Christopher Newport University

Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science
 
Preparing for a Health Profession
Guidelines for Selecting Courses

A degree in biology, chemistry or even physics or psychology can progress you toward your health profession goal.  To be competitive, take a wide range of courses in humanities, sociology, psychology, and art.  If your undergraduate coursework was primarily science-oriented, consider your other skills and education that complement a medical career.  In your personal statement, point out where you've demonstrated broader interests; that can speak and write articulately and candidly; and that you are socially adjusted and friendly. 

The Health Professions Advisory Committee is available to guide you through your academic preparation.  After you register your Intent to Pursue a Health Profession, you will be in the loop when medical program admissions officers visit CNU or a special event is planned for health profession students.   Following are curriculum guidelines for a variety of health professions:

A list of all schools in the country (by state, alphabetical listing) with their requirements is available online at:   http://www.aacp.org/ or http://www.aacp.org/Docs/MainNavigation/InstitutionalData/6871_School_Narratives_PSAR.pdf.

Course Selection Guidelines for pre-Medical Students

For most Medical Schools, course requirements for admission are fairly straightforward.  These required courses (see below) should be completed (or nearly completed) BEFORE you take the MCAT.  A strong performance on the MCAT is very important for gaining admission; one of the aims of doing well in your coursework is to prepare you for that exam.  Also keep in mind that you do NOT have to take all the science courses possible; many medical schools like to see students with interest in other areas.  This means you might consider some 400-level courses in other areas as electives.

Ultimately, the student is responsible for determining and verifying the exact admissions requirements, including pre-requisite coursework, for any school that he/she may be applying to.

  • 1 year (8 credits, including labs) of Biology – Biology majors have this covered with the tetrad; NON-MAJORS should take BIOL 151/151L and BIOL 211/211L
  • 2 years of Chemistry:  CHEM 121/121L-122/122L, 321/321L – 322/322L 
  • 1 year of Physics:  PHYS 151/151L – 152/152L

Course Selection Guidelines for pre-Physical Therapy Students

This information summarizes, to our best ability, the pre-requisite coursework for gaining admission to four Doctorate of Physical Therapy Programs in Virginia.  Other programs may have somewhat different requirements. The applicant is ultimately responsible for determining and verifying the exact admissions requirements, including pre-requisite coursework, for any school that he/she may be applying to. 

These required courses (see below) are in addition to other admissions requirements, such as taking the GRE Exam, having a minimum number (usually 80 – 100) of clinical hours, a minimum GPA (usually around 3.0), and a letter of recommendation from a licensed practitioner.

  • PSYC – at least 3 credits, usually 6 (e.g., PSYC 201, 307, 308)
  • MATH – 3 credits: statistics (MATH 125) plus another 3 credits (for VCU & Marymount)
  • CHEM – 8 credits, e.g.,  CHEM 103/103L–104/104/L or CHEM 121/121L-122/122L & 321/321L–322/322L
  • PHYS – 8 credits:  e.g.,   PHYS 151/151L–152/152L
  • At least 4 credits of general biology or zoology (e.g., BIOL 151/151L)
  • 8 credits of Human Anatomy & Physiology (BIOL 314/314L*–315/315L)
  • Other recommended courses:  Philosophy or Ethics (VCU), Cell Biology (VCU)

* PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION OF NON-BIOLOGY MAJORS INTO BIOL 314/314L:  must take BIOL 151/151L and 211/201L, plus one year of CHEM; must pass each with at least C+, and at least a 2.5 GPA average in these courses; must have overall 2.8 GPA or better; must be registered with HPAC as a pre-Health student; Instructor will sign into course on individual basis.

Course Selection Guidelines for pre-Physician Assistant Students

This information summarizes, to our best ability, the pre-requisite coursework for gaining admission to the three Master’s level Programs in Virginia.  Other programs may have somewhat different requirements. The applicant is ultimately responsible for determining and verifying the exact admissions requirements, including pre-requisite coursework, for any school that he/she may be applying to. 

These required courses (see below) are in addition to other admissions requirements, such as TAKING THE GRE EXAM., having a minimum number of clinical hours. a minimum GPA (usually around 3.0), and PA “shadowing” experiences.

  • PSYC –6 credits (not @ JMU), one should be developmental (e.g., PSYC 307, 308)
  • MATH – 3 credits (not @ JMU), stat’s (MATH 125)  preferred @ SU
  • CHEM – 2 semesters (1 must be organic or biochem for EVMS, SU) w/lab, e.g.,  CHEM 103/103L – 104/104/L or CHEM 121/121L-122/122L, & 321/321L – 322/322L (or 1 sem biochem (e.g., BIOL 414) only @ JMU);
  • 2 semesters of Human Anatomy & Physiology (BIOL 314/314L* – 315/315L)
  • 1 semester Microbiology (BIOL 301) (EVMS, SU)
  • 1 semester Genetics (BIOL 313) (JMU, SU)
  • 1 semester Medical Terminology (BIOL 271) (JMU, SU)

* PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION OF NON-BIOLOGY MAJORS INTO BIOL 314/314L:  must take BIOL 151/151L and 211/201L, plus one year of CHEM; must pass each with at least C+, and at least a 2.5 GPA average in these courses; must have overall 2.8 GPA or better; must be registered with HPAC as a pre-Health student; Instructor will sign into course on individual basis.

Course Selection Guidelines for pre-Pharmacy Students

Anyone majoring in any area can apply to pharmacy school.  Schools are looking for a broad-based education including courses in Physics, Biology, and Chemistry.  The Pharmacy Schools in Virginia are Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Hampton University (HU) in Hampton and Shenandoah University (SU) in Winchester.  West Virginia has West Virginia University (WVU).  North Carolina has U of NC at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Wingate University (WU) and Campbell University.  Maryland has a school at the University of Maryland (UM). Pennsylvania has schools at University of Pittsburg (UPi), Mylan School of Pharmacy, LECOM School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Temple University, and Nesbitt School of Pharmacy.   Requirements for selected schools in Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia:

 

HU

VCU

SU

UPi

UNC-CH

WU

WVU

UM

Gen. Bio with labs

8

8

12 (with Micro)

8

4

8

12 ( with Micro)

4

Gen.  Chem with labs

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

Org. Chem with labs

8

8

8

8

8 (and analytical (4))

8

8

8

Physics with labs

8

8

4

  

4-8

4

8

8

Precalculus

3

              

Calculus

3

9

6

4

3

3-4

3-4

4

Statistics

Rec.

Rec.

Rec.

3

3

3

  

3

A & P

        

3

  

3

  

English

6

6

  

6

  

6

6

6

Humanities

6

  

3

6

9

9

  

9

Public Speaking

3

3

3

    

3

    

Social Sciences

3

  

6

6

9

    

9

History

6

              

Physical Education

3

      

1

      

Bio elective

    

3

  

Micro (4)

    

Micro (4)

Ethics/rel. studies/phil

    

3

          

Electives

  

18

      

3

18-21 (gened)

  

Psychology

      

3

        

Economics

    

3

3

  

3

3

  

Other special courses

        

9 (global issues, diversity, foreign language)

      

(A&P = Anatomy and Physiology, Rel. Studies = religious studies, phil = philosophy, rec. = recommended, gened = general education)

 
 
 
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