Union partners with LMU & UK to expand pre-professional program

Rachel Dorroh • May 6, 2025

The pre-professional program at Union Commonwealth University (UCU) is growing. New partnerships with Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) and the University of Kentucky (UK) create clear pathways and unique advantages for students wishing to pursue osteopathic medicine, physician assistant studies, and engineering.

“Articulation agreements like these allow students to start at our smaller university with smaller class sizes and more individualized assistance before having to transfer to a larger university,” says Advising Department Head Rachel Gaynor, who directs Union’s educational partnerships.

LMU’s DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine now allows qualified Union students a guaranteed interview in connection with possible admission to the program. The agreement is available for an unlimited number of students and is in effect until October 31, 2027.

All three campuses of LMU’s Physician Assistant Program are partnering with Union, too. The campuses are located in Harrogate, TN; Knoxville, TN; and Tampa, FL. The Harrogate and Tampa campuses offer up to three seats to qualified Union students to earn a Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies. The Knoxville campus offers a guaranteed interview for any qualified applicant.

Gaynor says, “The agreements with LMU provide the students with a sense of relief, knowing that if they meet all the prerequisites, they will have this opportunity.”

[PHOTO: Rachel Gaynor]

Union has also worked with UK’s Engineering Department to develop transfer pathways for Union students interested in any of the ten engineering fields offered at UK. Union’s Associate of Applied Science – Pre-Engineering degree (67-68 hours) covers many of the prerequisite courses for the different engineering pathways.

“Many engineering programs appreciate the skills students develop through studying liberal arts, such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and problem-solving, all of which are relevant to engineering,” Gaynor explains.

To be accepted to UK’s Pigman College of Engineering as a transfer, Union students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and have made a "B" in their Calculus classes. The different pathways and years remaining at UK are as follows: Aerospace – 3 years, Biomedical – 3 years, Biosystems – 2.5 years, Chemical – 2 years and 2 summers, Civil – 2.5 years, Computer Engineering – 3 years, Computer Science – 2 years and 1 summer, Electrical – 3 years, Materials – 3 years, Mechanical – 3 years, and Mining – 3 years.

In addition to these new partnerships and pathways, Union works with a variety of other professional schools to offer unique benefits to UCU students, including accelerated degree programs that save students time and money. Union offers pre-professional programs in the fields of dentistry, engineering, law, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, and physical therapy.

Located in Barbourville, Kentucky, Union Commonwealth University (formerly Union College) is a private, liberal arts-based institution comprised of undergraduate and graduate programs, supporting a diverse academic environment for nearly 1200 students.

To learn more about UCU’s pre-professional programs, see www.unionky.edu/ppp or contact Rachel Gaynor at 606-546-1745 or rgaynor@unionky.edu.

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