Ellis College of Arts & Sciences

Pre-Professional Programs 2019-2020

Pre-Dental Hygiene
Pre-Dentistry
Pre-Medical
Pre-Optometry
Pre-Physical Therapy
Pre-Veterinary
Pre-Pharmacy

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Programs for Pre‑Dentistry, Pre‑Medicine, Pre-Optometry, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre‑Veterinary, Pre-Pharmacy

Below is the pre-admission course work required for acceptance into the various professional schools. Students interested in one of these areas must confer with an advisor for their area of interest, the two most common being Biology or Chemistry. Admission to professional schools almost always requires a four year degree, therefore your advisor should be a faculty member in the area in which you will major.

Recommended Chemistry Course Sequence for Pre-health Sciences (Pre-Dental, Pre-Medical, Pre-Optometry, Pre-Osteopathy, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Physician Assistant, and Pre-Veterinary)

The vast majority of our majors benefit from taking CHM 1034 General Chemistry I during their freshman year, prior to enrolling in CHM 1014 University Chemistry I. The general chemistry to university chemistry course sequence recommended for pre-health sciences biology majors, based on a long-proven track record, provides the greatest likelihood of success in this portion of the curriculum. Pre-health sciences students are encouraged to work closely with the advisor in their particular focus area to help ensure timely and successful progression of coursework to graduation. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry recommends a score of 22 or higher on the Mathematics component of the ACT and/or prior completion of MTH 1243 college Algebra to enroll directly in CHM 1014. Medical school admissions committees generally place considerable emphasis on the GPA achieved in the chemistry curriculum and this carries a great deal of weight in evaluating the potential for applicants’ prospects of success. Depending on the previous school attended and courses completed, transfer students may have additional considerations, and should seek advice from their departmental advisor as soon as possible.

Note: pre-medical biology majors are not required to take CHM 1034 to earn the biology degree; however, it is highly recommended as a preparation for CHM 1014 (see previous paragraph for additional details). If the student chooses to take it, he/she will be better prepared for success in subsequent chemistry courses and the MCAT. If CHM 1034 is taken, it may require at least one summer class to be prepared to take the MCAT during the junior year.

Pre-Dental Hygiene

Most HSU pre-dental hygiene students apply to and enter the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The course requirements for application to this school are given below. Other dental hygiene associate programs could have additional or different requirements.

8 hrs Biology

Introduction to Biology or Zoology and Microbiology with labs

4 hrs Chemistry

General Chemistry

3 hrs Math

College Algebra

6 hrs English

English A and English B

3 hrs History

U.S. History to 1877 or U.S. History since 1877 or American National Government

3 hrs Speech

Oral Communication

3 hrs Psychology

Gen. Psychology

3 hrs Sociology

Introduction to Sociology

6 hrs Humanities

World Literature I or II, or Intro to Philosophy

12 hrs Electives

Six must be 3000-4000 level

Pre-Dentistry

Most HSU pre-dental students apply to and attend the University of Tennessee’s College of Dentistry. The course requirements for application to this school are given below. Other dental schools could have additional or different requirements.

8 hrs Biology

General Zoology and General Botany with labs

20 hrs Chemistry

Univ. Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I & II, and Biochemistry I

6 hrs English

English A and English B

8 hrs Physics

Gen. Physics I & II or Univ. Physics I & II with labs

4 to 4 hrs

Other biology: Histology, Microbiologyor Comparative Anatomy with labs

Recommended electives include Genetics, Comparative Anatomy, Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Histology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Physiology, and Neurobiology.

Pre-Medical

Most HSU pre-medical students apply to and attend the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences School of Medicine. The course requirements for application to this school are given below. Other medical schools could have additional or different requirements.

  • Two semesters of Biology
  • Three semesters of Chemistry (to include Organic Chemistry with lab, and Biochemistry)
  • One semester of Genetics
  • Two semesters of Physics
  • Two semesters of English
  • One semester of Statistics
  • Two semesters of Social Sciences (General Psychology and Introduction to Sociology are strongly recommended)

Strongly recommended courses are in the area of Biology: General Zoology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Histology, Cell Biology. It is imperative that students interested in this field consult regularly with their department pre-medial advisor.

Pre-Optometry

Most HSU pre-optometry students apply to and attend the Southern College of Optometry. The course requirements for application to this school are given below. Other optometry schools could have additional or different requirements.

12 hrs biology

General Zoology, General Botany and Microbiology with labs

20 hrs Chemistry

Univ. Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I & II, and Biochemistry

6 hrs English

English A and English B

8 hrs Physics

Gen. Physics I & II or Univ. Physics I & II with labs

8 hrs Math

Calculus I and Statistics

3 hrs Psychology

General Psychology

6 hrs Social Science

Sociology, Psychology, History, Political Science, Philosophy, Geography, etc.

Pre-Physical Therapy

Most HSU pre-physical therapy students apply to and enter the physical therapy program at the University of Central Arkansas. The course requirements for application to this school are given below. Other physical therapy programs could have additional or different requirements.

16 hrs Biology

General Zoology, Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, and one upper level animal-based course

8 hrs Chemistry

Univ. Chemistry I & II or Gen. Chemistry and Gen. Organic & Biochemistry with labs

8 hrs Physics

Gen. Physics I & II with labs

3 hrs Psychology

Gen. Psychology

3 hrs Statistics

Statistics or Experimental Statistics or Statistical Methods

1 hr

Medical Terminology

Pre-Veterinary

Most HSU pre-veterinary students apply to and attend the Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. The course requirements for application to this school are given below. Other veterinary schools could have additional or different requirements.

12 hrs Biology

General Zoology, Microbiology and an upper level biology

20 hrs Chemistry

Univ. Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I & II, and Biochemistry

6 hrs English

English A and English B

8 hrs Physics

Gen. Physics I & II or Univ. Physics I & II

6 hrs Math

College Algebra or Pre-Calculus, and Trigonometry

Pre‑Pharmacy

Below are the courses required for acceptance into the College of Pharmacy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Other pharmacy schools could have additional or different requirements. UAMS requires a total of 69 hours. Humanities electives (humanities, literature, social sciences, history) are taken to complete the required 61 hours. Consult with a pre-pharmacy advisor for options and curriculum requirements for other pharmacy schools. The Biology and Chemistry department and the UAMS Pharmacy School recommend that students earn their four year degree before entering pharmacy school. Acceptance into a professional school is not guaranteed therefore it is wise to work toward a four year degree as you take these courses.

Core Courses

3 hrs Math

MTH 1243 College Algebra

16 hrs Chemistry

CHM 1014/CHM 1024 University Chemistry I & II and labs

CHM 3063/CHM 3051 Organic Chemistry I and lab and

CHM 3073/CHM 3131 Organic Chemistry II and lab

12 hrs Biology

BIO 2114 General Zoology and lab

BIO 2014 General Botany and lab

BIO 2094 Microbiology and lab

Non-core Courses

9 hrs English

ENG 1463/ENG 1473 Freshman English A & B, and/or speech, literature courses

3 hrs Business

ECO 2013 Microeconomics

Or ECO 2023 Macroeconomics Or ACC 2013 Principles of Accounting

3 hrs Statistics

STA1313 Statistical Reasoning or STA2323 Statistical Methods

3 hrs Oral Com

COM2013 Oral Communications

3 hrs Psychology

PSY1013 General Psychology

3 hrs Humanities

Choose from world cultures or history, anthropology, sociology, or foreign language

9 hrs recommend Electives:

CHM 2084 Quantitative Analysis

MTH 1294 Calculus I

MTH 2323 Statistical Methods

PHY 2034 General Physics I and lab

ENG 2133 Critical Thinking

BIO 3314 Animal Physiology

BIO 3054 Genetics and lab

BIO 4214 Cell Biology and lab

CHM 4173 Medicinal Chemistry

CHM 4283 Biochemistry I

PHI 2133 Logic

Additional Biology and Chemistry electives are recommended for all pre-professional students. The number and names of these biology and chemistry courses depend upon the student’s major. Most students who choose one of these professions are either biology or chemistry majors. It would be best for a student to seek advice from the department in which they intend to major.