Prerequisites and Coursework
Below are some representative samples of undergraduate prerequisite coursework for various graduate or professional school health science programs.
Please note:
- requirements for specific schools often vary considerably
- as early as possible, you should make yourself familiar with required and recommended course work for schools to which you might apply
- there may be other ways of satisfying prerequisites than what we've mentioned here.
Links to specific schools can be found by visiting the homepages of the professional organization that governs the field. Check the Health Sciences Links page for these.
Jump to a Section
Medical School
(example: Indiana University School of Medicine)
| Requirement | DePauw Courses |
|---|---|
| 2 courses biology with lab | BIO 135: Organismal Biology with lab Upper level biology course with lab Many upper level biology courses have BIO 145: Evolution and Ecology and BIO 215: Cells & Genes as prerequisites. |
| 2 courses general chemistry with lab | CHEM 130: Structure and Properties of Inorganic Compounds CHEM 260: Thermodynamics, Equilibrium and Kinetics (note: CHEM 170, 1/4 credit, is a prerequisite for CHEM 260) |
| 2 courses organic chemistry with lab | CHEM 120. Structure and Properties of Organic Molecules CHEM 310. Enzyme Mechanisms or CHEM 320. Organic Mechanisms and Synthesis. (Note: Though CHEM 310 does not have a lab, schools will often count CHEM 240 as the fourth chemistry lab course.) |
| 1 course biochemistry | CHEM 240: Structure and Function of Biomolecules (beginning for class entering Fall 2015) |
| 2 courses physics | PHYS 120: Principles of Physics I (1 course) PHYS 130: Principles of Physics II (1 course) |
| 1 course calculus | MATH 151 or 136: Calculus (1 course) |
| 1 course psychology | PSY 100 (beginning for class entering Fall 2015) |
| 1 course sociology | SOC 100 (beginning for class entering Fall 2015) |
| Required Test | Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) |
Note: Other courses required or recommended by medical schools include English composition, biochemistry, psychology, sociology and foreign language. Check individual medical schools for specific requirements. Beginning in 2015 the MCAT will have a behavioral science section, which will require some knowledge of psychology, sociology and the part of biology related to animal behavior.
Physical Therapy
(example: Indiana University, Doctor of Physical Therapy)
| Requirement | DePauw Courses |
|---|---|
| human anatomy | BIO 203: Human Anatomy (1 course) |
| human physiology | KINS 254: Human Physiology (1 course) |
| 2 courses chemistry |
|
| 2 courses physics | PHYS 120: Principles of Physics I (1 course) PHYS 130: Principles of Physics II (1 course) |
| 2 courses psychology (introductory and developmental) | PSY 100: Introductory Psychology (1 course) PSY 290: Developmental Psychology (1 course) |
| statistics |
PSY 214: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences or |
| 2 courses humanities/social sciences | Take your pick. |
Nursing
(example: Rush University. Note: Most nursing programs are now four year undergraduate programs. Some, like Rush, do accept transfer students in their second or third year, provided they have met the prerequisite requirements.)
| Requirement | DePauw Courses |
|---|---|
| 4 courses natural and biological sciences including inorganic and organic chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, and microbiology | BIO 135: Organismal Biology BIO 250: Microbiology (1 course) BIO 203: Human Anatomy (1 course) KINS 254: Human Physiology (1 course) CHEM 130: Structure and Properties of Inorganic Compounds CHEM 260: Thermodynamics, Equilibrium and Kinetics (note: CHEM 170, 1/4 credit, is a prerequisite for CHEM 260) CHEM 120. Structure and Properties of Organic Molecules |
| 3.5 courses social sciences including psychology, sociology, and growth & development | PSY100: Introductory Psychology (1 course) PSY 290: Developmental Psychology (1 course) SOC 100: Contemporary Society (1 course) social science elective (.5 - 1 course) |
| 2 courses humanities may include religion, philosophy, sociology, economics, history, and anthropology | Humanities electives (2 courses) |
| English Composition -- Proficiency at composition II level | ENG 130: College Writing II (1 course) |
| 1 course introductory statistics |
PSY 214: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences or |
| 1 course college mathematics | Math 151: Calculus 1 ( 1 course) or Math 135 & 136: Calculus with Review (2 courses) |
Dentistry
(example: Indiana University School of Dentistry)
| Requirement | DePauw Courses |
|---|---|
| 2 courses Biology with Labs |
BIO 135: Organismal Biology with lab Many upper level biology courses have BIO 145: Evolution and Ecology and BIO 215: Cells & Genes as prerequisites. |
| 1 course human (or mammalian or comparative) anatomy | BIO 203: Human Anatomy (1 course) |
| 1 course human (or mammalian or cell) physiology | BIO 335: Animal Physiology (1 course) |
| 1 course biochemistry | BIO 314: Biochemistry and Cellular Biology or CHEM 240: Structure and Function of Biomolecules(1 course) |
| 2 courses general chemistry |
|
| 1 course organic chemistry |
|
| 2 courses physics | PHYS 120: Principles of Physics I (1 course) PHYS 130: Principles of Physics II(1 course) |
| English composition | English 130: College Writing II (1 course) |
| 1 course psychology | PSY 100: Introductory Psychology (1 course) |
| Required Test | Dental Admissions Test (DAT) |
Veterinary Medicine
(example: Purdue University)
| Requirement | DePauw Courses |
|---|---|
| 2 courses biology with lab |
BIO 135: Organismal Biology with lab Many upper level biology courses have BIO 145: Evolution and Ecology and BIO 215: Cells & Genes as prerequisites.
|
| 1 Course Biochemistry | BIO 314: Biochemistry and Cellular Biology or CHEM 240: Structure and Function of Biomolecules |
| 1 Course Genetics with Lab | BIO 320: Genetics |
| 2 Courses General Chemistry |
|
| 2 Courses Organic Chemistry |
|
| 2 Courses Physics | PHYS 120: Principles of Physics I (1 course) PHYS 130: Principles of Physics I I (1 course) |
| 1 Course Calculus | Math 151: Calculus 1 ( 1 course) or Math 135 & 136: Calculus with Review (2 courses) |
| 1 Course Introductory Statistics |
PSY 214: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences or |
| English Composition | ENG 130: College Writing II (1 course) |
| Speech | COMM 117: Introduction to Speech (1 course) or COMM 111: Beginning Acting (1 course) or COMM 201: Oral Interpretation of Literature (1 course) |
| Required standardized test |
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Different veterinary schools require different standardized tests. Some require the VCAT, some the MCAT, some the GRE. Be sure to check which test is required for the school of your choice. |
Optometry
(example: Indiana University)
| Requirement | DePauw Courses |
|---|---|
| 1 course biology with lab | BIO 135: Organismal Biology |
| 1 course microbiology |
BIO 250: Microbiology* (*Microbiology has as a prerequisite BIO 215: Cells & Genes) |
| 1 course advanced biology | any 200 or 300 level Biology course |
| 2 courses general chemistry |
CHEM 130: Structure and Properties of Inorganic Compounds |
| 1 course organic chemistry |
|
| 2 courses physics | PHYS 120: Principles of Physics I (1 course) PHYS 130: Principles of Physics I (1 course) |
| calculus | Math 151: Calculus 1 ( 1 course) or Math 135 & 136: Calculus with Review (2 courses) |
| 1 course introductory statistics | PSY 210: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences or MATH 141: Stats for Professionals (1 course) |
| Required standardized test | Optometry Admission Test (OAT) |
Pharmacy
(example: Ohio State University) Most pharmacy programs are now emphasizing the doctoral or pharmD program. Programs, like the same one from Ohio State, prefer students who have completed a bachelor's degree.
| Requirement | DePauw Courses |
|---|---|
| introductory biology with lab |
BIO 135: Organismal Biology |
| microbiology | BIO 250: Microbiology (1 course) |
| human anatomy | BIO 203: Human Anatomy (1 course |
| 2 courses general chemistry |
|
| 2 courses organic chemistry |
CHEM 120. Structure and Properties of Organic |
| 2 courses physics | PHYS 120: Principles of Physics I (1 course) PHYS 130: Principles of Physics I (1 course) |
| 2 course calculus | Math 151: Calculus 1 ( 1 course) Math 152: Calculus II (1 course) |
| analytical or quantitative chemistry | |
| Required standardized test |
Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) |
Physician Assistant
(example: Midwestern University College of Health Sciences. Prerequisites for Physician Assistant programs vary widely. Be sure to check with specific programs. )
| Requirement | DePauw Courses |
|---|---|
| 2 courses social and behavioral sciences | PSYCH 100: Introductory Psychology and another course in psychology or sociology |
| 2 courses biology with labs |
BIO 135: Organismal Biology with lab Many upper level biology courses have BIO 145: Evolution and Ecology and BIO 215: Cells & Genes as prerequisites. |
| 2 courses general chemistry |
CHEM 130: Structure and Properties of Inorganic Compounds |
| 1 course organic chemistry |
CHEM 120. Structure and Properties of Organic |
| 1 course applied mathematics | PSY 210: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences or MATH 240: Introduction to Statistics (1 course) |
| 2 courses English | ENG 130: College Writing II (1 course) and another English course |
Medical Technology
(Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis) Students may apply to this program upon graduation with a degree in Biology or Chemistry or apply for admission after completing three years at DePauw, in which case the student receives a DePauw baccalaureate degree after successful completion of the 12-month clinical program. Course work for the program should include:
| Requirement | DePauw Courses |
|---|---|
| 4 courses biology including microbiology and immunology |
BIO 135: Organismal Biology |
| 2 courses general chemistry |
CHEM 130: Structure and Properties of Inorganic Compounds |
| 1 course organic chemistry or biochemistry |
CHEM 120. Structure and Properties of Organic |
| 1 course quantitative analysis | CHEM 211: Quantitative Analysis (1 course) |
| 1 course physics | PHYS 120: Principles of Physics I (1 course) |
| 1 course college mathematics preferably in statistics | PSY 210: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences or MATH 141: Stats for Professionals (1 course) |