Pre-Medical and Health Sciences Advising

The program is not just for students planning on medical school anymore. It is for students interested in sports medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, public health, optometry, physical therapy, and other health science careers.

It is a multifaceted program, designed to take advantage of the strengths of a liberal arts university. It features a solid core in the sciences, with classes small enough to allow excellent access to faculty and laboratory facilities.

Complementing these courses are a variety of research and internship possibilities, both off campus and on, as well as programs like Winter Term in Service which expose students to work in the health professions, often in challenging circumstances.

Students in the health sciences program receive a liberal arts education and develop skills in written and oral expression, critical thinking, leadership and teamwork that are highly valued by medical schools and programs in the health sciences.

Courses of Study

At DePauw, there is no "pre-med major." Students interested in pre-medical studies and other health professions can major in any field, so long as they complete the prerequisites for the professional program they are interested in. DePauw also offers courses, like Biomedical Ethics, that integrate health sciences with other disciplines.

 Special Programs and Activities

• An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification class is offered each Winter Term. Certified students have the opportunity to work at the local Operation Life ambulance service.
• Research opportunities exist on and off campus, including summer research with faculty.
• An annual conference for legal and health care professionals provides students with the opportunity to meet with alumni in health science professions.
• Through the Winter Term in Service program, clinical or health education teams work with underserved populations in the United States and around the world.

Facilities and Academic Programs

The Olin Biological Sciences and Julian Science and Math facilities feature a modern tissue and cultures lab and computer facilities for genetics and other biological research. Students in all courses, including at the introductory level, have access to IR, NMR, and mass spectrometry equipment.

Internship Highlights

In recent years, DePauw students in the Health Sciences have done Winter Term, semester, and summer research internships at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, at the National Institute of Health in Washington, D.C., Eli Lilly and Company, Harvard Medical School, Boston University Dental School, the University of Illinois Medical School, and the University of Wisconsin Medical School. Many students have had the opportunity to "shadow" physicians and other health professions during Winter Term internships.