Dec 14, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Professional Pathway


Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Professional Program

There are many careers that one may pursue in the area of health care.  These include physicians (allopathic and osteopathic), physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, optometrists, veterinarians, and chiropractors, to name a few.  These careers require completion of a graduate degree after the baccalaureate.  Admission to these graduate programs typically requires the successful completion of additional courses in science, mathematics, social sciences, and the humanities.  The Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Professional Pathway is designed to allow students in any major to complete these course requirements.  It also provides guidance and experiences to fulfill the prerequisites for admission to various health profession graduate programs.

The Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Professional Pathway is not a degree or a stand-alone program.  Students MUST be in a major degree program at Endicott College to be guided in preparing for their desired health care career.

The Health Professions Advising Committee act serves as additional faculty advisors in the Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Professional Pathway, helping students to select courses and suggesting internship experiences and extracurricular activities that are relevant to the field of interest and strengthen student credentials.  If required, the Health Professions Advising Committee also writes letters of recommendation for individuals applying to health profession programs that require a committee letter, such as medical school.

Grade Requirements

Professional schools typically require a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 to apply for admission.  Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee an offer of admission, as it is only one criterion among many that are assessed by admission committees.  Highly competitive applicants to health profession programs generally have overall and science GPAs of 3.67, and high scores on standardized examinations.

Course Requirements

The required prerequisite courses for a particular program and school are unique. Students should meet with their health professions advisor to select the necessary courses to complete the admission requirements for their particular fields. Courses should be selected to permit students to apply to multiple programs. All prerequisite courses for professional school may count toward the major (if allowed), any appropriate minor, general education requirements, and the Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Professional Pathway.

Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy Schools
Required Courses (All Courses Required for a Minimum of 44 Credits)

Students considering medical, dental, or pharmacy school must complete all of the listed required courses, as they are the minimum prerequisites for admission and form the basis of standardized admission tests (Medical College Admission Test, Dental Admission Test, Optometry Admission Test, and Pharmacy College Admission Test).

Biology 102 and 102L Principles of Biology I (lecture and laboratory)                                             4 credits
Biology 103 and 103L Principles of Biology II (lecture and laboratory)                                            4 credits
Chemistry 105 and 105L General Chemistry I (lecture and laboratory)                                           4 credits
Chemistry 106 and 106L General Chemistry II (lecture and laboratory)                                          4 credits
Chemistry 207 and 207L Organic Chemistry I (lecture and laboratory)                                           4 credits
Chemistry 209 and 209L Biochemistry (lecture and laboratory)                                                      4 credits
Physics 201 and 201L General Physics with Calculus I (lecture and laboratory)                            4 credits
Physics 202 and 202L General Physics with Calculus II (lecture and laboratory)                           4 credits
English 111 Critical Reading and Writing I                                                                                       3 credits
English 112 Critical Reading and Writing II                                                                                      3 credits
Mathematics                                                                                                                                     6 credits
           Mathematics 134 Calculus I (recommended)
       or Mathematics 126 Applied Statistics (recommended)
       or Mathematics 129 Analysis of Functions
       or Mathematics 136 Calculus II

Medical schools also require the following Social Sciences courses:

Psychology 100                        General Psychology                                                                          3 credits
Sociology 101                            Introduction to Sociology                                                                  3 credits

Other Professional Programs and Recommended Elective Courses

Different health profession programs require that a specific series of courses and/or additional electives be taken as an undergraduate. Students should review the specific prerequisite course requirements and recommendations of the health profession programs that they are planning to apply to. Many professional schools recommend taking additional courses in the humanities and social sciences to provide breadth, and science electives to provide a more extensive background for subjects covered by standardized admissions tests.

Transfer Students

Transfer students are eligible to participate in the Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Professional Pathway and complete all of the prerequisite courses. Although Endicott College only transfers the course credit, the Health Professions Advising Committee will require grades from the required and/or elective courses from other institutions to calculate overall and science GPAs to aid in student advising.

Advanced Placement Credits

The way in which health profession schools deal with AP credits is somewhat variable.  Some programs will accept AP credits, as long as an additional course is taken in the same subject matter at a higher level.  For example, AP credit in Biology in addition to a 200-level Biology course.  Other health profession schools do not accept AP credits as a replacement for prerequisite courses.  Students should review the AP credit policies of the graduate health profession program to which they intend to apply.