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Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Veterinary Studies
Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Veterinary Studies Pre-Medical Studies describes a suggested curriculum that is a strong preparation for careers in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine. The same curriculum is also an excellent preparation for other health-related fields such as nursing, physician’s assistant, physical therapy and public health. A student may choose any major at Emmanuel College, but the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) requires students to complete at a minimum the following courses:
Programs of Study for Liberal Arts and Sciences
BIOL1105
Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology w/Lab BIOL1106 Introduction to Organismic and Evolutionary Biology w/Lab CHEM1101 Principles of Chemistry I w/Lab CHEM1102 Principles of Chemistry II w/Lab CHEM2101 Organic Chemistry I w/Lab CHEM2102 Organic Chemistry II w/Lab PHYS2201 General Physics I w/Lab (prerequisite is Calculus) PHYS2202 General Physics II w/Lab (prerequisite is Calculus) One year (two semesters) of English In general, medical schools want wellrounded students with a broad liberal arts and sciences education. Early in their college career students are advised to consult the individual requirements of the medical, dental, or veterinary college they wish to attend. At Emmanuel College, the Health Sciences concentration in the Biology major is an excellent preparation for medical school, and most students will choose this path. Regardless of major, students interested in applying for medical school, dental school, Emmanuel College
or veterinary school are reminded that they should pursue a course of study that will prepare them for the Medical College Aptitude Test (MCAT) or Dental Aptitude Test (DAT). Most students will take one of these tests in the spring of their junior year, if they plan to attend professional school immediately after graduation. All colleges of veterinary medicine require some standardized test, like the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), MCAT, or other. Students are also strongly advised to take a commercial MCAT/DAT/GRE Test preparation course that begins about two to three months before they are scheduled to take the MCAT, DAT, or GRE tests. Many medical schools recommend experience in a health care setting to gain practical experience and insight into what a life in the medical professions means. Suggestions include working in a clinical research setting, emergency room at a hospital, social service setting, physician’s office or as an emergency medical technician (EMT). Students interested in a career in the dental field are required to have a certain number of hours shadowing a dentist or working in a dental office/clinic. An application to veterinary school is also greatly strengthened by a student’s experience with large animals before they apply. Specific advising for students interested in a career in the health professions is provided by the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC). The HPAC helps students determine a specific program geared to their particular discipline and advises them in the application process. It is recommended that students identify themselves to the HPAC as soon as possible. The committee is chaired by Dr. Josef Kurtz in the Biology Department.