Contact Information
Bobby Chain Technology Center (TEC), 103
118 College Drive, #5165
Hatttiesburg, Miss. 39406
Phone: 601-266-4883
Fax: 601-266-5829
The Preprofessional Office
Click to see upcoming Preprofessional Events
The Premedical and Health Professions Office is housed in the College of Science and Technology and is located in the Dean’s Office complex in the Chain Technology Building (TEC 103).
The Preprofessional Office helps students prepare for careers in a variety of health-care fields by discussing strategies for success and offering assistance with course selection, schedule planning, and the application process.
Click below for more information and suggested course sequences:
Important Links:
USM Preprofessional FAQs
Need help with a science or math course? Try the free online Khan Academy tutorial website!
Want to volunteer for community service? Sign up online at Southern Miss Office of Community Service Learning
AED, the National Health Preprofessional Honor Society
AMSA, American Medical Student Association
Hatten Premedical Externship or Predental Externship
MCAT Prep Course
2015 MCAT Preview Guide
UMC Health Careers Pipeline & MEDCORP programs
UMC Health Careers Development Program website
UMC presentations: Pathway to Medical School
Images of Medical Student Life
Completing a preprofessional curriculum at Southern Miss offer several advantages: The College of Science and Technology has strong departments in biological sciences, chemistry & biochemistry, physics and mathematics, thus providing the background needed to do well on preprofessional admission tests including the MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT and GRE.
The Preprofessional Office provides individualized help in the application process and with letters of evaluation / recommendation.
The Preprofessional Office arranges campus visits by professionals and recruiters from a variety of professional schools and arranges field trips for students to medical centers and hospitals.
Preparation for a health-care career involves two educational phases:
1. Course work at Southern Miss (the "preprofessional" phase) and
2. Two or more years in a professional school
For many fields, such as medicine, dentistry, and physical therapy, “preprofessional preparation” typically means a baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree from Southern Miss followed by two or more years at a professional school. Some programs, such as pharmacy, dental hygiene, and occupational therapy, may consist of two to three years of courses at Southern Miss followed by two to four years in a professional school.
Admission to professional programs is very competitive and the application process must be initiated anywhere from several months to almost a year before the expected date of entry.
Effective July 1, 2004, Section 37-29-232 of the Mississippi Code requires that students enrolled in a healthcare professional academic program undergo fingerprinting and a criminal background check before any clinical rotation in a licensed healthcare facility may occur. The background check typically occurs after the student completes an interview at the professional school.
For more information about health-care careers in any of the Preprofessional areas contact:
Preprofessional Office
Ms. L. Machell Haynes, Preprofessional Assistant
601.266.4741
ladonna.haynes@usm.edu
College of Science and Technology
118 College Dr. #5165
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Dr. Patricia Biesiot, Associate Dean and Preprofessional Advisor
601.266.4883
patricia.biesiot@usm.edu
Preprofessional Office
College of Science and Technology
118 College Dr. #5165
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
