Core Courses
The faculty have complied a list of core courses that to our knowledge meet the core admission requirements to most professional health sciences programs/schools. This is a good start if you know that you want to work in the professional health sciences but you are not yet sure exactly what you want to do. Each specialty or discipline may require more course work in specific areas. For information regarding each specific discipline see the links at the bottom of the page (coming soon).
*IMPORTANT!* This information is provided for your convenience and should not be substituded for face-to-face academic advising by a natural sciences division faculty member. It is never too early to make an advising appointment to talk over your course plan and options if you are considering a career in the professional health sciences
General Education
Do not forget your UIS general education requirements! These are an important part of your education and preparation for a career in the health sciences. Professional schools prefer to admit students who have a broad educational base including ability to write and communicate intelligently and knowledge of art, culture, and history. UIS’s goal of providing a top-shelf liberal arts education to all our graduates will help you if you take advantage of it! These courses might seem to have nothing to do with becoming a health science professional but your performance in them will affect the quality of the schools/programs that you are admitted to.
Math
Math is at the top of this list because it is important for you to know that a career in medicine or any professional health science involves math. There is no way around it. You must be proficient in trigonometry and algebra. Understanding calculus will give you an advantage. Calculus is also a pre-requisite for physics here at UIS.
The math requirements for admission to professional schools vary. Almost all require algebra and trigonometry. Many, including all the best schools, require one semester of calculus. The faculty at UIS strongly advises that pre-professional students complete at least one semester of college calculus in their Freshmen or Sophomore year. The UIS course that meets this requirement is:
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Course Name
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Course Number
|
Credit Hours
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| Calculus I | MAT 115 | 3 hrs |
Chemistry
Chemistry is an important basis of most professional health science. Nearly every professional program requires two semesters of introductory chemistry and two semesters of organic chemistry, both with laboratory. Students should take introductory chemistry as a freshman or sophomore. Organic chemistry is a more challenging and time consuming class that should be taken after introductory chemistry. The faculty suggest that you take organic chemistry with lab in either your sophomore or junior year. Note that most professional schools require lab experience with organic chemistry so it is important to register for those sections that include a lab. Also note that CAP 141/241 is not an acceptable substitute for CHE 141/241.
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Course Name
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Course Number
|
Credit Hours
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| Principles of Chemistry | CHE 141 | 4 hrs |
| Principles of Inorganic Chemistry | CHE 241 | 4 hrs |
| Fundamental Organic Reactions | CHE 367 | 3 hrs |
| Experimental Organic Chemistry | CHE 368 | 1 hrs |
| Bio-Organic Chemistry | CHE 369 | 3 hrs |
| Bio-Orgainic Lab | CHE 371 | 1 hrs |
Biology
Obviously biology is important subject to the health sciences. While specific disciplines have more specific admission requirements the common denominator between all of them is an introductory biology course with lab. The faculty suggests that students should take this course as freshmen or sophomores so that they can take more advanced biology courses as upper-classmen as needed. As with chemistry, it is important that students take these courses with the lab component.
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Course Name
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Course Number
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Credit Hours
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| Unity of Living Organisms | BIO 141 | 4 hrs |
| Biology of Organisms in the Environment | BIO 241 | 4 hrs |
Physics
At least one semester of Physics is required for admission to professional schools in the health sciences. Most schools and programs will require applicants to have had two semesters of physics with lab. Competitive professional health science programs often want to see their applicants have a good grade in physics and may use it as litmus test for admitting students. If you take your physics class somewhere other than UIS while you are enrolled here you may be asked to explain that on your application or you might not be asked and the school you are applying to will assume the worst.
Many pre-professional students struggle with physics. It will introduce you to a mode of problem solving that is different the normal mode used in chemistry or biology. That is why you are being required to take it. Along with mathematics, this is a subject that you might not think of right away when you think about a career in the health sciences but it is important to those fields. As with your chemistry and biology courses, you need to take it seriously and do your best.
Calculus (MAT 115) is a pre-requisite to take Physics at UIS. It is suggested that you take physics as a sophomore or a junior.
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Course Name
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Course Number
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Credit Hours
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| University Physics I | ASP 201 | 4 hrs |
| University Physics II | ASP 202 | 4 hrs |
The additional disciplines represented on MCAT exam:
- Physiology
- Anatomy
- Cell/Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Histology and other specialty biology courses
Coming soon!
Information specific to preparing to indiviual disciplines.
