Pre-Medical Program College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences

Pre-Medical Professional Programs

Pre-Medicine

Pre-Dentistry

Pre-Osteopathy

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Pre-Pharmacy

Pre-Optometry

Pre-Podiatry

Pre-Chiropractic

Faculty

Faculty, primarily from Biology and Chemistry, who have experience in advising for these programs are available. Among these are Thomas Landefeld, Laura Phillips and John Roberts from Biology and James Lyle from Chemistry. These advisors can be contacted through their individual offices and/or their departmental offices. In addition, students can contact the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences Dean's Office (310-243-3389) for information.

Program Description

Medical and dental schools require one-year lecture and laboratory courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and general biology. Many medical schools recommend or require additional courses in embryology, genetics and biochemistry and mathematics through calculus. Requirements for admission are met by one of three plans:

1. Completion of a B.S. in Biology;

2. Completion of a B.A. in Chemistry and a Biology Minor; or

3. Majoring in any field while concurrently fulfilling the specific course requirements of the prospective professional school.

The student who obtains a broad liberal arts education by taking elective units in the Humanities, Fine Arts, and Social and Behavioral Sciences while satisfying the science requirement are normally strong applicants to these professional programs.

Postbaccalaureate Students

Students who already have a non-science related bachelor’s degree may fulfill the minimum requirements for entrance into medical and dental schools by completing the core requirements as a postbaccalaureate student.

Features

CSU Dominguez Hills offers the courses required for admission to health professional schools in all of the related medical areas. Most courses required by professional schools are included in the requirements for science majors. Any additional courses may be taken either as part of an appropriate minor or as electives. While a few schools accept qualified students after the end of the third year, most of the students accepted to professional schools have obtained the B.A.
or B.S. degree.

Academic Advising

Regardless of their major, students should be advised by one of the Pre-Medical program faculty advisors at the earliest opportunity. In addition to program advisement, advisors can explain the application process and enhance the applicant's chances for acceptance. Because entrance criteria vary, it is important that students learn the requirements of each of the schools to which they plan to apply.

Preparation

High school students should include courses in algebra, biology and chemistry in their high school preparation. Although community college transfers may complete some of the lower division required courses at a community college, they should also consult the University Catalog for their proposed major requirements.

Pre-Medical Requirements

The following courses should be taken to meet the minimum admission requirements for most California medical and dental schools:

BIO 120. Principles of Biology I (4)

BIO 122. Principles of Biology II (4)

BIO 314. Embryology (4)

BIO 320. Cell Biology (3)

BIO 340. Genetics (3)

CHE 110. General Chemistry I (5)

CHE 112. General Chemistry II (5)

CHE 230. Quantitative Analysis (4)

CHE 310. Organic Chemistry I (4)

CHE 311. Organic Chemistry Lab I (1)

CHE 312. Organic Chemistry II (3)

CHE 313. Organic Chemistry Lab II (2)

ENG 110. Freshman Composition I (3)

ENG 111. Freshman Composition II (3)

MAT 171. Survey of Calculus for
Management and Life Sciences (4) or

o MAT 191. Calculus I (5)

PHY 120. Elements of Physics I (4) and

PHY 122. Elements of Physics II (4) or

o PHY 130. General Physics I (5) and

o PHY 132. General Physics II (5)

NOTES:

1. CHE 450 and CHE 451 are strongly recommended.

2. Students interested in applying to California dental schools would
not be required to take calculus.

Although the admission requirements for other related medical areas are similar to the above, academic program decisions should be made with the assistance of a Pre-Medical program faculty advisor.