pre med requirements northeastern

Academic Preparation

Choose a major.

Academic course requirements for health professional programs may be integrated into any major at Northeastern.

Students admitted to U.S. health professional programs come from ALL undergraduate majors. Medical schools appreciate academic diversity. Choose a major based on your interests. Undergraduate students should meet with both their major advisor and a PreMed/PreHealth Advisor to determine the best way to successfully complete their required coursework.

College of Professional Studies (CPS) students should consult with the CPS Career and Academic Coaching Staff for Academic Advising.

Common Courses

The courses listed below meet the course requirements of many health professional programs.

These are intended to provide a foundation in subject areas relevant to the student’s intended health professional program and its corresponding entrance exam. It is the student’s responsibility to research the academic requirements for specific schools of interest, and work with their advisors to determine an appropriate course of study.

Most health professional programs will consider a grade of C or higher in required coursework as passing (for some PA programs, the lowest passing grade may be higher than a C, and applicants are encouraged to confirm this information with individual program websites). If your final grade in any required course is below a C, you may be required to retake the course. More information on coursework standards and expectations can be found on our FAQ webpage .

A typical course of study may include the following:

Prerequisites to medical school are school specific. Please refer to the relevant website below for detailed course requirements.

Prerequisites to dental school are school specific. Please refer to the relevant websites below for detailed course requirements.

Prerequisites to optometry school are school specific. Please refer to the relevant website below for detailed course requirements.

Strongly Recommended Courses :

Other Recommended Courses :

Prerequisite coursework for PA programs is largely school specific . Due to this, we recommend creating a spreadsheet of 10-12 PA programs to help guide your academic plan and needed prerequisites. Get started by using the tracking document below.

PA Requirements Tracking Sheet

Please refer to the relevant websites below for detailed course requirements

Prerequisites to podiatry school are school specific. Please refer to the relevant website below for detailed course requirements.

Prerequisites to veterinary school are school specific. Please refer to the relevant website below for detailed course requirements.

Supporting Information

Not all health professional schools will accept core science (Biology, Chemistry, Math or Physics) prerequisite coursework taken outside of the U.S. or Canada.

If you are planning to take core science prerequisite coursework abroad, it is recommended you enroll in Overseas US Institutions (i.e. American College of Thessaloniki, John Cabot University in Rome, Italy, etc.). Despite the fact these institutions are physically located outside of the U.S. these schools have received accreditation from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and are treated like any other U.S. or Canadian school.

If you are considering attending a foreign institution outside of the U.S. or Canada, please contact the schools you are interested in applying to before going overseas to ensure that your coursework will be accepted.

Each school will have their own policy regarding AP and/or IB credit, and it is best to consult with their individual website or admissions office to find out more about their policy.

Generally, applicants may use AP or IB credit toward prerequisite courses. However AP/IB credit often does not reduce the required coursework needed at the college level. Applicants may be expected to take the equivalent number of upper-level courses within that subject if they’ve have been granted AP/IB credit.

College-level, dual enrollment courses taken during high school can often be used to satisfy academic requirements for health professional programs.

You must confirm that you received academic credit, a grade, and a corresponding college transcript for the course(s). Centralized application services will include the credit hours and grade earned in their GPA calculations, even if the course was not transferred to Northeastern or used toward your undergraduate degree.

Strong grades and experiential preparation are integral to acceptance to a health professional program. Once you begin your medical studies, you will find that this remains equally important.

Northeastern has a number of resources on campus to help you succeed both in and out of the classroom:

A successful Grade Point Average (GPA) is an essential component of an application to a Health Profession Program. There are three types of GPAs a Health Profession Program may evaluate you on: Science GPA, Non-Science GPA, and Cumulative GPA. These GPAs may be evaluated on a year-by-year basis and/or cumulatively.

PreMed Degree Audit

One way to calculate your Northeastern Science, Non-Science, and Cumulative GPAs would be to run a “PreMed” degree audit. Any student at Northeastern can run a “PreMed” Degree Audit. “PreMed” Degree Audits sort your classes into Science, Non-Science, and Overall categories and calculate your corresponding GPAs for you. Follow these instructions for running a “PreMed” Degree Audit:

1. Log-in to your StudentHub

2. Click on the Resources tab

3. Click on Academics, Classes & Registration

4. Click on My Degree Audit

5. Under Audits select “Request New”

6. Click “Select a Different Program”

7. Under “College” select “Special Programs” and “ Special Programs Pre-med – PRE-MED” should prepopulate

8. Choose the most current catalog year

9. Click “Run Different Program”

10: Finally, under “Audit Results” you will see “MED-GPACALCULATED GPA for PRE-MED”. Click on the adjacent right facing arrow to view a drop down of your courses into Science, Non-Science, and Overall GPA categories.

Note: The GPA calculations on your Northeastern Degree Audit may vary from the GPA that your Health Professions Program may calculate. For example, transfer credit and original grades from repeated courses are not included in your Northeastern GPA, but will usually be included in the GPAs your Health Professions Program calculates.

Manually Calculated GPA

Alumni who no longer have access to their Northeastern Degree Audit or applicants who will be applying with coursework from more than one college or university may wish to manually calculate their Science, Non-Science, and Overall GPAs. The following resources are available to help you manually calculate your GPA:

Comparing GPA to national averages

It is important to know how your GPA compares to national averages and be sure you meet the requirements for the individual programs you are interested in. Here are some links to help gauge where your GPA ranks:

Being admitted to a professional healthcare program takes years of preparation and mastery of difficult science coursework. Thus, it is common for people to pursue additional education after completion of an undergraduate degree in order to become a more competitive applicant . The two most common forms of additional education ar e either a Special Master’s program or a post-Baccalaureate program . Additional information on Special Master’s and post-Baccalaureate programs can be found on our Gap Year webpage.

Academic Catalog 2022-2023

Premed and prehealth advising, premed and prehealth studies.

The PreMed and PreHealth Advising Program provides support for Northeastern University undergraduate students and alumni who are planning to pursue training in medicine, including allopathic medicine (MD), osteopathic medicine (DO), dentistry, optometry, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine, and veterinary medicine.

Academic course requirements for health professional programs may be integrated into any major at Northeastern. Health professional school admission committees generally give no preference to any particular undergraduate major. As such, students should focus on meeting the course requirements of their chosen health professional program, together with their undergraduate degree requirements, with demonstrated academic rigor and excellence. For some majors it may be necessary to complete additional credit hours of coursework, with associated tuition, to fulfill all premed/prehealth course requirements.

Common Coursework

Most health professional schools require a common set of courses. The courses listed below meet the course requirements of many health professional programs. These are intended to provide a foundation in subject areas relevant to the student’s intended health professional program and its corresponding entrance exam.

Academic policies and course requirements are school specific. Students should research requirements and plan a program of study as early as possible in consultation with both their academic and prehealth advisor to to determine the best way to successfully complete their required coursework. Please refer to the relevant information and website(s) below, as well as official admissions guidebooks, for detailed requirements.

Note: Corequisite laboratories are required for most basic science courses.

Biology (two semesters)

General chemistry (two-semester sequence or a single-semester general chemistry course)

Organic chemistry (two-semester sequence)

Physics (two-semester sequence)

Biochemistry ( one semester; prerequisites: organic chemistry 2 and genetics and molecular biology)

Mathematics ( one semester each of calculus and statistics)

Writing (two semesters of writing-based social science or humanities/English composition coursework)

Behavioral sciences (an introductory psychology and sociology course are recommended for MCAT preparation but typically not required for admission)

Supporting Information

Premed and prehealth advising overview.

Advanced Placement

Each school will have its own policies regarding AP and/or IB credit. It is best to consult the school's website or admissions office to learn about its policies.

Generally, applicants may use AP or IB credit toward prerequisite courses. However, AP/IB credit often does not reduce the required coursework needed at the college level. Applicants may be expected to take the equivalent number of upper-level courses within that subject if they earned AP/IB credit.

Study-Abroad Coursework

Not all health professional schools will accept core science (biology, chemistry, math, or physics) prerequisite coursework taken outside of the United States or Canada. Students should consult with their prehealth advisors before enrolling at an institution outside of the United States or Canada to complete core science coursework for a health professional program.

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2022-2023 Undergraduate PDF

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HUMAN RIGHTS

The Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Board of Regents, in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and to the extent required by these and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, political affiliation, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.

A grievance procedure has been created to resolve complaints concerning these regulations. An outline of the procedure is available in the office of Human Resources and the Office of Student Affairs. The Director of Human Resources has been designated as the Affirmative Action Compliance Officer and 504 Coordinator.

NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

Tahlequah, Oklahoma (918) 456-5511

The Undergraduate Catalog is published for informational purposes and should not be construed as a contract between a student and Northeastern State University, but rather as a guide for the convenience of students planning their program of study. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and currency of the information at the time this catalog is printed. Courses and degree programs listed in this catalog are intended as a general indication of Northeastern State University curriculum and are subject to modification at any time. The University reserves the right to discontinue, modify or otherwise change its degree programs; to change the fees, rules and calendar for admission, registration, instruction, and graduation; and to change other policies and regulations without notice or obligation. Current law, Regent’s policies, and University policies supersede any information printed in this catalog. It is the responsibility of the individual student to become familiar with the policies, procedures, and regulations of Northeastern State University. The responsibility for meeting all graduation requirements rests with the student.

pre med requirements northeastern

Northeastern University

Career services.

pre med requirements northeastern

All work on this site is our own. The content for the Savvy med school search was found on the webpages of the respective medical schools.

If you are a Northeastern Illinois University student who is planning to attend law school or a professional health program after graduation, the Director of Pre-Professional Advising can assist you with personal attention, support and guidance as you pursue your goals by providing you with the necessary information related to prerequisites, entrance exams, the application process and other services.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers several resources and services to students who intend to apply to professional and/or graduate schools after completing their bachelor's degree such as:

Pre-Health Events Spring 2023

Pre-Law Events Spring 2023

Pre-Professional PLANNING FOR:

Schedule a Zoom meeting

David Nissim-Sabat, Director of Pre-Professional Advising Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. [email protected]

Preprofessional Resources

Pre-professional student organizations.

Pre-Law Society

The NEIU Pre-Law Society is a student-run club for current NEIU students interested in pursuing law school. The Society offers opportunities to participate in pre-law-related events, hear guest speakers, take practice LSAT exams, moot court, and more.

Current NEIU students are invited to join the Pre-Law Society on CollegiateLink . Current students are invited to join the Pre-Law mailing list .

Future Health Professionals Club

To promote health consciousness among the student body, sponsor health-related activities for the benefit of the community at large, and provide a network of resources for NEIU pre-health students.

Current NEIU students are invited to join the Future Health Professionals on CollegiateLink . Current students are invited to join the Pre-Health mailing list .

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pre med requirements northeastern

Medical Schools

The 10 Best Pre-Med Schools In Massachusetts

The decision to become a doctor can seem both exciting and daunting.

When students get on a seemingly endless internet search of different colleges, they can often feel completely overwhelmed with their future. Many students have figured out that they love science and helping others, but what is the right path to get there?

Pre-med is not a major but rather an advising track for students who intend to go onto medical school. Pre-Med is often the path that students go down to pursue a medical or health specialty career successfully.

Deciding to go pre-med will not only help a student be prepared for the MCAT(Medical College Admission Test) but will tell a prospective medical school that the student is prepared to take on the rigors of their program. Many high-quality schools in Massachusetts offer students Pre-Med Programs to ensure their success in medical school.

So, how do you pick the right Pre-Med Program?

Before you start endless scrolling through internet websites and college admissions applications, take the time to read our researched list of The Best Pre-Med Schools In Massachusetts.

Ranked by the total number of applicants each school supplies to medical school as measured by the AAMC .

10. Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA)

Wellesley College

Wellesley College was founded as a women’s liberal arts college back in 1870 and quickly expanded its fields of study to the sciences. Over the next 50 years, before Women’s Suffrage, Wellesley College employed more female scientists than any other college in the US.

Students pursuing a pre-med track at Wellesley will be signing up for a top-notch and rigorous course load in the sciences. Even though students interested in pre-med can choose any major they wish, they are encouraged to take a vast array of upper-level science courses to prepare them for the difficulty of medical school.

Wellesley’s dedicated Health Professions Advising office works with students to ensure that they are progressing toward creating a notable medical school application to enter into the student’s medical school of choice.

By choosing to prepare for medical school at Wellesley College, a student is starting a track to become one of the highest-level candidates for any medical school program in the country. In fact, due to the rigor of Wellesley programs, medical school admissions committees frequently accept lower GPAs from candidates that graduated from Wellesley College.

Although very competitive, Wellesley College prides itself on offering financial assistance to most of its students. The US News & World Report ranked Wellesley the best women’s college in the country and 13th for the best value.

9. Amherst College (Amherst, MA)

Amherst College

Amherst College began as a private liberal arts college in 1821 and is the 3rd oldest higher education institution in Massachusetts. Throughout the years, Amherst College has been ranked as the best liberal arts college in the US by the US News & World Report 10 times.

Committing to a pre-med curriculum at Amherst College means spending time getting to know the field that students will one day work in.

Through the Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning , Amherst College students are provided opportunities to partner with a professional, often a former Amherst graduate, to learn about their career, and gain leadership and professional skills in their chosen path.

With this combination of professional expertise and internship opportunities, Amherst College students find themselves with advocates and professional relationships in the medical field before entering medical school.

Students going into pre-med at Amherst College not only come out with early practical experience, but the rigors of the academic course load have prepared students well for the MCAT. With around an 80% acceptance rate into medical school on the first round and 90% after reapplying.

8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT has made considerable contributions to nearly every field of science and technology in our world today. It is also known as the best technology institute for higher education in the world. With its long list of award-winning alumni, MIT has had 98 Nobel Prize laureates, 58 National Medal of Science recipients, and 41 astronauts walk through its doors.

Not only is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology a leading research institution, but it is also a school that prepares its students well for a career in the medical field. It may seem strange that MIT, a prestigious technical school, offers a pre-med track, but it is actually quite common and highly reputable.

Since MIT has built up quite a reputation, the network of partnerships available to students enrolled in pre-med is quite extensive. Students can spend their summers working among leaders in the medical industry on cutting-edge treatment practices.

One example is The 2022 Experiential Internship through AbbVie , which provides students a paid experience working with leading researchers in Precision Medicine.

MIT pre-med students can choose a major from a variety of scientific disciplines and take courses in a predetermined sequence better to prepare them for their transition into medical school.

MIT students created a comprehensive guide to ensure that their pre-med peers are prepared for the rigors of an MIT schedule.

7. Brandeis University (Waltham, MA)

Brandeis University

Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, Brandeis is a private research university named after Louis Brandeis , the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice. Brandeis has a high proportion of international students and a long list of notable alumni, including Eleanor Roosevelt , the former first lady and humanitarian.

Pre-Med students at Brandeis have a choice to major in one of the sciences offered at the school or to major in the Health: Science, Society, and Policy Program (HSSP) .

HSSP is a unique major that fulfills all of the requirements for pre-med students and prepares students for a career in a health-related field.

Even though pre-med students have majored in nearly every major the school has to offer, choosing HSSP can set students up with a support network that helps students gain community connections and first-hand experience in their chosen health field, all while following a structured pre-med course plan.

Brandeis University is highly recognized for offering high-quality science programs. The neuroscience and neurobiology programs at Brandeis were ranked number 2 in the nation by the National Research Council , which tied with both Yale and Johns Hopkins Universities.

6. Tufts University (Medford, MA)

Tufts University

Tufts University is one of the top research universities in the world and offers its students over 200 different degree programs at ten campuses located throughout the greater Boston area. The School of Medicine is located on the Boston campus adjacent to the Tufts Medical Center near Chinatown.

Since Tufts has both a Medical School and a Medical Center on campus, many pre-med students are in their undergraduate programs.

Students at Tufts may decide to apply to the Bachelor’s/MD Early-Assurance Program , where, if accepted, they are admitted into the Tufts Medical School without having to take the MCAT.

This assurance allows students more time to participate in areas of interest and internship opportunities with currently practicing medical professionals.

5. University of Massachusetts, Amherst (Amherst, MA)

UMass Amherst

The University of Massachusetts in Amherst has the largest university campus in Massachusetts and the second-largest student body.

UMass Amherst is a public research university that offers over 100 undergraduate degrees and over 70 master’s degrees.

Located on the beautiful UMass Amherst campus is a specific office that advises students who have chosen to go pre-med or pre-health.

No matter which health field a student is interested in pursuing, there is an established pre-med student group that will help build connections and answer questions while navigating the world of pre-med.

Because of the volume of pre-med students attending UMass Amherst, the school is well-suited for helping students build their medical school applications starting freshman year. The pre-med advising team and student support groups organize an abundance of medical training and volunteer activities.

The Summer Health Professions Education Program allows students to build powerful and professional relationships with leading medical experts in the field. The program places students in an immersive summer experience at one of several locations across the US.

4. Boston College (Newton, MA)

The campus of Boston College, located in Chestnut Hill, MA, is recognized as a US historic district and contains some of the earliest examples of gothic architecture in the US.

BC’s campus of 120 buildings is over 175 acres sitting on a hill that overlooks Chestnut Hill Reservoir. With old-growth trees and gothic-style buildings, students will feel like walking through time on the Boston College campus.

The Pre-Health Program at Boston College is one of the best to help prepare students for medical school.

With a designated office to provide support for students going into the medical field, the school offers resources for gaining health-related experience, extra-curricular activities, and support resources to prepare for the MCAT.

BC students will participate in internships, mock interviews, workshops, and research that prepares them specifically for what medical school admissions want to see.

They also have the opportunity to work with student groups and partnering organizations to maximize their experience out of the classroom.

Participating in the BC Student Global Health Group means having the opportunity to bring the skills students learn in the classroom to underserved populations.

In partnership with Timmy Global Health, students travel to Guatemala during the summer to work with local doctors and patients at a participating health clinic.

3. Northeastern University (Boston, MA)

Northeastern University

Located in the heart of Boston, Northeastern University is a top private research university. Northeastern offers its students to be a part of its cooperative education program, which partners students with thousands of industry leaders.

These partners are located worldwide and help students learn professional skills through first-hand experience in their field.

Northeastern University has made it its goal to be among the best pre-med programs in the country.

To achieve this, Northeastern create a tailored program for each student by combining their interests with their chosen field of study. Designated advisors help students every step of the way by ensuring that all boxes for medical school are checked from the day they enter campus.

Students to participate with community partners in a diverse range of health fields through their City and Community Engagement Program . Students gain powerful insight into their chosen career path and feel inspired by hands-on learning.

It is no wonder that graduates from Northeastern have a 73% acceptance rate into medical school on their first application.

2. Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)

Memorial Hall, Harvard University

Harvard is the oldest university in the United States and a world-renowned research institution.

This private, Ivy League school has had more Nobel Prize and Fields Medal winners graduate from it than any other higher education institution.

Being a pre-med student at Harvard means becoming a member of a long list of prestigious alumni to graduate from its specific Premedical Program .

Students enrolled in Harvard Pre-Med have access to specific advising and internships. Additionally, pupils have monthly meetings with an in-field professional through the Sponsorship Program .

1. Boston University (Boston, MA)

Boston University

One of the largest employers in the Boston area, Boston University has over 4,000 faculty members and is a leading research institution.

A pre-med student at Boston University has the opportunity to study in a bachelor’s degree path they choose, but with the aid of a designated pre-med advisor to help students take advantage of all BU has to offer potential medical students.

Students in the pre-med track at Boston University can choose to enter BU’s Early Assurance Program , which grants provisional admission into the Boston University School of Medicine. Another option is the Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program , in which students receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Sciences as well as a Doctor of Medicine in just seven years.

The Boston University Medical School is consistently ranked as one of the top medical schools .

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COMMENTS

Academic Preparation
Common Courses · 2 semesters of Biology with labs · 2 semesters of Chemistry with labs · 2 semesters of Physics with labs · 1 semester of Organic Chemistry with Lab
PreMed and PreHealth Advising
Common Coursework · Biology (two semesters) · General chemistry (two-semester sequence or a single-semester general chemistry course) · Organic chemistry (two-
How it Works: The PreMed Program at Northeastern
Discover all you need to know about the PreMed program at Northeastern—from how to get involved to how this program can set you up for
Program: Pre-Medical for OU
The Pre-Medical program is designed to meet the requirements for OU. A GPA of 3.0 or higher, average score of 7.0 or better on the MCAT, and a letter grade
Program: Pre-Medical for OSU
Minimum Requirements ; English 6-8 semester hours. ENGL 1113 - Freshman Composition I #; ENGL 1213 - Freshman Composition II # ; Biology 8-10 semester hours. ZOOL
Which school is better for premed, Northeastern or Vanderbilt?
The school does not really matter. I am going to give a good bit of advice here. I am applying to medical schools this summer and have learned a lot about
Northeastern University
Passport Admissions provides one-on-one admissions advising for students applying to medical school. All information about medical schools was collected from
Pre-Professional Advising
If you are a Northeastern Illinois University student who is planning to attend law school or a professional health program after graduation, the Director
The 10 Best Pre-Med Schools In Massachusetts
By choosing to prepare for medical school at Wellesley College, ... Located in the heart of Boston, Northeastern University is a top private
Alpha Epsilon Delta, The National Health Preprofessional Honor
Discover unique opportunities at Northeastern University! ... Our Chapter here at Northeastern includes undergraduate students on the pre-med, pre-PA