About the Prehealth Science Programs

Program Chairperson: Robert Neher

Premedical and Predental Programs. The prehealth science program meets the requirements for admission to all accredited dental and medical schools. The high school program should include biology, chemistry, physics, trigonometry, and a foreign language, such as French, German, or Russian. New prehealth science students should register with the premedical and predental committee to receive counseling during the total program and for periodic program evaluations.

The health science student is entering a difficult and demanding program, and there are many steps to take to prepare for graduate study. To begin with, a broad, well-balanced, general education background is essential. Although a premedical or predental student may select any college major, he/she must complete the prescribed courses in biology, chemistry, math, physics, and English. These courses are required by most medical and dental schools, and they are essential preparation for the MCAT or DAT qualifying exams.

Competition for dental and medical school is increasingly keen, with the average GPA of those accepted at about 3.8. Other important factors in determining admission include interviews, admission test results, letters of recommendation, grade trends, extracurricular activities, intensity of the academic programs, and work experience.

Suggested Prehealth Science Program:

Freshman year: BIOL 203 Principles of Biology (4) BIOL 204 Plant Biology (4) CHEM 201, 202 General Chemistry I, II (5,5) English and Speech (4,4,2) Three electives (general education requirements)

Sophomore year: BIOL 205 Animal Biology (4) BIOL 311 Genetics (4) BIOL 312 Environmental Biology (4) CHEM 311, 312 Organic Chemistry I, II (5,5) MATH 201, 202 Calculus I, II (4,4) Two electives (including general education requirements)

Junior year: BIOL 313 Developmental Biology (4) BIOL 314 Biochemistry (5) PHYS 201, 202 General Physics I, II (5,5) Four electives (including general education requirements)

Senior year: Fall: MCAT or DAT examination Completion of major requirements including senior project/thesis. Completion of general education requirements. GRE major subject examination.

Prenursing Program. Requirements for admission into specific nursing programs are diverse, and specific schools should be contacted for their requirements. A recommended prenursing course includes a broad general education background, plus emphasis in the following areas: general chemistry, general biology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and psychology.

Other Preprofessional Programs. Many other preprofessional programs are available, such as prepharmacy, preoptometry, prepodiatry, preveterinary, premedtech, and prephysical therapy. Since these graduate areas have specific requirements for entrance, students are urged to contact and work directly with their advisor and the graduate school of their choice.

Seven-Year Baccalaureate/Doctor of Osteopathy Program. ULV has developed a premedical ladder program with Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. After three years of study at ULV, selected students may be accepted by Western University and complete their bachelor's and medical degrees simultaneously, thus earning the two degrees in seven years rather than eight.