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Medical, dental, veterinary, optometry, podiatry, and other professional schools seek students with a broad education who can handle the rigors of basic science courses. The Health Professions Advising Program uses an interdisciplinary approach to prepare students for graduate study. While the program highlights the necessary pre-professional courses (science, math, and English), it also encourages students to major in liberal arts disciplines consistent with their interests and talents. Students should consider nontraditional health-related majors (such as history or philosophy), as well as fields like biology and chemistry.
Faculty from the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences serve on the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC), which coordinates the program. HPAC sponsors the following activities:
- generating and disseminating data about health careers;
- staying in touch with regional health professional schools;
- advising pre-health student organizations;
- promoting student interaction with community professionals and health organizations;
- providing a forum for discussion of problems, concerns, and stresses associated with preparation for professional school;
- advising students on course selection and the value of extracurricular and experiential activities;
- interviewing and evaluating each pre-professional junior who completes the HPAP requirements; and
- writing a committee evaluation for each student who completes the HPAP requirements.
THE CURRICULUM
Medical, dental, optometry, and podiatry schools specify a fairly uniform set of entrance requirements. Prerequisites vary for veterinary medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, etc. Students should seek out information on individual schools of interest, and confirm entrance requirement information with the health professions program advisor.
SUBJECT REQUIRED COURSES
BIOLOGY BIO 120 General Biology I
BIO 121 General Biology I
Recommended: Two (2) additional biology courses from the following:
BIO 229 Microbiology
BIO 308 Genetics
BIO 312 Animal Physiology
BIO 360 Cellular Biology
BIO 370 Developmental Biology
CHEMISTRY CHM 120 General Chemistry I
CHM 121 General Chemistry II
CHM 220 Organic Chemistry I
CHM 221 Organic Chemistry II
BCH 335 Biochemistry
PHYSICS PHY 120 General Physics I
PHY 121 General Physics II
OR
PHY 130 Principles of Physics I
PHY 131 Principles of Physics II
MATHEMATICS MAT 111 Calculus I
MAT 112 Calculus II
OR
MAT 109 Pre-calculus Mathematics
MAT 110 Applied Calculus
ENGLISH ENG 140 Composition: Writing about Selected Topics
OR
ENG 170 Writing about Literature
AND
One literature course
FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
Choose at least one of the following:
One Psychology Course
One Sociology or Anthropology Course
One Ethics Course (PHI 108 or PHI 290)
First-year students should meet with the advisor of the health professions program as soon as possible to plan their pre-professional curriculum.
ADDITIONAL COURSES OCCASIONALLY OFFERED:
HPA 150 Careers in Health Sciences: Explores various careers in the health sciences including human and veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, and other related fields. Provides students with information about the scope of disciplines through lectures, student research, and guest speakers from the medical fields. Requirements for successful application to programs and specific issues in medicine are discussed.
HPA 175F International Medical Service-Learning Field Experience: Through this international healthcare experience, students will explore how global citizenship, responsible leadership, and healthcare advocacy are related through clinical practice, theory, and reflection on being a healthcare professional. Course fee required. Prerequisites: application process, completion of HPA 150, and instructor’s consent.
HPA 397 Health Sciences Internship: Students interested in health-related careers should gain practical experience through summer or volunteer work. With HPA support, juniors may plan academic internships with working practitioners for credit.
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