Health program. Feel free to contact us with any questions concerning the Pre-Health program at 559-278-5027 or by emailing acdc@mail.fresnostate.edu.
Program Structure:
The Pre-Health Program was launched in the 2020-2021 academic year partially in response to the recognition of frequent major changes among students within the College of Health and Human Services. The goal of the Pre-Health program is to provide students with the opportunity to explore their intended major in-depth, while also considering related fields that may better align with their career aspirations.
Students will explore CHHS careers through two required, credit-bearing courses taken during the first year: HHS 18A and HHS 18B. Students will apply for a major of their choice during their third semester as long as program requirements are met. ACDC is heavily involved in the Pre-Health program and is able to provide more consistent advising as well as early interventions to students who may not meet eligiblity for certain programs.
Currently, majors included in the Pre-Health program include:
- Exercise Science
- Nursing
- Public Health (Formerly: Community Health)
- Social Work
- Speech Language Pathology
Pre-Health students will complete HHS 18A and HHS 18B, as well as General Education course requirements based on their intended major, during their first three semesters. The roadmap for Pre-Health is as follows:
- First Semester: Enrollment in HHS 18A: Career Pathways in Health and Human Services.
- Second Semester: Enrollment in HHS 18B: Career Exploration in Health and Human Services.
- Third Semester: Application to the top two majors based on exploration outcomes.
- Fourth Semester: Begin taking major coursework until all requirements are met for graduation
Students in Pre-Health will periodically be evaluated for competitiveness towards the intended majors. Typically, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain eligible for Pre-Health.
Applying to Pre-Health
Application Process:
The Application process for the four majors that are part of the Pre-Health program is as follows:
- Students in semester three of Pre-Health are sent an application link to apply to programs of their choice
- Students will apply to the top two majors of their choice in September of the third semester
- Students will be sent an acceptance/denial letter before the registration date for the spring semester
- Students will accept/decline the offered major before the registration date
- Students will be changed into accepted major by department before the registration date
- Students will register for semester four classes that are set by the specific Major that they selected
Program Requirements:
Students should be aware of the requirements for their intended program prior to applying during semester three. Admission to majors within the Pre-Health program are based on the cumulative GPA of the first and second semesters. The program requirements for each Pre-Health major are as follows:
- Exercise Science:
- 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Nursing:
- 3.0 pre-requisite and cumulative GPA
- No more than one failed grade in pre-requisite coursework
- Note: Admitted students will remain "Pre-Health" until admitted to the BSN program
- See BSN Admissions for more information.
- Public Health
- 2.7 cumulative GPA
- Supplemental Questions
- Social Work
- 2.7 cumulative GPA
- Supplemental Questions
- Speech-Language Pathology
- 2.7 cumulative GPA
Students should take coursework in General Education that is most relevant for their intended major. Consult the advising sheet for your intended major for recommended GE coursework:
Additional Information:
Pre-Health Change of Major Policy
The Pre-Health Program is designed as a structured, three-semester exploratory track for first-time freshmen in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS). As such, current Fresno State students may not always be able to change their major into Pre-Health.
Eligibility for Changing into Pre-Health
Students who have been admitted to Fresno State may be eligible to change their major to Pre-Health. Students interested in switching to Pre-Health must generally meet the following criteria:
- Be a first-time freshman or within their first three semesters at Fresno State.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Have made progress in the requirements of their intended major
- Submit a Change of Major request by meeting with an academic advisor in ACDC.
Please Note: Transfer students may not change their major to Pre-Health. Transfer and continuing Junior/Senior standing Fresno State students may be able to directly change their major to Exercise Science, Speech-Language Pathology, or Public Health. Students may not change their major directly into Nursing or Social Work at any time.
Changing Out of Pre-Health
Students who do not meet the eligibiliy for their intended major or any Pre-Health
major must change their major to an alternative program. Students should consult with
an ACDC counselor on alternative majors and routes towards their intended career.
For assistance, contact ACDC Advising at 559-278-5027 or visit the ACDC office.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1) What is Pre-Health?
- Pre-Health is a preparatory and exploratory program for students aiming to apply to majors like Nursing, Exercise Science, Public Health, Social Work, and Speech Language Pathology. The program provides exploration into both the "breadth" of Health and Human services fields (i.e. what else is out there) as well as deeper "depth" into a student's major of interest.
2) Why choose Pre-Health?
- It provides a structured exploration process for incoming freshmen, assisting those who may reconsider their initial major choice. It is also a requirement for students interested in certain majors such as nursing or social work.
3) Can I graduate with a Pre-Health major?
- No, Pre-Health is a preparatory program, not a degree-granting major. A student who begins as Pre-Health and applies to the Social Work program will earn a B.S. degree in Social Work.
4) Do Pre-Health courses count towards graduation?
- Yes, all courses taken within the Pre-Health program fulfill graduation requirements.
5) How do I transition to my desired major?
- During your third semester, you will receive an application to apply to your top two chosen programs of study. After completing the application admission will be offered based on completion of the requirements of the chosen program. After accepting a field of study your major will be changed to your chosen pathway.
6) What if I'm not admitted to my desired program after Pre-Health?
- You can apply to two majors, your first and second choices. If you are not accepted to either of your choices, you will need to apply to a different major either within the College of Health and Human Services (but outside the four majors Pre Health leads to), or any major at Fresno State. All the units you earn in the Pre Health program apply to your graduation in areas of General Education and/or your new major (pending on which major you change to).
7) Are there still degrees in Nursing, Kinesiology, Social Work, and so on?
- Yes these programs still exist, but you must complete the pre requisite courses in Pre-Health and then apply to these separate programs.
For more information or assistance, please contact ACDC at 559-278-5027 or email acdc@mail.fresnostate.edu.