The Pre-Health Curriculum: Beyond Math & Science

Posted on September 25, 2007
Filed Under Premedical Students

By Sneha Mantri
SDN Staff Writer

For any college student, finding interesting courses to fulfill graduation requirements can be a difficult task. For pre-health students, choices have historically been limited; humanities courses were often perceived as having little in common with the health professions.

Recently, however, undergraduate institutions have begun to reflect the general trend toward the integration—not the separation—of health and the humanities.

The AAMC report “Hot Topics in Medical Education” (http://services.aamc.org/currdir/sec…5hottopics.pdf) notes growing humanities instruction in allopathic medical schools. Of the 125 allopathic medical schools in the U.S., 124 require courses in medical ethics, 100 require medical socioeconomics, and 89 teach medical humanities to all students. Similar curriculum changes are taking place in all health professional schools. Additionally, health professional schools usually require a year’s study in English literature or composition before matriculation, and many recommend additional humanities courses.

In response to both these academic/professional trends and student demand, many universities now offer health-related non-science courses for undergraduates. Got questions about your options? This article will answer them.

Why should I bother taking another humanities class?
Taking non-science courses benefits you in three major ways. First, you are able to fill your university’s graduation requirements with subjects relevant to your career choice. You’ll be more motivated to study if you know you’ll be able to apply the information later. Secondly, you’ll have a chance to become familiar with some of the material you will learn during your professional education. As any student knows, professional school is much faster-paced than undergraduate education; familiarity with utilitarian ethics can mean more time to devote to anatomy.

Most importantly, extra humanities classes will introduce you to the many fields surrounding traditional health education. If you find a particular area especially interesting, you may be able to pursue that passion academically through required coursework, fourth-year electives, or research with a faculty mentor.

Be aware, however, that your non-science courses may or may not directly enhance your application to a health professional school. One admissions committee member warns that “students should avoid too much fluff, particularly all in one semester/quarter.” She notes that she rarely looks for specific courses outside the standard prerequisites, although another member of her committee “does like to see coursework beyond sciences and heritage language (e.g. taking classes in your parents’ or grandparents’ native tongue).” As with any class taken during your pre-professional education, non-science courses shouldn’t be GPA boosters but rather should mirror the academic rigor of the rest of your transcript.

What courses might help me in medical school and in my career?
Non-science courses geared toward pre-professional students often span traditional divisions between disciplines, so theoretically, your options are endless. In reality, however, you’ll likely only be able to take a few of these courses as an undergraduate, so it’s important that you choose according to your personal aptitude and career goals. For instance, if you are interested in global or international health, an anthropology class in cross-cultural communication can be a great way to learn about the field. Similarly, a first-year dental student at Virginia Commonwealth University recommends that pre-dental students take a course in sculpture to “help develop visual-spatial skills as well as dexterity.”

Some subjects are more widely applicable to all areas of health care. Advanced literature courses, for example, both enhance your ability to empathize by imagining another’s feelings and, as SDN advisor and attending physician oldbearprofessor notes, “teach you critical reading and writing skills that will be invaluable if you choose an academic career” within the health professions. Another option for all pre-health students is bioethics, a particularly well-established field with many universities even offering bachelor’s degrees in the subject.

Other courses may not be specifically tailored to future doctors, but their lessons can easily be applied to all the health professions. SDN administrator Sarah M. Lawrence says that given the reality that “healthcare IS a business,” an introductory course in economics or business could prove invaluable to pre-health students, especially those considering private practice. These areas provide an academic complement to the many of the issues faced by doctors today, such as insurance, overhead, and debt repayment. She also notes that an understanding of psychology, which focuses on interpersonal interactions, is useful for all doctors in their work with patients and, increasingly, on a multidisciplinary team of health care providers. Consider making these areas a part of your undergraduate education.

All right, you’ve convinced me. How do I find these courses?
If you can, talk to your pre-health advisor; they often know which departments offer classes designed for pre-health students. Experienced upperclassmen, your academic advisor, and other faculty mentors are also good sources of information about particular courses you are considering. Ask your friends in professional schools, and healthcare providers you know for advice. They can help you decide which courses will be most relevant to your future career.

When next semester’s course directory becomes available, look through all the courses, not just those in the department of your major. The subjects mentioned in this article can point you in the right direction, but they are by no means comprehensive. Cater to your academic and personal strengths as well as your health care career goals. Remember to look for academically rigorous coursework that demonstrates your ability to excel in multiple disciplines. And above all, use these courses to have fun exploring the so-called periphery of traditional health education.

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Comments

4 Responses to “The Pre-Health Curriculum: Beyond Math & Science”

  1. cecilia on October 1st, 2007 9:03 am

    hi my name is cecilia and I would like to ask you how can I get a schoolarship, Im studing medicine here in my countrie ecuador, Im going to start the last semester before the internate year, I have been reading a lot of imformation but I cant get a way to gain a scholarship for my carear and my year of study can yo help me?

  2. Laura Gonzales on January 17th, 2008 10:59 pm

    I have heard some conflicting informantion that I would like to see clarified. I have been told in the past that having medical experience and being an older student and a minority and a female all help with consideration for admission into to Medical School. Have you found in your experience any of this to be true and if so to what degree.

  3. jim on January 22nd, 2008 10:36 am

    Also, like when in high school, The ACT, the only section, you had to know to do good was the math part. The other sections you couldn’t really study a lot for.
    same way, what courses should i put a lot of emphasis in so that i can do excellent on the MCAT?
    what courses do i have to have before taking it? hope someone can help.

  4. -AJ on February 19th, 2008 6:42 pm

    contrary to the 3 hours of the ACT, the MCAT is bascially an entire work day. It focuses mainly on biology, chemistry, and physics. none of the material covered is overtly upper-level, but rather just tedious, and time consuming. making sure that you pay attention to the details and that kind of jazz. also, the questions are often based around readings or passages. hope that helps

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