Pathways to Professional Careers
Interested in pursuing a professional designation?
Use your studies at UofR to launch your professional career.
If your goal is to pursue a professional program at another university, you can start by taking your pre-professional courses at the University of Regina. Professional programs require one to four years of undergraduate study before you can apply. The length and area of study varies by program and institution.
Some benefits of studying Science at the University of Regina as a pathway to your professional aspirations are:
- Our Faculty of Science Academic Advisors are experts in the requirements for all science-based professions
- The Faculty of Science Academic Advisors network regularly with profesional program admissions staff at universities across Saskatchewan and Alberta
- The Faculty of Science hosts information sessions for students when recruiters from professional programs come to campus
- The success rate of University of Regina graduates for entrance into the medical program at the University of Saskatchewan equals that of University of Saskatchewan graduates
Because the path to each professional program is unique, we encourage you to meet with a Science Academic Advisor to discuss the best pathway for you.
Explore the possibilities
If you are pursuing a dentistry pathway, you must be working toward an undergraduate degree and select courses that meet the requirements of the dentistry program. This will ensure alternate career choices if dentistry is no longer a viable option for you. The College of Dentistry at the University of Saskatchewan recommends applicants pursue a degree in the life sciences or health studies.
If a career in law appeals to you, there are many universities across Canada where you can pursue your professional studies after completing your undergraduate degree with us. Applicants require an undergraduate degree, and are evaluated based on a combination of their grade point average and score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Because each university varies in their admission requirements, you are encouraged to read what the university where you wish to pursue law studies asks applicants have.
If medicine is your desired path, you can take a four-year degree program in any field. The Faculty of Science welcomes you to join one of our six departments and take the courses that best prepare you for future studies in medicine. The Unofficial Guide to Canadian Medical Schools will help you decide which degree pathway is right for you.
The Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program at the University of Saskatchewan produces highly-trained clinical professionals who work under the supervision of physicians. The pathway to the MPAS is a four-year degree that includes courses in Indigneous studies, human anatomy, and human physiology.
A degree in optometry is a second-entry program, which means that applicants must first complete a mandatory set of university-level courses while working towards a Bachelor of Science degree. You are encouraged to read the full details regarding application to the University of Waterloo's Optometry program, which is representative optometry programs across North America.
If you are interested in a career in pharmacy, undergraduate classes in Biology, or in Chemistry and Biochemistry are ideal for setting you up for success. Admission requirements look for specific courses, with many falling in the field of science. We encourage you to read the application requirements of the university where you wish to pursue pharmaceutical studies to ensure you are on track to achieving your professional goals.
If you are interested in animal health and the diseases affecting them, veterinary medicine may be the option for you. Most Faculty of Science students who pursue veterinary studies do so at the University of Saskatchewan. Students can complete the required two years of university-level studies, here at the University of Regina, before applying to veterinary studies. In our experience, successful applicants to veterinary medicine are those who complete a four-year Bachelor of Science degree. You are encouraged to view the entry requirements for veterinary studies at the university of your choice. Read here for information about the University of Saskatchewan's program.
From our experience, students interested in becoming a chiropractor or studying nutrition are best served by taking a degree through the University of Regina's Faculty of Kinesiology.