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Health Professions Advising at Mason |
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What classes should I take?IntroductionWith a few exceptions, health professions programs (dental school, medical school, veterinary school) require the same coursework to ensure that all admitted students have the sufficient scientific foundation and a "well-rounded" college education. While it may be easier to complete these requirements as a science major, a science degree is not required to enter a health professions program (dentistry, medicine, etc.). One should choose a major in a field of the student's interest while completing required prehealth coursework. One can be a history, performing arts, or engineering major and still pursue a premedical curriculum though it may require taking summer classes or extra coursework to complete all the requirements. Advanced placement credit could help in scheduling these classes while keeping on schedule for a non-science degree. Most health professions schools require the following:
Successful applicants usually take more than the minimums listed above. Some programs require calculus (pharmacy and a few medical schools) while others require biochemistry (dentistry at many programs). It is the responsibility of the applicant to be educated of the specific requirements and preferred coursework for each program. Ideally, this coursework must be taken within the last five years after graduating with a bachelor's degree. If it has been longer than five years, you may have to retake some of these courses again. Unless there is an outstanding academic record or other reason dictated by degree requirements, freshmen and new transfer students should avoid taking more 15 course hours, and no more than two science courses with laboratories in their first year's schedules. Prehealth students for human or veterinary medicine, dentistry, podiatry, pharmacy, or optometry should avoid taking any classes designated as "for nonscience majors" or "not open to students majoring in [this department]." Students do themselves a disservice by not taking an academically challenging and rigorous science course to prepare for admsisions exams and the experience of laboratory work. Of course, non-science majors sometimes cannot avoid this, so they should consider taking intermediate/upper-level coursework. New Century College also has advice for non-science students interested in a Life Sciences track who are interested in a health professions career.
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Required Coursework Mathematics and Psychology classes Note to Pre-dental students Note to Pre-pharmacy students External links |
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