Academic and other preparation
Resources for preparation for students who plan to apply for admission to health profession graduate and professional programs.
Academic preparation:
- Although the majority of health professions students choose to major in a science field, it is not required.
- Most professional schools require a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy are two notable exceptions, although even students entering these fields often choose to complete their bachelor’s degree ahead of matriculation to professional school, and requirements do still vary by institution.
- Coursework guidelines for undergraduate students preparing for admission to health profession graduate programs vary depending on the health profession and the school or program. Health Professions Advising strongly encourages students to research course guidelines based on your future profession and individual schools.
- Acceptability of AP/IB coursework to fulfill prerequisite requirements also varies by institution.
- Coursework for undergraduate majors: see your academic department.
- Undecided / major-undeclared undergraduate students receive academic advising through University Studies.
Common prerequisite coursework by profession
- Prerequisites are undergraduate courses required to be completed before matriculating to professional school. These are generally taken during the undergraduate degree in preparation for applying for admission to professional school.
- Regarding the prerequisite information by professions listed below: Please note that many schools either require or recommend additional courses depending on the health profession and the school. Some of these courses may be in such areas as biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, cell and molecular biology, anatomy and physiology, immunology, psychology, sociology, and human development. Merely meeting the minimum prerequisites is generally not sufficient to be a competitive applicant.
Common Prerequisite Coursework: Dentistry
- Prerequisite coursework varies by institution.
- Students are encouraged to review graduate school admissions requirements of each program of interest to ensure completion of prerequisite coursework.
- Many schools either require or recommend additional courses, and some schools may not require all the below courses. As such, the below list is provided as a starting point only and is not comprehensive.
- See the ADEA Prerequisite website for details on prerequisites.
| Common Requirement | Virginia Tech Course Name | Virginia Tech Credit Hours | Virginia Tech Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology | Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | BMSP 2135, BMSP 2145, BMSP 2136, AND BMSP 2146 |
| Biochemistry | Biochemistry | 3 | BCHM 3114 |
| Biological Sciences or “First-year biology” |
Principles of Biology 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | BIOL 1105, BIOL 1115, BIOL 1106, AND BIOL 1116 |
| English | First-year Writing 1 and 2 | 6 | ENGL 1105 AND ENGL 1106 |
| General (inorganic) Chemistry | General Chemistry 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | CHEM 1035, CHEM 1045, CHEM 1036, AND CHEM 1046 |
| Microbiology | Microbiology | 3 (5 if lab is included) |
BIOL 2604 BIOL 2614 (if lab is required) |
| Organic Chemistry | Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | CHEM 2535, CHEM 2545, CHEM 2536, AND CHEM 2546 |
| Physics | Physics 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | PHYS 2205, PHYS 2215, PHYS 2206, AND PHYS 2216 OR PHYS 2305 AND PHYS 2306 |
Common Prerequisite Coursework: Medicine (M.D. or D.O.)
- Prerequisite coursework varies by institution.
- Students are encouraged to review graduate school admissions requirements of each program of interest to ensure completion of prerequisite coursework.
- Many schools either require or recommend additional courses, and some schools may not require all the below courses. As such, the below list is provided as a starting point only and is not comprehensive.
- For details on prerequisites for M.D. (allopathic medicine) schools, see the AAMC Required Premedical Coursework and Competencies website.
- For details on prerequisites for D.O. (osteopathic medicine) schools, see the ChooseDO Explorer.
| Common Requirement | Virginia Tech Course Name | Virginia Tech Credit Hours | Virginia Tech Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry | Biochemistry | 3 | BCHM 3114 |
| Biological Sciences or “First-year biology” |
Principles of Biology 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | BIOL 1105, BIOL 1115, BIOL 1106, AND BIOL 1116 |
| College Mathematics | Calculus | 3 or 4 | MATH 1025 OR MATH 1225 |
| English | First-year Writing 1 and 2 | 6 | ENGL 1105 AND ENGL 1106 |
| General (inorganic) Chemistry | General Chemistry 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | CHEM 1035, CHEM 1045, CHEM 1036, AND CHEM 1046 |
| Organic Chemistry | Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | CHEM 2535, CHEM 2545, CHEM 2536, AND CHEM 2546 |
| Physics | Physics 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | PHYS 2205, PHYS 2215, PHYS 2206, AND PHYS 2216 OR PHYS 2305 AND PHYS 2306 |
| Social Sciences or Behavioral Sciences | Introductory Psychology Introductory Sociology |
3 3 |
PSYC 1004 SOC 1004 |
| Statistics | Statistics | 3 | STAT 2004 OR STAT 3604 OR STAT 3615 OR STAT 3005 |
Common Prerequisite Coursework: Nursing (accelerated BSN and/or entry-level MSN)
- Prerequisite coursework varies by institution.
- Students are encouraged to review program admissions requirements of each program of interest to ensure completion of prerequisite coursework.
- Many schools either require or recommend additional courses, and some schools may not require all the below courses. As such, the below list is provided as a starting point only and is not comprehensive.
- See the American Association of Colleges of Nursing member list to review school-specific prerequisites.
| Common Requirement | Virginia Tech Course Name | Virginia Tech Credit Hours | Virginia Tech Course Number |
| Anatomy and Physiology | Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | BMSP 2135, BMSP 2145, BMSP 2136, AND BMSP 2146 |
| Developmental Psychology OR Life-span Human Development |
Developmental Psychology Childhood and Adolescence + Adulthood and Aging |
3 6 |
PSYC 2034 OR HD 1004 AND HD 2004 (check school requirement) |
| Ethics | Biomedical Ethics | 3 | PHIL 3324 |
| General (inorganic) Chemistry* *Chemistry expectations vary significantly by school |
General Chemistry 1 (with lab) | 4 | CHEM 1035, CHEM 1045 |
| Microbiology | Microbiology (with labs) | 5 | BIOL 2604 BIOL 2614 |
| Nutrition | Foods, Nutrition and Exercise | 3 | HNFE 1004* (*check individual program requirements to confirm if higher level nutrition course required) |
| Pathophysiology | Advanced Human Anatomy and Pathophysiology | 3 | HNFE 4754 |
| General Psychology | Introductory Psychology | 3 | PSYC 1004 |
| Sociology | Introductory Sociology | 3 | SOC 1004 |
| Statistics | Statistics | 3 | STAT 2004 OR STAT 3604 OR STAT 3615 OR STAT 3005 |
Common Prerequisite Coursework: Occupational Therapy
- Prerequisite coursework varies by institution.
- Students are encouraged to review graduate school admissions requirements of each program of interest to ensure completion of prerequisite coursework.
- Many schools either require or recommend additional courses, and some schools may not require all the below courses. As such, the below list is provided as a starting point only and is not comprehensive.
- See the ACOTE U.S. Schools Directory to review school-specific prerequisites.
| Common Requirement | Virginia Tech Course Name | Virginia Tech Credit Hours | Virginia Tech Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abnormal Psychology | Abnormal Psychology | 3 | PSYC 3014 |
| Anatomy and Physiology | Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | BMSP 2135, BMSP 2145, BMSP 2136, AND BMSP 2146 |
| Life Span Human Development OR Developmental Psychology |
Childhood and Adolescence + Adulthood and Aging Developmental Psychology |
6
|
HD 1004 AND HD 2004 OR PSYC 2034 (check school requirement) |
| Biomechanics or Physics | Physics 1 | 3-4 (depending upon lab requirement) | PHYS 2205 AND PHYS 2215 (if lab requested) |
| General Psychology | Introductory Psychology | 3 | PSYC 1004 |
| Medical Terminology | Medical Terminology | 3 | HNFE 2204 |
| Social Sciences (additional; expectations vary by school) |
Introductory Sociology Biomedical Ethics (additional courses vary by school) |
3 3 |
SOC 1004 PHIL 3324 |
| Statistics | Statistics | 3 | STAT 2004 OR STAT 3604 OR STAT 3615 OR STAT 3005 |
Common Prerequisite Coursework: Optometry
- Prerequisite coursework varies by institution.
- Students are encouraged to review graduate school admissions requirements of each program of interest to ensure completion of prerequisite coursework.
- Many schools either require or recommend additional courses, and some schools may not require all the below courses. As such, the below list is provided as a starting point only and is not comprehensive.
- See the ASCO Applicant/Student Profile and Prerequisites for details on prerequisites for optometry schools.
| Common Requirement | Virginia Tech Course Name | Virginia Tech Credit Hours | Virginia Tech Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology | Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 | 8 | BMSP 2135, BMSP 2145, BMSP 2136, AND BMSP 2146 |
| Biochemistry | Biochemistry | 3 | BCHM 3114 |
| Biological Sciences or “First-year biology” |
Principles of Biology 1 and 2 | 8 | BIOL 1105, BIOL 1115, BIOL 1106, AND BIOL 1116 |
| College Mathematics | Calculus | 3 or 4 | MATH 1025 OR MATH 1225 |
| English | First-year Writing 1 and 2 | 6 | ENGL 1105 AND ENGL 1106 |
| General (inorganic) | General Chemistry 1 and 2 | 8 | CHEM 1035, CHEM 1045, CHEM 1036, AND CHEM 1046 |
| Microbiology | General Microbiology | 5 | BIOL 2604 AND BIOL 2614 |
| Organic Chemistry | Organic Chemistry 1 (with lab) | 4 | CHEM 2535, CHEM 2545 |
| Physics | Physics 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | PHYS 2205, PHYS 2215, PHYS 2206, AND PHYS 2216 OR PHYS 2305 AND PHYS 2306 |
| Psychology | Introductory Psychology | 3 | PSYC 1004 |
| Statistics | Statistics | 3 | STAT 2004 OR STAT 3604 OR STAT 3615 OR STAT 3005 |
Common Prerequisite Coursework: Pharmacy
- Prerequisite coursework varies by institution.
- Students are encouraged to review graduate school admissions requirements of each program of interest to ensure completion of prerequisite coursework.
- Many schools either require or recommend additional courses, and some schools may not require all the below courses. As such, the below list is provided as a starting point only and is not comprehensive.
- See the AACP Course Prerequisite Summary for details on prerequisites for pharmacy schools.
| Common Requirement | Virginia Tech Course Name | Virginia Tech Credit Hours | Virginia Tech Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology | Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 | 8 | BMSP 2135, BMSP 2145, BMSP 2136, AND BMSP 2146 |
| Biochemistry | Biochemistry | 3 | BCHM 3114 |
| Biological Sciences or “First-year biology” |
Principles of Biology 1 and 2 | 8 | BIOL 1105, BIOL 1115, BIOL 1106, AND BIOL 1116 |
| College Mathematics | Calculus | 3 or 4 | MATH 1025 OR MATH 1225 |
| Communication (Speech) | Public Speaking | 3 | COMM 2004 |
| Economics | Principles of Economics | 3 | ECON 2005 |
| English | First-year Writing 1 and 2 | 6 | ENGL 1105 AND ENGL 1106 |
| General (inorganic) Chemistry | General Chemistry 1 and 2 | 8 | CHEM 1035, CHEM 1045, CHEM 1036, AND CHEM 1046 |
| Microbiology | General Microbiology | 5 | BIOL 2604 AND BIOL 2614 |
| Organic Chemistry | Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | CHEM 2535, CHEM 2545, CHEM 2536, AND CHEM 2546 |
| Physics | Physics 1 | 4 | PHYS 2205, PHYS 2215 OR PHYS 2305 |
| Psychology | Introductory Psychology | 3 | PSYC 1004 |
| Statistics | Statistics | 3 | STAT 2004 OR STAT 3604 OR STAT 3615 OR STAT 3005 |
Common Prerequisite Coursework: Physical Therapy
- Prerequisite coursework varies by institution.
- Students are encouraged to review graduate school admissions requirements of each program of interest to ensure completion of prerequisite coursework.
- Many schools either require or recommend additional courses, and some schools may not require all the below courses. As such, the below list is provided as a starting point only and is not comprehensive.
- See the Comparison of Course Prerequisites by Program website for details on prerequisites for PT schools.
| Common Requirement | Virginia Tech Course Name | Virginia Tech Credit Hours | Virginia Tech Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology | Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | BMSP 2135, BMSP 2145, BMSP 2136, AND BMSP 2146 |
| Biological Sciences or “First-year biology” |
Principles of Biology 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | BIOL 1105, BIOL 1115, BIOL 1106, AND BIOL 1116 |
| English | First-year Writing 1 and 2 | 3 or 6 (depending on program requirements) | ENGL 1105 ENGL 1106 |
| General (inorganic) Chemistry | General Chemistry 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | CHEM 1035, CHEM 1045, CHEM 1036, AND CHEM 1046 |
| Physics | Physics 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | PHYS 2205, PHYS 2215, PHYS 2206, AND PHYS 2216 OR PHYS 2305 AND PHYS 2306 |
| Psychology | Introductory Psychology Developmental Psychology and/or Abnormal Psychology |
3 3 |
PSYC 1004 PSYC 2034 AND/OR PSYC 3014 |
| Statistics | Statistics | 3 | STAT 2004 OR STAT 3604 OR STAT 3615 OR STAT 3005 |
Common Prerequisite Coursework: Physician Assistant
- Prerequisite coursework varies by institution.
- Students are encouraged to review graduate school admissions requirements of each program of interest to ensure completion of prerequisite coursework.
- Many schools either require or recommend additional courses, and some schools may not require all the below courses. As such, the below list is provided as a starting point only and is not comprehensive.
- See the PAEA Program Directory for details on prerequisites for PA schools.
| Common Requirement | Virginia Tech Course Name | Virginia Tech Credit Hours | Virginia Tech Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology | Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | BMSP 2135, BMSP 2145, BMSP 2136, AND BMSP 2146 |
| Biochemistry | Biochemistry (varying titles) | 3 | BCHM 2024 OR BCHM 3114 |
| Biological Sciences or “First-year biology” |
Principles of Biology 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | BIOL 1105, BIOL 1115, BIOL 1106, AND BIOL 1116 |
| English | First-year Writing 1 and 2 | 6 | ENGL 1105 AND ENGL 1106 |
| General (inorganic) Chemistry | General Chemistry 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | CHEM 1035, CHEM 1045, CHEM 1036, AND CHEM 1046 |
| Genetics | Genetics | 3 | BIOL 2004 |
| Medical Terminology | Medical Terminology | 3 | HNFE 2204 |
| Microbiology (often with labs) | General Microbiology | 5 | BIOL 2604 AND BIOL 2614 |
| Organic Chemistry | Organic Chemistry | 4 | CHEM 2535 AND CHEM 2545 |
| Psychology | Introductory Psychology Developmental Psychology and/or Abnormal Psychology |
3 3 |
PSYC 1004 PSYC 2034 AND/OR PSYC 3014 |
| Statistics | Statistics (varying titles) | 3 | STAT 2004 OR STAT 3604 OR STAT 3615 OR STAT 3005 |
Common Prerequisite Coursework: Podiatry
- Prerequisite coursework varies by institution.
- Students are encouraged to review graduate school admissions requirements of each program of interest to ensure completion of pre-req coursework.
- Many schools either require or recommend additional courses, and some schools may not require all the below courses. As such, the below list is provided as a starting point only and is not comprehensive.
- See the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine website for details on prerequisites for podiatry schools.
| Common Requirement | Virginia Tech Course Name | Virginia Tech Credit Hours | Virginia Tech Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Sciences or “First-year biology” |
Principles of Biology 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | BIOL 1105, BIOL 1115, BIOL 1106, AND BIOL 1116 |
| English | First-year Writing 1 and 2 | 6 | ENGL 1105 AND ENGL 1106 |
| General (inorganic) Chemistry | General Chemistry 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | CHEM 1035, CHEM 1045, CHEM 1036, AND CHEM 1046 |
| Organic Chemistry | Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | CHEM 2535, CHEM 2545, CHEM 2536, AND CHEM 2546 |
| Physics | Physics 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | PHYS 2205, PHYS 2215, PHYS 2206, AND PHYS 2216 OR PHYS 2305 AND PHYS 2306 |
Common Prerequisite Coursework: Veterinary Medicine
- Prerequisite coursework varies by institution.
- Students are encouraged to review graduate school admissions requirements of each program of interest to ensure completion of pre-req coursework.
- Many schools either require or recommend additional courses, and some schools may not require all the below courses. As such, the below list is provided as a starting point only and is not comprehensive.
- See the Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements (VMSAR) for details on course prerequisites for veterinary medicine.
- Note that prerequisites for the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine vary somewhat from the below list of common prerequisites.
| Common Requirement | Virginia Tech Course Name | Virginia Tech Credit Hours | Virginia Tech Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry | Biochemistry | 3 | BCHM 3114 |
| Biological Sciences or “First-year biology” |
Principles of Biology 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | BIOL 1105, BIOL 1115, BIOL 1106, AND BIOL 1116 |
| College Mathematics | Calculus | 3 or 4 | MATH 1025 OR MATH 1225 |
| English | First-year Writing 1 and 2 | 6 | ENGL 1105 AND ENGL 1106 |
| General (inorganic) Chemistry | General Chemistry 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | CHEM 1035, CHEM 1045, CHEM 1036, AND CHEM 1046 |
| Genetics | Genetics | 3 | BIOL 2004 |
| Organic Chemistry | Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | CHEM 2535, CHEM 2545, CHEM 2536, AND CHEM 2546 |
| Microbiology | Microbiology | 5 | BIOL 2604 AND BIOL 2614 |
| Physics | Physics 1 and 2 (with labs) | 8 | PHYS 2205 PHYS 2215 PHYS 2206, AND PHYS 2216 ORPHYS 2305 AND PHYS 2306 |
| Statistics | Statistics | 3 | STAT 2004 OR STAT 3604 OR STAT 3615 OR STAT 3005 |
Academic assistance at Virginia Tech:
- Academic study skills assistance and tutoring through the Student Success Center.
- Math tutoring through the Department of Mathematics private tutoring and tutoring lab.
- Writing guidance through the Writing Center.
Preparing to be competitive:
- Undergraduate timeline.
- Professionalism: HPA expects advisees and applicants to exhibit professional conduct and behavior.
- Admission exams: preparation and more information.
Undergraduate and summer research and study opportunities:
- These kinds of opportunities are strongly encouraged both to give you exposure to topics of interest and to strengthen your application.
Extra-curricular preparation:
- Do volunteering and service.
- Shadow health professionals.
- Get to know a health professional in your field.
- Work and/or volunteer in a clinical setting (clinics, ED/ER, hospital)
- Explore a variety of volunteer and community service activities to determine where you would like to devote concentrated energy and time.
- If you choose to seek employment, consider an opportunity that involves working with the general public in some capacity.
- Plan to obtain experiences where you can take on increasing levels of responsibility and/or leadership.
- Gain leadership experiences through employment, clubs, research projects, course projects, community service, or other relevant opportunities.