Pre-Health Professions Curriculum and Coursework
The courses listed below constitute the minimum requirements for an application to health profession programs:
- One year of general biology with lab (BISC 1403, 1404 1413, 1414)
- One year of general chemistry with lab (CHEM 1311, 1312, 1321, 1322, 1331, 1332)
- One year of organic chemistry with lab* (CHEM 2521, 2522, 2541, 2542)
- One year of general physics with lab (PHYS 1501, 1502, 1503, 1511, 1512) or (1601, 1602) or (1701, 1702)
- One year of English (satisfied by core requirements)
*General chemistry, including labs, must be successfully completed before enrollment in organic chemistry.
Biology majors or minors should note that the biology and general chemistry foundation courses, plus all applicable labs (all listed above), must be successfully completed prior to enrollment in all upper division biology courses.
In addition, students beginning the premedical coursework in Fall 2012 and beyond will be required to take the following coursework, to meet the competencies for entrance into medical school:
- One semester of biochemistry** (BISC 3521)
- One semester of psychology (PSYC 1200)
- One semester of sociology (SOCI 1100)
- One semester of statistics (MATH 1205, SOCI 2050, ECON 2140, PSYC 2000)
**Biology, general chemistry and organic chemistry plus all labs must be completed before enrollment in Biochemistry.
All Pre-Health students, no matter what their primary fields of study, should learn the major concepts and skills of science and mathematics, and would be well served by taking additional upper-level science coursework to help prepare for standardized entrance exams. In addition, some health professional schools may require calculus as a prerequisite. It is the obligation of each student to investigate health professional schools’ websites for school specific requirements.
Pre-Health Program: Courses typically taken freshman year
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Fall Semester
►General Chemistry I (CHEM 1321) - 4 credits
►General Chemistry I Recitation (CHEM 1311) - 0 credits
►General Chemistry I Lab (CHEM 1331) - 2 credits
►Introductory Biology I (BIOL 1403) - 4 credits
►Introductory Biology I Lab (BIOL 1413) - 2 credits
►Composition II (ENGL 1102) - 3 credits
►Calculus or Philosophy or Theology - 3-4 credits
►Pre-Health Symposium (SYRU 0001) - 1 credit
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Spring Semester
►General Chemistry II (CHEM 1322) - 4 credits
►General Chemistry II Recitation (CHEM 1312) - 0 credits
►General Chemistry II Lab (CHEM 1332) - 2 credits
►Introductory Biology II (BIOL 1404) - 4 credits
►Introductory Biology II Lab (BIOL 1414) - 2 credits
►Calculus or Philosophy or Theology - 3-4 credits
►History, Social Science, or Fine Arts - 3 credits
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Alternate Scenarios for Completing Pre-Health track
This section details completion of the science coursework only
Not everyone will complete the coursework at the same pace, and it is never a problem to take the sciences at a slower pace, or to begin later than freshman year. Depending on when a student begins the pre-health curriculum, some coursework may need to be complete after graduation. In all cases, communication with your pre-health advisor is critical. Below are some, not all, alternate scenarios for completing the pre-health curriculum.
Anyone interested in pursuing these or other scenarios should make an appointment with Dean Watts ASAP, by calling (718) 817-4710.
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Scenario 1 – Traditional Pace
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Fall I
Biology I + lab
General Chemistry I + lab
Fall II
Organic Chemistry I + lab
Statistics
Fall III
Physics I + lab
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Spring I
Biology II + lab
General Chemistry II + lab
Spring II
Organic Chemistry II + lab
Spring III
Biochemistry
Physics II + lab
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Scenario 2 – Testing the Science Waters
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Fall I
Biology I + lab
Summer I
General Chemistry II + lab (4 weeks @ Fordham, or taken at another comparable institution, with permission of Class Dean.)
Fall II
Organic Chemistry I + lab
Statistics
Fall III
Physics I + lab
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Spring I
Biology II + lab
General Chemistry I + lab
Spring II
Organic Chemistry II + lab
Spring III
Physics II + lab
Biochemistry
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Scenario 3 – Slow and Steady
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Fall I
(nothing)
Summer I
General Chemistry II + lab (4 weeks @ Fordham, or taken at another comparable institution, with permission of Class Dean.)
Fall II
Biology I + lab
Fall III
Organic Chemistry I + lab
Fall IV
Physics I + lab
Statistics
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Spring I
General Chemistry I + lab
Spring II
Biology II + lab
Spring III
Organic Chemistry II + lab
Spring IV
Physics II + lab
Biochemistry
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Scenario IV – Physics major
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Fall I
Biology I + lab
Physics I + lab
Fall II
General Chemistry I + lab
Statistics
Summer II
Organic Chemistry I and II + labs (4 weeks @ Fordham, or taken at another comparable institution, with permission of Class Dean.)
Fall III
(major requirements)
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Spring I
Biology II + lab
Physics II + lab
Spring II
General Chemistry II + lab
Spring III
Biochemistry
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