Pre-health sciences
Encyclopedia
Pre-health sciences refers to the undergraduate courses to prepare American college students for admission in medical
, dentistry
, pharmacy
, optometry
, veterinary
, and physical therapy
schools, and for training as a physician assistant
. In the United States, colleges have moved away from the impractical designation of students as "Pre-med
" majors, as only a small percentage of applicants actually achieve admission into medical schools. As such, students are given the choice to focus on the coursework required for admission.
and organic chemistry
, often earning a minor in chemistry, mathematics
, often up to basic calculus
, general biology
with overviews of genetics
and taxonomy
, and calculus or trigonometry-based physics
. More rigorous pre-health students may also take biochemistry
and human or vertebrate physiology
courses. The requirements beyond the sciences are often light, many schools require a human sciences or psychology
course. No schools actually require anatomy or diagnostic courses as these are universally regarded as first year medical courses.
and the required coursework, students majoring in the sciences, especially biology, are much more likely to score better on the physical and biological sciences portion of the MCAT. Non-science majors tend to score better on the verbal and written portion of the MCAT, which are often considered more difficult to prepare for (i.e. the written and verbal sections test not a standard knowledge base but an appreciation of analytical and critical thinking skills).
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
, dentistry
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
, pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, optometry
Optometry
Optometry is a health care profession concerned with eyes and related structures, as well as vision, visual systems, and vision information processing in humans. Optometrists, or Doctors of Optometry, are state licensed medical professionals trained to prescribe and fit lenses to improve vision,...
, veterinary
Veterinary school
A veterinary school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, which is involved in the education of veterinarians. To become a veterinarian one must first complete a veterinary degree A veterinary school should not be confused with a department of animal science...
, and physical therapy
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
schools, and for training as a physician assistant
Physician assistant
A physician assistant/associate ' is a healthcare professional trained and licensed to practice medicine with limited supervision by a physician.-General description:...
. In the United States, colleges have moved away from the impractical designation of students as "Pre-med
Pre-medical
Pre-medical is a term used to describe a track an undergraduate student in the United States pursues prior to becoming a medical student...
" majors, as only a small percentage of applicants actually achieve admission into medical schools. As such, students are given the choice to focus on the coursework required for admission.
Standard pre-health courses
Students focusing on pre-health can often major in any subject, however they will also take a broad range of science courses including general chemistryChemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
, often earning a minor in chemistry, mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, often up to basic calculus
Calculus
Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
, general biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
with overviews of genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
and taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
, and calculus or trigonometry-based physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. More rigorous pre-health students may also take biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
and human or vertebrate physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
courses. The requirements beyond the sciences are often light, many schools require a human sciences or psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
course. No schools actually require anatomy or diagnostic courses as these are universally regarded as first year medical courses.
Science and non-science pre-health majors
Although medical schools do not require any specific degree, only a bachelorsBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and the required coursework, students majoring in the sciences, especially biology, are much more likely to score better on the physical and biological sciences portion of the MCAT. Non-science majors tend to score better on the verbal and written portion of the MCAT, which are often considered more difficult to prepare for (i.e. the written and verbal sections test not a standard knowledge base but an appreciation of analytical and critical thinking skills).
See also
- Pre-medicalPre-medicalPre-medical is a term used to describe a track an undergraduate student in the United States pursues prior to becoming a medical student...
, for the general requirements for admission to US medical schools