Pre-Professional Advisement, Health Professions

Pre-health professional students may select any major in the sciences or humanities provided they include the courses required by the professional schools and they do not exceed university unit limits. Requirements to enter each of the health professions can be found at:

• Allopathic Medicine
• Chiropractic Medicine
• Dentistry
• Naturopathic Medicine
• Optometry
• Osteopathic Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Physician Assistant
• Podiatry
• Veterinary Medicine

Competition for entrance into the health professional schools is intense. Students are encouraged to seek the advice of CSUN’s pre-health advisor (located in CR 5104) early in their enrollment at the University regarding proper preparation for health profession schools. Preparation in the sciences should begin in the freshman year.

Pre-Medicine

There is no specific pre-medical major at CSUN, but most students accepted into medical school have majored in Biology. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required, and nearly all students admitted to medical school have a baccalaureate degree. A suggested pre-medical curriculum is given below. For specific information, consult CSUN’s pre-health advisor and study the online databases Medical School Admission Requirements, maintained by the Association of American Medical Colleges, and ChooseDO Explorer, maintained by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

Pre-Medical (Allopathic and Osteopathic) Curriculum

The courses listed below are the minimum requirements for most medical schools. Students are advised to take the Chemistry Placement Test (CPT) before registration, so that courses at the appropriate level can be selected. To enroll in the listed math and science courses, appropriate prerequisites may be required. Check catalog course descriptions for prerequisites.

• BIOL 106/BIOL 106L Biological Principles I and Lab (3/1)
• BIOL 107/BIOL 107L Biological Principles II and Lab (3/1)
• BIOL 380 Cell Biology (3)
• CHEM 101/CHEM 101D/CHEM 101L General Chemistry I and Discussion and Lab (3/1/1)
• CHEM 102/CHEM 102D/CHEM 102L General Chemistry II and Discussion and Lab (3/1/1)
• CHEM 333/L Organic Chemistry I and Lab (3/1) and CHEM 333D Problem Solving in Organic Chemistry I (1)
• CHEM 334/L Organic Chemistry II (3/1)
• CHEM 464 Principles of Biochemistry (3)
• MATH 105 Pre-Calculus II (4) or MATH 106 Mathematical Foundations for Non-Calculus Physics (5)
• MATH 140 Introductory Statistics (4)
• PHYS 100A/PHYS 100AL General Physics I and Lab (3/1)
• PHYS 100B/PHYS 100BL General Physics II and Lab (3/1)
• PSY 150 Introduction to Psychology (3)
• SOC 150 Introductory Sociology (3)
• Two semesters of writing courses (6)

Factors considered by admissions committees reviewing applicants for admission include GPAs, MCAT score(s), clinical experience in the medical field, research, recommendations from faculty members and supervisors, community service experience and interviews with applicants.

Pre-Dentistry

There is no specific pre-dental major at CSUN, but most students accepted into dental school have majored in Biology. The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is required, and nearly all students admitted to dental school have a baccalaureate degree. For specific information, consult CSUN’s pre-health advisor, and study the online database ADEA Dental School Explorer, maintained by the American Dental Association.

Pre-Dental Curriculum

The courses listed below are the minimum requirements for most dental schools. Students are advised to take the Chemistry Placement Test (CPT) before registration, so that courses at the appropriate level can be selected. To enroll in the listed science courses, appropriate prerequisites may be required. Check catalog course descriptions for prerequisites.

• BIOL 106/BIOL 106L Biological Principles I and Lab (3/1)
• BIOL 107/BIOL 107L Biological Principles II and Lab (3/1)
• CHEM 101/CHEM 101D/CHEM 101L General Chemistry I and Discussion and Lab (3/1/1)
• CHEM 102/CHEM 102D/CHEM 102L General Chemistry II and Discussion and Lab (3/1/1)
• CHEM 333/L Organic Chemistry I and Lab (3/1) and CHEM 333D Problem Solving in Organic Chemistry I (1)
• CHEM 334/L Organic Chemistry II and Lab (3/1)
• CHEM 464 Principles of Biochemistry (3)
• MATH 105 Pre-Calculus II (4) or MATH 106 Mathematical Foundations for Non-Calculus Physics (5)
• PHYS 100A/PHYS 100 AL General Physics I (3/1)
• PHYS 100B/PHYS 100BL General Physics II and Lab (3/1)
• PSY 150 Introduction to Psychology (3)
• Two semesters of writing courses

Many schools recommend or require additional courses (e.g., Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology). Dental schools vary with respect to math requirements. Very few schools require Calculus, although Pre-Calculus is the minimum requirement to enroll in Physics. A broad exposure to the arts and humanities is encouraged.

Factors considered by admissions committees reviewing applicants for admission include GPAs, DAT score(s), clinical experience in the dental field, research, recommendations from faculty members and supervisors, community service experience and interviews with applicants.

Pre-Nursing

CSUN does not currently have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree for first-time freshmen or transfer students who are not admitted to an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. Undergraduates at CSUN have several options for becoming a nurse, including taking required Nursing prerequisite courses and then applying to an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at a Community College, transferring to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at another university, or finishing a non-Nursing degree at CSUN and then applying to an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (A-BSN) program.

Department of Nursing
Jacaranda Hall 2210
(818) 677-5739

Other Health Professions Careers

Students interested in careers in Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Optometry, Physician Assistant studies, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Genetic Counseling, Podiatry, Chiropractic or Naturopathic Medicine should refer to the links listed above and consult with CSUN’s Pre-Health Advisor in Chaparral Hall (CR) 5104 for specific admissions information and pre-health curriculum lists.