Admission to Biomedical, Health Professions, and Veterinary Medicine Programs
Minimum Undergraduate Course Requirements
This chart will help students get started in planning for possible admission to health professions graduate programs. These courses represent the minimal requirements.
Most schools (especially medical schools) have additional course requirements beyond the minimum listed here. Students should check the admissions standards for individual
schools. If students take the more rigorous sciences and math, all schools and all options remain viable. Specific advising related to entrance to health professions'
schools is also available in the Eberly College of Science Advising Center, First Floor Ritenour (www.science.psu.edu/premed). Students considering any of these programs should
work closely with their academic adviser regarding their interests and choices of Penn State majors.
Professional School Medicine Chiropractic, Dentistry Physical Physician Nursing*
Penn State Courses (MD/DO) Optometry, Podiatry Therapy Assistant
Web Sites www.aamc.org www.chirocolleges.com www.ada.org www.APTA.org www.aapa.org www.aacn.nche.edu/
www.aacom.org www.acatoday.org www.adea.org www.paeaonline.org research-data/BSNNCG.pdf
www.aacpm.org
www.opted.org
BMB 211 or 401
(Biochemistry)
Most schools require -Plan A:
BMB401&402; Plan B: BMB
401,self-study 402 ;Plan C: BMB
211
Typically not required but for
Optometry--BMB 211 or 401
often required
Typically strongly recommended
or required (211 or 401
depending on school); no
BIOCHEM on DAT
Typically not required
Typically not required but
depends on school,
sometimes accepted in
place of 1 of the organic
chem semesters
Typically not required
BIOL 110 Required Required Required Required Required Typically not required
BIOL 129 Typically not required
Typically not required
Optometry varies
Typically not required Required Required Required
BIOL 230W Cell Biology(covers
genetics broadly but with less
depth;BMB 251&252 cover
genetics with breadth&depth
Required (B) Often required Required (D) Varies by program Varies by program Typically not required
BIOL 240W or 141/142
Physiology
Required (C) Often required Often required
Required, only 141/142
usually accepted
Required, only 141/142
usually
accepted/preferred
Required, only 141/142
usually accepted/preferred
CHEM 110, 111, 112, 113
General Chemistry
Required Required Required Required Required Varies by program
MICRB 106/107 or 201/202
Microbiology
Typically not required
Typically not required
Optometry MICRB 201/202
Typically recommended but
typically not required
Typically not required Often required Required
MATH
Varies by school: a few require
calculus, most do not. Often a
certain number of
semesters/credits of college level
math is sufficient
22 or higher required
*Optometry MATH 140
typically required
22 or higher required (A) 21 or higher required 21 or higher required 21 or higher required
PHYS 250R/250L and 251R/L
or 211R/L, 212R/L, 213R/L,
214R/L Note: Suffixes may vary
by campus.
Required (B) Required (B) Required (B) Required (B) Typically not required Typically not required
PSYCH 100 Strongly recommended (D) Varies by program Varies by program Required Required Required
PSYCH 212 Typically not required Typically not required Typically not required or 270 or 470 Required Varies by program or HDFS 129 required
PSYCH 270 or 470 Typically not required Typically not required Typically not required or 212 required Typically not required Typically not required
PSYCH 221 Recommended (D) Recommended Recommended Recommended Recommended Typically not required
SOC 001, 003, or 005 Strongly recommended (D) Typically not required Typically not required Typically not required Typically not required SOC 1 or 5 required
STAT 200, 240 or 250 Varies by program Varies by program Required Required Required
* BS in Nursing is a second degree. Some schools also require nutrition and genetics (e.g., NUTR 251, BIOL 222).
(A) A few medical schools require Calculus. Most are fine with College Algebra, and some do not specify.
(B) BIOL 110 and 230W AND either BIOL 240W or 141 (or BIOL 472 at upper level) are recommended to adequately prepare studentsfor the required MCAT examination.
(C) BIOL 110 and 230W are recommended to help students prepare for the required DAT examination. Updated 11/2016
(D) PSYCH 100, SOC 1, and PSYCH 221 or SOC 3 are strongly recommended to help students prepare for the required MCAT examination.
Varies by program, typically
required or recommended
Typically not required
Required
Best preparation for MCAT exam
Preferred
Best preparation for DAT
exam
Varies by program
Some schools accept CHEM
202/203 (6 cr.)
Varies by program,
most that require
accept 202/203
Required
Some schools accept CHEM
202/203 (6 cr.)
Admission to Biomedical, Health Professions, and Veterinary Medicine Programs
Minimum Undergraduate Course Requirements
This chart will help students get started in planning for possible admission to health professions graduate programs. These courses represent the minimal requirements.
Most schools (especially medical schools) have additional course requirements beyond the minimum listed here. Students should check the admissions standards for individual
schools. If students take the more rigorous sciences and math, all schools and all options remain viable. Specific advising related to entrance to health professions'
schools is also available in the Eberly College of Science Advising Center, First Floor Ritenour (www.science.psu.edu/premed). Students considering any of these programs should
work closely with their academic adviser regarding their interests and choices of Penn State majors.
Professional School Occupational Genetic Pharmacy Veterinary
Penn State Courses Therapy Counseling Medicine
Web Sites www.aota.org www.nsgc.org www.aacp.org www.aavmc.org
B M B 211 or 401
(Biochemistry)
Typically not required Varies by program
Recommended or Required (a B or C
in Organic followed by an A in BMB
401 can show aptitude)
1 or 2 semesters required
BIOL 110 Required Required Required
Required
BIOL 129 Required Recommended Varies by program
Higher level ANAT and PHYS desired
BIOL 230W Cell Biology Typically not required
Required; also require or
recommend BIOL 460
Varies by program, often required or
recommended
Varies by program
BIOL 240W or 141/142
Physiology
Varies by program Varies by program Required
Varies by program
CHEM 110, 111, 112, 113
General Chemistry
Varies by program Required Required
Required
Typically not required Required
MICRB 106/107 or 201/202
Microbiology
Typically not required Typically not required
Often required or highly
recommended
MICRB 201/202 required of most
MATH Varies by program
022 or higher required
Varies by program
Varies, usually Calculus or a
combination of College Algebra &
Elementary Calculus (MATH 110)
Typically requires calculus
Varies by program
PHYS 250R/250L and 251R/L
or 211R/L, 212R/L, 213R/L,
214R/L Note: Suffixes may vary
by campus.
Varies by program Typically not required Required Required
PSYCH 100 Required Required Varies by program
Typically not required
PSYCH 212 Required Required Typically not required
Typically not required
PSYCH 270 or 470 Required Recommended or required Typically not required
Typically not required
PSYCH 221 Recommended Recommended Recommended
Typically not required
SOC 1, 3 or 5 Frequently required Typically not required Typically not required Typically not required
STAT 200, 240 or 250 Required Required Varies by program
* BS in Nursing is a second degree. Some schools also require nutrition and genetics (e.g., NUTR 251, BIOL 222).
(A) A few medical schools require Calculus. Most are fine with College Algebra, and some do not specify.
(B) BIOL 110 and 230W AND either BIOL 240W or 141 (or BIOL 472 at upper level) are recommended to adequately prepare studentsfor the required MCAT examination.
(C) BIOL 110 and 230W are recommended to help students prepare for the required DAT examination. Updated 11/2016
(D) PSYCH 100, SOC 1, and PSYCH 221 or SOC 3 are strongly recommended to help students prepare for the required MCAT examination.
CHEM 210, 212, and 213
Organic Chemistry
Required or recommended, STAT 250
preferred
Required
Some schools accept
CHEM 202/203 (6 cr.)
Required
Some schools accept
CHEM 202/203 (6 cr.)