To:          All entering pre-health students

From:      David Marten, Pre-Health Advisor

Re:          Classes to take in your first year

If you are considering a career in medicine, dentistry, nursing, or other of the related health professions, please read the following advice carefully. Even if you are not sure about your ultimate interest in the health areas, it is very important to heed the following advice.

Students interested in the health professions will choose an academic major but they also need to take a series of courses that will prepare them for admission into a medical school or other health professions program. Whatever your academic major turns out to be, be sure to take care of the courses you will need for your chosen career.

It is very important that you enroll in General Chemistry (CHM 005) in your first semester at Westmont, no matter what your academic area of interest is. Essentially all health professions will require this and it is needed before you take other courses like General Biology. There will be enough time for your major and general education classes, but not taking CHM 005 in the first semester can have severe consequences in the timely scheduling of all pre-professional classes.

Here is a summary of the classes you should take in the first year. This list is mainly for the doctoral level areas of the health professions (MD, DDS, DO, DVM, etc.), but will also apply, for the most part, to the others.

Recommended classes for First Year students – Fall

CHM 005 (General Chemistry I) – offered fall semester only. If you passed the AP Chemistry exam you should sign up for a section of CHM 005 (honors if applicable) and talk to your advisor during orientation, and the professor during the first class period, to be sure this is the best placement for you.

MA 009 or MA 010 (Calculus I or II).  If you passed the AP Calculus AB exam (AB=MA 009) you should sign up for a section of MA 010 and talk to the professor during the first class period to be sure this is the best placement for you. If you passed the AP Calculus BC exam (BC=MA 010) you should sign up for a section of MA 019 (Multivariable Calculus) and talk to the professor during the first class period to be sure this is the best placement for you. It is also possible to wait on multivariable calculus until your sophomore year.

ENG 002 (Composition) even if you tested out of this for the GE requirements, or have English AP credit, most programs want to see this class completed with a letter grade.

Fourth Course: If you are a strong student and are used to studying hard, you may take a Common Context or Common Inquiry Course (RS 10 or 20 is recommended), or a major related class. Check with your advisor during orientation to see if this is the best thing for you.

Recommended classes for First Year students - Spring

          CHM 006 (General Chemistry II) – offered spring semester only

BIO 005 (General Biology) – offered spring semester only.

MA 10 (Calculus II) or MA 005 (Statistics)

          Common Context Course (RS 10 or 20)

Four Year Schedules including all activities
      
Follow the following link to access more detailed sample 4-year schedules for typical majors in the doctoral level pre-health areas.

Biology - General Track
Chemistry - Biochemistry Track
Any Major