Pre-Health Programs
Students intending to go to medical, dental, veterinary medical, optometry, podiatry or chiropractic school may choose almost any major. However, students should not pursue majors that prepare them for specific health professions such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing or pharmacy unless that is the specific area of interest.
First year pre-health students are encouraged to view the Pre-Health 101 Workshop offered by the Office of Health and Legal Professions Advising. Additional workshops are offered for pre-health students to assist them in exploring and preparing for a health care profession and to prepare for the application process to a professional graduate program. Visit the pre-health website for more information.
Pre-health students should plan to complete the following courses, which are the basic prerequisites for pre-health graduate programs. However, some health professions do not require all of these courses, and some require more. Also, requirements vary from program to program, so students should carefully investigate the requirements of the institutions to which they plan to apply.
- Mathematics: At least two semesters of college-level mathematics; one semester of calculus (MAC 2311 or 3472) and one semester of statistics are recommended.
- General Chemistry: CHM 2045/2045L and CHM 2046/2046L -or-
CHM 2045/2045L and CHM 2051/2046L -or-
CHM 2047/2047L.
- Organic Chemistry: CHM 2210, 2211 and 2211L -or-
CHM 3217, 3218 and CHM 2211L.
- Biochemistry: One semester is recommended by most professional schools and required by many medical schools. BCH 4024 or CHM 3218.
- Physics: PHY 2053/2053L and PHY 2054/2054L -or-
PHY 2048/2048L and PHY 2049/2049L -or-
PHY 2060, 2061 and PHY 2048L, 2049L.
- Biology: BSC 2010/2010L and BSC 2011/2011L.
- English: At least two semesters at the college level.
Additional Course Requirements
Pre-dental students (if planning on applying to UF’s College of Dentistry) should take:
- MCB 3020/3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms and Lab (non-microbiology majors) -or-
MCB 3023/3023L Principles of Microbiology and Lab (microbiology majors)
- PSY 2012 General Psychology
- PCB 3063 or AGR 3303 Genetics (non-microbiology majors) -or-
MCB 4304 Genetics of Microorganisms or PCB 4522 Molecular Genetics (microbiology majors)
- Also recommended:
- PCB 4233 Immunology
- Courses in other social and behavioral sciences.
Pre-optometry students should take:
- PSY 2012 General Psychology; an additional psychology course is recommended
- MCB 3020/3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms and Lab (non-microbiology majors) -or-
MCB 3023/3023L Principles of Microbiology and Lab (microbiology majors)
- Also recommended:
- APK 2100C Applied Human Anatomy
- APK 2105C Applied Human Physiology
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Pre-pharmacy students should take:
- APK 2100C and 2105C Applied Human Anatomy and Applied Human Physiology:
- MCB 3020/3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms and Lab (non-microbiology majors) -or-
MCB 3023/3023L Principles of Microbiology and Lab (microbiology majors)
- ECO 2023 Microeconomics
- Additional 3-6 hours of social and behavioral sciences and 3-6 hours of humanities
Pre-veterinary students should take:
- ANS 3006C Introduction to Animal Science
- ANS 3440 Principles of Animal Nutrition
- MCB 3020/3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms and Lab (non-microbiology majors) -or-
MCB 3023/3023L Principles of Microbiology and Lab (microbiology majors)
- PCB 3063 or AGR 3303 Genetics (non-microbiology majors) -or-
MCB 4304 Genetics of Microorganisms or PCB 4522 Molecular Genetics (microbiology majors)
- SPC 2608 Public Speaking or
AEC 3030C Oral Communication
Pre-Physician Assistant Course Recommendations
- General Chemistry: CHM 2045/2045L and CHM 2046/2046L
- General Biology: BSC 2010/2010L and BSC 2011/2011L
- Applied Human Anatomy and Applied Human Physiology: APK 2100C and 2105C
- Microbiology: MCB 3020/3020L or MCB 3023/3023L
- Public Speaking: SPC 2608 or
Oral Communication: AEC 3030C
- Introduction to Statistics: STA 2023
- Health and Medical Terminology: HSC 3537
- General Psychology also recommended: PSY 2012
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Pre-Law
Most law schools agree that a broad, liberal, diverse and challenging education is the best preparation for law school. Therefore, students should choose a major that interests them and select difficult courses from demanding instructors as the best generic preparation for legal education.
Pre-law students must develop analytic and problem-solving skills, critical reading abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities, research skills and organization and priority management skills. In short, pre-law students should register for demanding courses that challenge them to read, write and think critically.
Pre-law students should consult the pre-law advising website. They also should attend a pre-law workshop and make an advising appointment with a pre-law adviser in the Academic Advising Center.
Pre-law students should assess carefully their interest in and motivation for attending law school. The pre-law timeline, featured on the website, encourages students to shadow attorneys, conduct informational interviews, complete internships and speak to admission officers to learn about law schools and the legal profession. Students should also consider studying overseas, writing an honors thesis and getting involved in leadership opportunities. These activities will enhance the depth and value of their undergraduate education and may also distinguish them from other top law school applicants.
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