Premedicine

Newark College of Arts and Sciences does not offer a premedicine major. Students interested in attending medical school (allopathic, osteopathic, or naturopathic), as well as those interested in attending dentistry, podiatry, optometry, or veterinary schools, instead are able to major in any subject offered by the college, including nonsciences, with the provision that the core courses listed below are completed successfully.

Schools for the health professions typically expect applicants to have superior scholastic records. Competition for admission is intense. Schools weigh not only grades, but also scores on the appropriate standardized entrance examination, the college letter of recommendation, records of extracurricular activities, and seriousness of intent. Students who do not achieve a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average by the conclusion of the first year are strongly urged to meet with a prehealth adviser to discuss alternative career plans within or outside of the health field.

Prerequisites

Medical schools require the successful completion of specific science courses in addition to basic undergraduate coursework. The prerequisites should be completed by the end of the third year, with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average, and in advance of the nationwide standardized examinations for the health professions. Schools generally require, at minimum, the following subjects:

21:120:200  Concepts of Biology (4)

21:120:201-202  Foundations of Biology: Cell and Molecular with laboratory (4)

21:120:205-206  Foundations of Biology: Ecology and Evolution with laboratory (4)

21:120:360  Biochemistry (3)

21:160-113-114  General Chemistry Laboratory (1,1)

21:160:115-116  General Chemistry (4,4)

21:160:331  Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2)

21:160:335-336  Organic Chemistry (4,4)

21:640:135  Calculus (3)

21:750:203-204  General Physics (3,3) or 21:750:213-214  Elements of Physics (3,3)

21:750:205-206  Introductory Physics Laboratory (1,1)

21:830:101-102  Psychology (3)

21:920:201  Sociology (3)

Since medical school requirements are subject to change, students should consult individual schools for information. Ethics, logic, or other specific courses are sometimes required, and upper-level courses in the sciences are strongly encouraged.

All students interested in pursuing a prehealth preparatory track should plan to complete Concepts of Biology, Precalculus, and perhaps Calculus during their first year and should complete General Physics or University Physics by the end of their third year. Those entering with a strong background in mathematics and the natural sciences may want to take General Chemistry also during their first year and Organic Chemistry during their second. Those with an average background in mathematics and the natural sciences should take General Chemistry during their second year and Organic Chemistry in the third year.

Standardized Tests

Schools in the health professions require applicants to submit scores from nationwide standardized examinations. Interested students should plan to take the examination appropriate for their career goals prior to their senior year and are advised to complete the prerequisites outlined above prior to standing for examination. Please take into consideration that the prerequisites may vary based on the professional school you intend to apply to. Different examinations are required for application to different kinds of schools:

Dental Schools: Dental Admissions Test (DAT)

Optometry Schools: Optometry Admissions Test (OAT)

Veterinary Schools: Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT), Graduate Record Exam (GRE), or Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

Advising

For more information on premedicine/other health professions, how to open a Health Professions File, or the contact information for the prehealth advisers, please visit: https://sasn.rutgers.edu/student-support/current-students/pre-professional-programs/pre-health.