Pre-Professional Preparation for the Medical and Allied Health Fields

Lisa Bjerknes, M.D.
Director
(650) 508-3540
naturalsciences@ndnu.edu

This concentration provides the student the greatest flexibility in selecting classes and creating a pre-professional experience that best suits his or her needs. It is most appropriate for those students interested in becoming a medical professional who have already completed some of their pre-professional preparation, or those interested in preparing for an allied health program. 

Advising support is a highly valued component of the program.  Students receive assistance designing, prioritizing, and obtaining extracurricular experiences that will enhance their education, preparation for professional work, and school application.

Medical Professions

Students within this concentration will select classes that meet professional school prerequisites, prepare for entrance exam(s), and/or prepare for the rigor of their graduate program.  Students planning to submit a post-graduate application to medical, osteopathic, chiropractic, podiatric, dental, pharmacy, veterinary or any other graduate program should consult, at an early date, the individual schools to which they plan to apply for specific undergraduate course requirements.

Any baccalaureate program can be acceptable; however, certain courses are either required or recommended and cover topics included on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Generally these include:

Courses		Units
BIO1101/1101L	General Biology I with Lab (3/1)	4
BIO1103/1103L	General Biology II with Lab (3/1)	4
CHE1202/1202L	General Chemistry I with Lab (3/1)	4
CHE1204/1204L	General Chemistry II with Lab (3/1)	4
CHE2203/2203L	Organic Chemistry I with Lab (3/1)	4
CHE2205/2205L	Organic Chemistry II with Lab (3/1)	4
One writing course from the following:		3
ENG2108	Advanced Writing
NSC2432	Writing for the Sciences
MTH----	Statistics and Calculus (consult advisor)	8
PHY1203/1203L	College Physics I with Lab (3/1)	4
PHY1205/1205L	College Physics II with Lab (3/1)	4
Additional Courses
BIO2200/2200L	Developmental Biology with Lab (3/1)	4
BIO2210/2210L	Human Physiology with Lab (3/2)	5
BIO2215/2215L	Genetics with Lab (3/1)	4
BIO2275/2275L	General Microbiology with Lab (3/1)	4
CHE2370/2270L	Biochemistry I with Lab (3/1)	4
CHE2375/2275L	Biochemistry II with Lab (3/1)	4

Admissions committees of medical-related schools look for persons of high ability in science as demonstrated in coursework and independent investigations. In addition, students should show strong analytical skills and motivation, as well as a practical exposure to the field of medicine.

Allied Health Professions

Preparation for the allied health professions depends heavily upon the particular area of healthcare involved; a wide range of baccalaureate programs may meet requirements. In general, however, the minimum preparation for these professions may consist of the following courses:

Courses		Units
BIO 2205/2205L	Human Anatomy with Lab (3/1)	4
BIO2210/2210L	Human Physiology with Lab (3/2)	5
BIO2275/2275L	General Microbiology with Lab (3/1)	4
CHE1202/1202L	General Chemistry I with Lab (3/1)	4
MTH2502	Statistics	3
NSC2012	Introduction to Nutrition	3
Preparation may additionally include the following courses:
BIO 1101/1101L	General Biology I with Lab (3/1)	4
BIO 1103/1103L	General Biology II with Lab (3/1)	4
CHE 1204/1204L	General Chemistry II with Lab (3/1)	4
PHY 1203/1203L	College Physics I with Lab (3/1)	4
PHY 1205/1205L	College Physics II with Lab (3/1)	4

Certain allied health professions may require preparation closely resembling the requirements for pre-medical programs. Students are advised to consult at an early date the schools to which they intend to apply to be certain of requirements.