This service is part of Student Academic Affairs and Advising and is open to all Mason community members interested in pursuing a graduate degree in the health professions.
Advisees > Coursework
In June 2009, the first of a series of documents addressing premedical and medical education was issued by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute that outlines the scientific competencies expected for successful training of medical students. This document follows up on intended expectations written by the National Academies Bio2010 report. Briefly, medical school matriculants are expected to have mastered the following scientific concepts or competencies in the education through reinforcing or interdisciplinary coursework or scholarship whenever possible.
Demonstrate both knowledge of and ability to use basic principles of mathematics and statistics, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and biology needed for the application of the sciences to human health and disease; demonstrate observational and analytical skills and the ability to apply those skills and principles to biological situations.
With a few exceptions, health professions programs (dental school, medical school, veterinary school) require the same coursework to ensure that all admitted students have the sufficient scientific foundation and a "well-rounded" college education.
While it may be easier to complete these requirements as a science major, a science degree is not required to enter a health professions program (dentistry, medicine, etc.). One should choose a major in a field of the student's interest while completing required prehealth coursework. One can be a history, performing arts, or engineering major and still pursue a premedical curriculum though it may require taking summer classes or extra coursework to complete all the requirements. Advanced placement credit could help in scheduling these classes while keeping on schedule for a non-science degree.
Most health professions schools require the following:
| Pre-health curricular requirements | Mason Course Numbers |
|---|---|
| College Composition or Writing (1 year) |
ENGL 100/101 & 302 And general education requirements. |
| Biology (1 year with laboratory) |
Minimum sequence Preferred sequence |
| Introductory Chemistry (1 year with laboratory) |
General Chemistry CHEM 211 & 212 |
| Organic Chemistry (1 year with laboratory) |
Organic Chemistry/Lab CHEM 313/315 & 314/318 |
| Introductory Physics (1 year with laboratory) |
College Physics/Lab OR University Physics/Lab |
Successful applicants usually take more than the minimums listed above. Some programs require calculus (pharmacy and a few medical schools) while others require biochemistry (dentistry at many programs). It is the responsibility of the applicant to be educated of the specific requirements and preferred coursework for each program.
This coursework should be taken within the last five years after graduating with a bachelor's degree. If it has been longer than five years, you may have to retake some of these courses again.
Unless there is an outstanding academic record or other reason dictated by degree requirements, freshmen and new transfer students should avoid taking more 15 course hours, and no more than two science courses with laboratories in their first year's schedules.
Prehealth students for human or veterinary medicine, dentistry, podiatry, pharmacy, or optometry should avoid taking any classes designated as "for nonscience majors" or "not open to students majoring in [this department]." Students do themselves a disservice by not taking an academically challenging and rigorous science course to prepare for admsisions exams and the experience of laboratory work. Non-science majors should consider taking intermediate/upper-level coursework if they want a competitive application.
New Century College also has advice for non-science students interested in a Life Sciences track who are interested in a health professions career.
While most schools do not show bias against doing coursework in the summer, applicants should recognize that taking classes in the summer may deny them access to opportunities to enhance their application profile.
Except for osteopathic medicine, all health professional programs will calculate your application GPA based on all coursework taken after high school, including repeated courses. Courses should be repeated if the grade earned is a D or F.
Withdrawals do not count against an application GPA, but admissions committees will request explanations for courses withdrawn. Classes that are dropped within the drop-add period are never reported on the transcript and thus are never seen by admissions committees.
If there are personally adverse circumstances that result in a "bad semester" or two, applicants must be prepared to discuss these circumstances in essays and oral interviews.