Premedical Studies Co-Major

First-year students in PMD 101: Explorations in Healthcare Careers First-year students in PMD 101: Explorations in Healthcare Careers First-year students in PMD 101: Explorations in Healthcare Careers
Graduating premedical and pre-health seniors celebrating with Swoop Graduating premedical and pre-health seniors celebrating with Swoop Graduating premedical and pre-health seniors celebrating with Swoop

The Premedical Studies Co-Major is designed to provide students with a broad-based science background and prepares them to pursue advanced degrees in medicine as well as other healthcare related fields. The co-major integrates formal advising sessions with professional development courses and courses covering the fundamental concepts in the biological, physical, and social sciences required for admission into medical school and/or covered on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). As a result, the co-major requires only 2 additional credit hours to a normal premedical curriculum, while allowing students to more efficiently track their progress toward achieving their professional goals.

Components of the Premedical Studies Co-Major

Components of the Premedical Studies Co-Major

In addition, while strongly encouraged to pursue this co-major, prehealth students are not required to complete the co-major for successful application and admittance into medical school or any other health professional school. Premedical Studies courses as well as access to the advising services provided by the Mallory-Wilson Center for Healthcare Education and the Premedical Advisory Committee are available to all students.

Lastly, the Premedical Studies Co-Major is not a standalone major and must be taken in conjunction with a primary major that provides the significant depth and breadth of a formal academic discipline. Upon graduation, students receive the degree designation of their primary major.

For more information about the Premedical Studies Co-Major and how to enroll, please contact:

Ms. Tailyn Walborn
Mallory-Wilson Center
106 Pearson Hall
(513) 529-3149
walborta@MiamiOH.edu

Academic Requirements

To fulfill the requirements of the Premedical Studies Co-major, a student must complete 62-66 semester hours distributed as follows:

  1. Biology Courses (11-12 hours)
  2. Chemistry Courses (24 hours)
  3. English Courses (6 hours)
  4. Statistics Course (3-4 hours)
  5. Physics Courses (8-10 hours)
  6. Professional Development Courses (2 hours)
  7. Social Science Courses (8 hours)
  8. Recommended Elective Courses (not required)

The specific courses required are listed below. When students take these courses during their undergraduate careers depends on when a student hopes to enter medical school and what primary major is chosen. As a result, each student should work with both primary major and prehealth co-major advisors to ensure that all requirements are fulfilled in the appropriate time frame.

Biology Courses

Take all of these:

  1. BIO/MBI 116 - Biological Concepts: Structure, Function, Cellular, and Molecular Biology (4 hours)
  2. BIO/MBI 115 or BIO 305 or MBI 201 - Biological Concepts: Ecology, Evolution, Genetics, and Diversity (4 hours)
  3. BIO/MBI 200-499 (excludes independent study)

A 4th biology course is strongly recommended, but not required.

Chemistry Courses

Take all of these:

  1. General Chemistry:
    • CHM 141/144 - College Chemistry/College Chemistry Lab (5 hours)
      and CHM 142/145 - College Chemistry/College Chemistry Lab (5 hours)
  2. Organic Chemistry:
    • CHM 241/244 - Organic Chemistry/Organic Chemistry Lab (5 hours)
      and CHM 242/245 - Organic Chemistry/Organic Chemistry Lab (5 hours)
      OR
    • CHM 251/254 - Organic Chemistry for Chemistry Majors/Organic Chemistry Lab for Chemistry Majors (6 hours)
      and CHM 252/255 - Organic Chemistry for Chemistry Majors/Organic Chemistry Lab for Chemistry Majors (5 hours)
  3. Biochemistry:
    • CHM 432 - Fundamentals of Biochemistry (4 hours)

English Courses

One year or equivalent

Statistics Course

Take one of these:

  • STA 261 - Statistics (4 hours)
    OR
  • STA 301 - Applied Statistics (3 hours)
    or STA 368 - Introduction to Statistics (4 hours)
    or ISA 205 - Business Statistics (4 hours, calculus-based)

Physics Courses

Take one of these:

  • PHY 161 - Physics for the Life Sciences with Laboratory I (4 hours)
    and PHY 162 - Physics for the Life Sciences with Laboratory II (4 hours)
    OR
  • PHY 191 - General Physics with Laboratory I (5 hours)
    and PHY 192 - General Physics with Laboratory II (5 hours, calculus-based)

Professional Development Courses

Take both of these:

  1. PMD 101 - Explorations in Healthcare Careers (1 hour)
  2. PMD 301 - Navigating Healthcare Professional School Admissions (1 hour)

Social Science Courses

Take both of these:

  1. PSY 111/112 - Introduction to Psychology (4 hours)
  2. SOC 153 - Sociology in a Global Context (3 hours)

Recommended Electives

These are not required:

  • additional biology course
  • MTH 151 - Calculus I (5 hours)
    or MTH 153 - Calculus I (4 hours)

Program Overview: Learning Objectives and Activities

Year 1: Initiating Premedical Studies/Exploring Career Opportunities in Medicine

  • PMD 101 - Explorations in Healthcare Careers (1 hour, fall semester)
  • Complete comprehensive plan of preparation.
  • Advising (Premedical, Divisional, & Departmental Advisors)

Year 2: Continuing Premedical Studies/Exploring the Field and Gaining Medical Experience

  • Advising (Premedical, PAC Faculty Advisor, Divisional, & Departmental Advisors)

Year 3: Preparing the Application/Exploring the Field and Gaining Medical Experience

  • PMD 301 - Preparing for a Career in Medicine (1 hour, spring semester)
  • Complete mock AMCAS application and mock interview.
  • Advising (Premedical, PAC Faculty Advisor, MCAT Preparation Session)

Year 4: Finishing Premedical Studies/Planning for the Future

  • Advising (Premedical, Divisional, & Departmental Advisors)

Courses

PMD 101 - Explorations in Healthcare Careers (1)

Explores the various career pathways in healthcare and helps students considering a career in a healthcare field develop a comprehensive plan of preparation for admission to medical school or other healthcare profession school. This professional development course is for all students considering a career in healthcare.
Credit/no-credit only.

PMD 301 - Navigating Healthcare Professional School Admissions (1)

Prepares students to navigate the healthcare professional school admissions process. Students reflect on their motivation for becoming a healthcare provider and develop personal statements and descriptions of activities for their applications. The final product will be completion of a mock application to a healthcare professional school and mock interview. This professional development course will be of interest to students applying to medical or other health profession school.
Credit/no-credit only.