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Required Courses
Students planning on entering a post-baccalaureate health
profession, such as allopathic or osteopathic medicine, veterinary
medicine, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, or chiropractic, should plan
to complete the following courses by one year before graduating. Some
health professions do not require all of the courses, and some require
more. Also, requirements vary from school to school, so students should
carefully investigate the requirements of the schools to which they
plan to apply.
Required courses that are completed as online, web-based, distance learning, correspondence, etc. are not acceptable by a majority of the health professions schools. If such courses are offered as both "live" and "virtual", please enroll in the "live" sections.
Required courses for which you received AP, IB or CLEP credit at University of Florida may or may not fulfill the course requirements at the health professions schools. You need to research the schools you are interested in sending an application. Each health professions school has its own policy regarding course credits for required pre-requisite course work. In many cases you will not need to complete the courses at the University for credit. Instead you will be asked to take upper level courses in the related area in lieu of "repeating" AP, IB or CLEP credits. Be aware there a few schools that wil not accept the accelerated credits even though you completed advanced course work.
Required
courses completed at Junior or Community Colleges may or may not
fulfill the course requirements at the health professions
schools. You need to research the schools you are interested in
sending an application. Each health professions school has its
own policy regarding required course work completed at Junior or
Community Colleges. In many cases you will not need to repeat the
courses again at the University. Instead you will be asked to
take upper level courses in the related area.
- Mathematics
At least 2 semesters of college-level mathematics; one semester of calculus (MAC 2311) is recommended. STA2023 is also recommended, although some medical schools stipulate additional calculus courses. - General Chemistry
CHM 2045-2046 and CHM 2045L-2046L, or CHM 2047 and CHM 2047L (You must go to the Chemistry department to be placed in CHM2047). Depending on your background in Chemistry, you may want to begin the Chemistry sequence with CHM 1025, Introduction to Chemistry, which will help prepare you for the General Chemistry Sequence. Before registering for General Chemistry, you must take the Chemistry Readiness Assessment test (ChRA) on ISIS. - Organic Chemistry
CHM 2210-2211 and CHM 2211L or CHM 3217-CHM 3218 and CHM 2211L .
***Some health professional school programs feel the CHM 3217-3218, 2211L sequence may not satisfy total prerequisite credit hour requirements. It is recommended that students choosing to complete this sequence to complete one additional course, BCH 4024 - Biochemistry
1 semester is recommended by most professional schools and required by many medical schools. BCH 4024 , BCH 3025, or CHM 3218. - Physics
PHY 2053-2054 and PHY 2053L-2054L or PHY 2048-2049 and PHY 2048L-2049L or PHY 2060-2061 and PHY 2060L-2061L . - Biology
BSC 2010-2011 and BSC 2010L-2011L. - English
At least 2 semesters at the college level. Some medical schools require 3 courses in English with emphasis on composition. Many medical schools do not stipulate whether their English requirements are for composition or literature courses, but composition courses are recommended to strengthen communication skills and help prepare for admission tests.
The above courses will meet the basic requirements for most schools of allopathic, chiropractic, optometric, osteopathic, podiatric, and veterinary medicine. The prescribed course requirements for admission to dental, medical, and optometric schools in the United States are very similar. However, requirements can vary slightly and should be carefully investigated. The detailed requirements for any school can be found in the school catalogs or publications from professional school associations:
- AAMC's Medical School Admission
Requirements book
- ADEA's Official Guide to Dental Schools
- AAVMC's Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements book
You can purchase these books by visiting the websites. These books are also available at the Office of Health and Legal Professions Advising, Academic Advising Center Room 204. You may ask to view them from the OHLPA assistant.
- Additional information and course requirements for UF College of Dentistry
Additional Course Recommendations
Premedical students
Premedical students are encouraged to take the following courses in order to meet the recommendations of all four Florida medical schools (University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida, University of Miami):
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Statistics: STA 2023
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Immunology: PCB 5235 (prerequisite, MCB 3020-3020L)
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Genetics: PCB 3063 (prerequisite, BSC 2011-2011L, General Chemistry) or AGR 3303 (prerequisite, Basic course in biology, zoology or botany)
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** Microbiology majors should take MCB 4304 - Genetics of Microorganisms or PCB 4522 - Molecular Genetics
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Physiology and Molecular Biology of Animals: PCB 4723C (prerequisite, BSC 2011-2011L, CHM 2046-2046L & PHY 2054-2054L or PHY 2049-2049L or PHY 2061-2061L)
Predental students
Predental students are encouraged to take additional courses in the following (courses in italics are required for the University of Florida School of Dentistry)
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Microbiology : MCB 3020-3020L (non-majors) or MCB 3023-3023L (majors)
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Psychology : PSY 2012
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Genetics : PCB 3063 (prerequisite, BSC 2011-2011L, General Chemistry) or AGR 3303 (prerequisite, Basic course in biology, zoology or botany)
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** Microbiology majors should take MCB 4304 - Genetics of Microorganisms or PCB 4522 - Molecular Genetics to satisfy the genetics requirement for UF's College of Dentistry
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Other Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Immunology : PCB 5235 (prerequisite, MCB 3020-3020L)
Preoptometry students
Preoptometry students should take the following courses:
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Psychology: PSY 2012, plus an additional psychology course
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Microbiology: MCB 3020-3020L (non-majors) or MCB 3023-3023L (majors)
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Statistics: STA 2023
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Also recommended are:
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Physiology and Molecular Biology of Animals: PCB 4723C (prerequisite, BSC 2011-2011L, CHM 2046-2046L & PHY 2054-2054L, or instructor's permission)
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Functional Vertebrate Anatomy: ZOO 3713C (prerequisite, BSC 2011-2011L)
or -
Applied Human Physiology: APK 2105C
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Applied Human Anatomy: APK 2100C
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Preveterinary students
Preveterinary students should take the following:
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Introduction to Animal Science: ANS 3006C
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Principles of Animal Nutrition: ANS 3440 (prerequisite, CHM 2045-2045L)
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Genetics : PCB 3063 (prerequisite, BSC 2011-2011L, general chemistry) or AGR 3303 (prerequisite, Basic course in biology, zoology or botany).
**Microbiology majors interested in UF's College of Veterinary Medicine program should consult the admissions office to discuss if MCB 4304 - Genetics of Microorganisms or PCB 4522 - Molecular Genetics will satisfy the genetics requirement. It is recommended that microbiology majors complete PCB 3063 in addition to MCB 4304 or PCB 4522. -
Microbiology : MCB 3020-3020L for non-majors (prerequisite C or greater in BSC 2010-2011 with labs & CHM 2210 or CHM 3217) or MCB 3023-3023L for majors (same pre-requisites as MCB 3020)
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Statistics : STA 2023
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Strongly recommended courses:
Speech Communication or Public Speaking: COM 1000 or SPC 2600
Timing of Prerequisite Courses
Chemistry is the longest sequence of the preprofessional courses, and should be started as soon as possible since it is also a prerequisite for the required organic chemistry courses. Therefore, most students take chemistry and math in their first year. In the second year, most students take biology and either organic chemistry or physics. Transfer students who do not complete the entire general chemistry sequence before transferring to UF will need to consult with a Chemistry advisor at UF before attempting to register for a general chemistry course. Students who have not taken any chemistry will have to take the SAT II Chemistry Subject Exam before registering for CHM 2040 or CHM 2045.
Taking Required Courses at Other Institutions
It is normally recommended that a student complete all of his/her science courses at UF. In particular, students should not split a sequence of courses (such as general chemistry) between two institutions. Because professors use different textbooks, teaching styles and speeds, splitting a sequence between institutions can make the transition very difficult. Taking many prerequisites at another school might appear to admissions committees that you are avoiding taking difficult classes at UF. Lastly, while grades earned at other institutions will not be factored into your UF GPA, medical schools will compute your GPA based on work from ALL institutions. Students who are considering completing courses at a community college should speak with a pre-health professions advisor and an admissions representative of the professional school before doing so..
Elective Courses
Most professional schools prefer candidates with broad educational backgrounds. In addition to a strong science background, professional schools require a solid foundation in basic verbal and quantitative skills. Nearly one-half of the MCAT focuses on writing skills and reading comprehension of nonscientific material . It is advisable for preprofessional students to have more than the minimum number of science courses required for admission as well as several courses in the humanities and social sciences. Science majors will complete more than the required science courses and should focus on non-science courses while non-science majors should select from zoology, microbiology, biochemistry, histology, or immunology and other upper level science courses (see recommended courses above).
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit
To maintain your knowledge and demonstrate your academic ability to professional schools, you should plan on taking courses in areas in which you have been granted AP or IB credit, especially in English and the sciences. It is recommended that you follow your IB or AP credit with higher level courses, although in some circumstances a student may choose to take a course for which he/she has earned AP or IB credit over again. There are many professional schools who will not accept AP or IB credit as the SOLE fulfillment of a requirement. If you have earned AP or IB credit for part of the pre-requisite requirement, taking the other half at UF will be sufficient. However, if you should earn credit for all of the biology or English you will need to take additional courses in biology and English during your four years at UF.
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Schools requiring biochemistry ( PDF) - and also those recommending you take it.
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What Else Can I Take ? Courses Relevant to Students Interested in The Health Professions Note: This handout includes many courses relevant to the health professions, but there are MANY others which are not included in this list. ( pdf format )
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