Elmhurst College
Department of Biology
	PreAllied Health Professions Handbook

Chapters & Appendices:
Contents | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L |
 

Chapter 5
Pre-Professional Course Requirements & Recommendations

Students planning on entering a Post-Baccalaureate health profession should plan to complete the courses listed below. Some health professional programs do not require all of the courses, while some require additional coursework. Also, requirements vary from school to school, so students should carefully investigate the requirements of the schools to which they plan to apply. The detailed requirements for medical schools, dental schools, and veterinary schools may be found in the following books: Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR), Admission Requirements of United States and Canadian Dental Schools, and Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements (VMSAR). These books are located in the biology department office, room 147, Schaible Science Center.

Be advised this is only a general guide of pre-professional course requirements for the various health profession programs. You must directly contact the schools you are interested in applying to, to determine their specific course requirements.

Chiropractic Medical School Programs Course Requirements
Biology: Two semesters or one year with lab.
General Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the freshman year since they are prerequisites for organic chemistry.
Organic Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab.
Physics: Two semesters or one year with lab.
English: At least two semesters or one year.
Psychology: At least one semester.
Additional Social Sciences or Humanities courses.

Dental School Programs Course Requirements
Biology: Two semesters or one year with lab. At least two advanced courses in the biological sciences are strongly recommended as preparation for dental school.
General Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the freshman year since they are prerequisites for organic chemistry.
Organic Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the sophomore year so that they will be completed by the time of the Dental Admission Test (DAT) in the junior year.
Physics: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the sophomore year so that they will be completed by the time of the Dental Admission Test (DAT) in the junior year.
English: At least two semesters or one year.
Additional Course Recommendations: Mathematics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Psychology, Additional Social Sciences or Humanities courses.

Medical School Programs (Allopathic and Osteopathic) Course Requirements
Biology: Two semesters or one year with lab. At least two advanced courses in the biological sciences are strongly recommended as preparation for medical school.
General Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the freshman year since they are prerequisites for organic chemistry.
Organic Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the sophomore year so that they will be completed by the time of the April Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) in the junior year.
Biochemistry: One semester is required by many medical schools and highly recommended by others.
Physics: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the sophomore year so that they will be completed by the time of the April Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) in the junior year.
Mathematics: At least two semesters of college-level mathematics; one semester of calculus is recommended. Some medical schools stipulate additional calculus courses.
English: At least two semesters or one year. Some medical schools require three courses in English with emphasis on composition. Many medical schools do not stipulate whether their English requirements are for composition or literature courses, but composition courses are recommended to strengthen communication skills and help prepare for admission tests.
Additional Course Recommendations: Immunology, Genetics, Microbiology, Animal Physiology, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Statistics, Psychology, Additional Social Sciences or Humanities courses. (The University of Illinois Medical School requires three social science courses, two of which must come from one department.)

Occupational Therapy Programs Course Requirements
Biology: One to two semesters with lab.
Human Anatomy and Physiology: Two semesters or one year with lab.
General Chemistry: One to two semesters with lab.
Physics: One to two semesters with lab.
Statistics: One semester.
Psychology: One semester of Abnormal Psychology and an additional semester course in Psychology.
Additional Social Sciences or Humanities courses.
Additional Course Recommendations: Mathematics, English Composition.
Many OT programs require completion of a first aid course within three years prior to enrollment and evidence of current certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Optometry School Programs Course Requirements
Biology: Two semesters or one year with lab. At least two advanced courses in the biological sciences are strongly recommended as preparation for optometry school.
General Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the freshman year since they are prerequisites for organic chemistry.
Organic Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the sophomore year so that they will be completed by the time of the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) in the junior year.
Physics: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the sophomore year so that they will be completed by the time of the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) in the junior year.
Mathematics: At least two semesters or one year of college-level mathematics. One semester of calculus is recommended.
English: At least two semesters or one year.
Additional Course Recommendations: Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Psychology, Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology, Additional Social Sciences or Humanities courses.

Pharmacy School Programs Course Requirements
Biology: Two semesters or one year with lab.
Human Anatomy and Physiology: One to two semesters with lab.
General Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the freshman year since they are prerequisites for organic chemistry.
Organic Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the sophomore year so that they will be completed by the time of the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) in the junior year.
Physics: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the sophomore year so that they will be completed by the time of the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) in the junior year.
English: Three semesters with one semester in speech.
Mathematics: One to two semesters of calculus.
Economics: One semester.
Additional Social Sciences or Humanities courses.
Additional Course Recommendations: Microbiology, Psychology.

Physician Assistant Programs Course Requirements
Biology: Two semesters or one year with lab.
Human Anatomy and Physiology: Two semesters or one year with lab.
General Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the freshman year since they are prerequisites for organic chemistry.
Organic Chemistry: One to two semesters with lab.
Biochemistry: One semester.
English: Three semesters with one semester in speech.
Mathematics: One to two semesters.
Statistics: One semester.
Psychology: One to two semesters.
Additional Social Sciences or Humanities courses.
Additional Course Recommendations: Microbiology

Physical Therapy Programs Course Requirements
Biology: Two semesters or one year with lab.
Human Anatomy and Physiology: Two semesters or one year with lab.
General Chemistry: One to two semesters with lab.
Physics: Two semesters or one year with lab.
English: Three semesters with one semester in speech.
Mathematics: One to two semesters, including calculus.
Statistics: One semester.
Psychology: One to two semesters.
Additional Social Sciences or Humanities courses.
Additional Course Recommendations: Ethics/Philosophy, Economics.

Podiatric Medical School Programs Course Requirements
Biology: Two to three semesters with lab.
General Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the freshman year since they are prerequisites for organic chemistry.
Organic Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab.
Physics: Two semesters or one year with lab.
English: At least two semesters or one year.
Additional Course Recommendations: Mathematics, Statistics, Genetics, Microbiology, Animal Physiology, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Biochemistry Psychology, Additional Social Sciences or Humanities courses.

Veterinary Medical School Programs Course Requirements
Biology: Two semesters or one year with lab.
General Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab. It is recommended that these courses be taken in the freshman year since they are prerequisites for organic chemistry.
Organic Chemistry: Two semesters or one year with lab.
Biochemistry:  One semester is required.
Physics: Two semesters or one year with lab.
English: Two to three semesters with one semester in speech.
Additional Course Recommendations: Immunology, Genetics, Microbiology, Animal Physiology, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Statistics, Psychology, Economics, Additional Social Sciences or Humanities courses.

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