Premedical Sciences and Health Professions Programs

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Premedical Sciences and Health Professions Programs

Contact Information

Phone: 401.865.1989
Fax: 401.865.1438
Location: Sowa Hall 235

The Faculty

Assistant Professor

Lynne M. Lawson, Ph.D., Advisor for the Health Professions

The Program

The Health Professions Advisory Program assists students in preprofessional preparation for careers in the medical sciences including medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, physician assistant, physical therapy, advance practice nursing, pharmacy, public health, and other health professions. Because each of the medical sciences professions requires specific preparation, students must work closely with the advisor for the health professions to plan a suitable program of study. This generally involves selection of an appropriate major, required courses, internships, and volunteer service opportunities in the health professions.

Admission to most health professions schools is extremely competitive, requiring strong academic performance, satisfactory scores on standardized admissions tests (e.g. MCAT, DAT, GRE, etc.), and evidence of leadership, service, and a working knowledge of the health professions.

Academic preparation for medical or dental school generally includes a minimum of two semesters each of general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus, general physics, and English. In addition, many medical and dental schools strongly recommend or require biochemistry, advanced biology electives, and other specific courses. 

While there is no “premed” major, most premedical sciences students complete one of the following majors:

B.S. degree in biology
B.A. degree in chemistry, premedical/dental option
B.S. degree in biochemistry

However, with careful planning, a student also may complete the premedical sciences coursework in combination with a liberal arts major.

The Courses

Required for Medical and Dental School Admission

BIO 103 - General Biology I  4 Credits
BIO 104 - General Biology II  4 Credits
CHM 101 - General Chemistry  4 Credits
CHM 102 - General Chemistry  4 Credits

       OR

CHM 121 - Introductory Chemistry  4 Credits
CHM 122 - Introductory Chemistry  4 Credits
CHM 201 - Organic Chemistry  4 Credits
CHM 202 - Organic Chemistry  4 Credits

       OR

CHM 221 - Organic Chemistry  I 4 Credits
CHM 222 - Organic Chemistry  II 4 Credits
MTH 109 - Calculus I  3 Credits
MTH 110 - Calculus II  3 Credits

       OR

MTH 131 - Calculus and Analytical Geometry I  3 Credits
MTH 132 - Calculus and Analytical Geometry II  3 Credits
EPS 101 - General Physics I  3 Credits
EPS 102 - General Physics II  3 Credits
English 6 Credits (DWC + 3 Credit English)

Recommended for Medical and Dental School Admission

CHM 309 - Biochemistry I  3 Credits
BIO 405 - Physiology  4 Credits
BIO 407 - Microbiology  4 Credits

Other Advanced Electives

BIO 215 - Histology and Cytology  4 Credits
BIO 308 - Modern Genetics  4 Credits
BIO 407 - Microbiology  4 Credits
BIO 416 - Immunology  4 Credits
MTH 217 - Introduction to Statistics  3 Credits
MTH 218 - Biostatistics  3 Credits

Requirements for Other Health Professions

Providence College students also may successfully prepare for admission to other health professions schools such as veterinary medicine, optometry, advance practice nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, pharmacy, public health, and others. Each has profession and school specific academic requirements which require careful planning during the undergraduate years. These students work closely with the advisor for the health professions to insure that the appropriate prerequisites are completed prior to application to these professional schools.

Professional School Affiliations

For information about the professional school affiliations with Providence College, students should contact the advisor for the health professions.

Brown University Alpert Medical School Early Identification Program (EIP)

The Early Identification Program (EIP) is a cooperative venture between Alpert Medical School and Providence College. The program provides selected students a place in the medical school following the student’s graduation. Invitations to apply for the EIP are made by the Providence College advisor for the health professions based on a student’s undergraduate performance. Acceptances are offered by Alpert Medical School. Rhode Island residents currently enrolled in the sophomore year are eligible to be considered for the EIP. Rhode Island students who are interested should notify the advisor for the health professions prior to the beginning of their third semester at Providence College.

Once accepted to participate in the EIP, formal acceptance to the medical school is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress as evidenced by a grade point average of 3.0 or better, attainment of competence in the sciences basic to medicine, a senior-year recommendation from the advisor for the health professions, and documented verification of the student’s complete academic record, including completion of requirements for the baccalaureate degree.

Combined Degree Program with New England College of Optometry

This program provides a unique educational opportunity for the highly motivated student with a professional goal in optometry. It allows for completion of the B.A. or B.S. degree in biology and the O.D. (doctor of optometry) degree in seven years rather than the usual eight.

The first three years at Providence College offer a blend of liberal arts, and basic and biological sciences, which will prepare the student for professional study. The four years at the New England College of Optometry (NECO) provide the course work required to complete the Providence College baccalaureate degree in biology (see the sequence of courses listed under biology), as well as the professional training required for the doctoral degree in optometry.

The combined program is designed for the academically outstanding student who has a strong and realistic motivation toward the optometric profession. Applicants must be superior high school students, especially in math and science, with acceptable SAT or ACT scores. Applicants will be interviewed by representatives of Providence College and The New England College of Optometry.

Simmons College School of Health Sciences Direct Entry Nursing Program

The affiliation provides preferred admission to the Simmons School of Health Sciences direct entry graduate nursing program for up to five qualified Providence College students annually.  Eligibility for preferred admission includes completion of seven prerequisite courses (1 semester each of: General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Human Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, all with labs; Statistics, and Developmental Psychology/SWK 253: Human Behavior through the Lifespan), a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.3.  Simmons will waive the application fee for eligible students who apply for preferred admission.  Candidates who earn a 3.5 GPA in the prerequisites and overall will receive a Simmons Dean’s Scholarship.

Johnson and Wales University Center for Physician Assistant Studies Program

This affiliation provides preferred admission to up to six qualified Providence College students each year. Students must complete eleven prerequisite courses in all, ten of which must be completed by December of the year they apply. These courses are: Human Anatomy, Physiology, eight credits of General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, eight credits of Biology, three credits of math, six credits of behavioral science, and six credits of English (satisfied through our core curriculum.) Eligible students must have a GPA of 3.30 or higher both overall and for prerequisite courses. In addition, students must meet additional requirements for admission into the program, including 250 hours of direct patient contact hours and PA shadowing hours. Qualified candidates who apply through the affiliation agreement are guaranteed an admissions interview.

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