Different health professions require different credentials, and sometimes that includes graduate or professional school.

While each specific graduate or professional school may have different requirements, we have created a list of UVM courses that fill the most common course recommendations for different health professions pathways. These lists can help guide you (and your academic advisor) in planning your academic path, but be sure to research the specific requirements of the programs that you plan to apply to.

General considerations:

AP Classes

Medical schools vary in their acceptance of AP credit. Consideration will only be given to AP credit that appears on the applicant’s college transcript, which can be arranged through the registrar's office. In general, students with AP credit in recommended science courses should plan to take an equivalent number of credits in that discipline in higher level coursework. Consult our list of recommended courses for additional advice regarding AP credits for mathematics, statistics, and social sciences.

Community College Coursework

Medical schools generally prefer that prerequisite / recommended courses be taken at a four-year college or university. Students transferring from community colleges after taking these courses, or others who have taken prerequisites at community colleges, should plan to take upper level courses in the same disciplines at UVM to demonstrate their science competency. A single community college course will not make a student ineligible for consideration. However, the candidate should be prepared to share the reasons for the coursework and be able to strongly demonstrate competency in the material through additional coursework taken and MCAT subset scores.

Summer Coursework

It is not ideal to take any of the science prerequisite/recommended courses during a summer term as admission committees like to see that science courses can be successfully managed as part of a rigorous course load during a normal fall / spring term at your home institution.

Study Abroad

Studying abroad is encouraged as it allows you to grow in unique ways and strengthen many of the  Core Competencies required in a career in healthcare. However, fitting this experience into your four year college curriculum requires advanced planning. There are many two-semester-sequence courses in the typical premedical or predental curriculum which can make the timing of your abroad experience more challenging. We strongly advise against taking any required/recommended premedical science or social science courses during the study abroad program as they may not be accepted by medical schools and may not prepare you as well for the MCAT.

 

Medicine

Allopathic medical school will prepare you for pursuing a career in a variety different specialties, from Anesthesiology to Neurology or Internal Medicine. Students intending to apply to medical school should consult UVM's Pre-Med website for additional information and application support.

Medicine Course Recommendations

 

Dentistry

Dental school prepares you for a career in general dentistry and can enable you to pursue a specialty in different aspects of oral, neck, head, and jaw health. Students intending to apply to dental school should consult UVM's Pre-Med website for additional information and application support.

Dentistry Course Recommendations

 

Physician Assistant / Physician Associate

From physician offices to hospitals and clinics, PAs are able to work in a range of different practice settings to diagnose and treat illnesses and diseases.

PA Course Recommendations

 

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapists support children with disabilities, people recovering from injuries and regaining their skills, and older adults navigating physical or cognitive changes. There are many direct entry masters-level and doctoral-level programs available to those who have completed a bachelor's degree in another discipline.

Occupational Therapy Course Recommendations

 

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists diagnose and treat patients of all ages who have injuries or health conditions that limit their movement and ability to perform functional activities. They care for patients in a wide range of settings, from hospitals to private practices, home health agencies, sports facilities, and more.

Physical Therapy Course Recommendations

 

Pharmacy

A Doctor of Pharmacy is a professional degree focused on the biology, chemistry, and physical properties of medicines. Pharmacists help patients safely obtain prescription medications, whether they are working in a retail pharmacy or on a hospital team.

Pharmacy Course Recommendations

 

Nursing

Students who are not studying nursing but wish to pursue a career as a Registered Nurse or a Nurse Practitioner should consider a direct entry accelerated Bachelors in Nursing or a direct entry accelerated graduate program, like a Master's of Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

Nursing Course Recommendations

 

Optometry

A Doctor of Optometry is a professional degree focused on the structures, functions, and disorders of the eye. Graduates will be prepared to pursue a career in optometry after meeting licensure requirements. Master's and PhD programs are typically geared towards research rather than practice.

Optometry Course Recommendations

 

Podiatric Medicine

A podiatrist is a medical doctor whose study and practice is focused on preventing, diagnosing, and treating foot disorders that result from injury or disease. They are specialists who must undergo significant study in related fields like surgey, orthopedics, dermatology, and rehabilitation so that they can treat a wide range of conditions.

Podiatric Medicine Course Recommendations

 

Chiropractic

Chiropractors are healthcare professionals whose goal is to correct alignment issues, relieve pain, and support the body's ability to heal itself. 

Chiropractic Course Recommendations

 

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic physicians are healthcare providers who diagnose and treat disease using holistic, preventive, and/or complementary medicine.

Naturopathic Medicine Couse Recommendations

 

The University of Vermont Career Center

 

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