Because health professional schools place a priority on well-rounded achievement, the pre-health course requirements are really surprisingly simple. Health professional schools prefer that you have a baccalaureate degree from a 4-year college/university prior to entering medical school. You should focus on meeting the requirements of your major with demonstrated excellence.
You basically have two goals in planning your course work: 1) completing your undergraduate curriculum (major) and 2) fulfilling the health professional school prerequisite courses. At Northeastern, if you major in Biology, Biochemistry, or Health Sciences, the prerequisite courses for most programs (see below) are part of the curriculum. If you have any other major, plan on taking pre-med prerequisite courses in addition to the courses required of your major.
Please be aware that different programs (e.g., DDS, DO, DVM, MD, MD/PhD, OD) as well as individual schools may have different requirements. For example, optometry schools typically require Microbiology and often other specific courses. You should consult the appropriate current guide to admissions requirements as well as school web sites.
Most schools require a common set of science courses. All of the following courses include labs:
2 semesters of Biology
2 semesters of General Chemistry
2 semesters of Organic Chemistry
2 semesters of Physics
Health professional schools assume that your baccalaureate degree requires courses in mathematics (calculus might be preferred by some medical schools) and English. Some health professional schools suggest a course in statistics.
NU Courses that Meet Prerequisites
The following are the courses at Northeastern that will fulfill the prerequisite health professional school course requirements.
Biology
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physics
Math
English
College of Professional Studies (CPS)
The following courses in the NortheasternCollege of Professional Studies (CPS) may meet the minimum admission requirements. The College of Professional Studies uses the quarter system, not the semester system. Therefore, 3-quarter courses are equivalent to two semester courses above.
Biology
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physics
Math
Additional Preparation Courses
Some health professional schools recommend biochemistry and genetics in addition to more mathematics in the form of statistics. Consult the consult the appropriate guide published by the respective application service (links can be found under the specific discipline).
Undergraduate Day
College of Professional Studies
