Pre-Health

Saint Louis University's pre-professional health studies program prepares students for some of the most popular careers in health care. Advisors guide students through course registration, internships and letters of recommendation.

Curriculum Overview

Students are encouraged to take a balanced combination of natural science, language, social science, humanities and general liberal arts courses (15-18 credits per semester). The suggested selection of courses for beginning students is made on the basis of high school aptitude and achievement, as well as previous humanities and science courses.

Pre-health professions students are encouraged to acquire a strong background in the humanities and social sciences, selecting courses in which the development of communication skills and verbal reasoning are encouraged, as these skills are stressed in the admission selection process by professional schools. Students are also encouraged to complete an internship and/or shadow practitioners to gain firsthand experience in a health care setting.

Pre-health students apply to professional schools one year in advance of the expected date of matriculation. Within the first three years, the student must complete the following required courses in basic sciences that satisfy the majority of medical and other professional schools.

Students completing the minimum pre-health curriculum are better prepared to take the appropriate admission test as part of the application process for professional school.

Students are encouraged to take at least three upper-division biology or chemistry courses.

Students should also be aware of the updated MCAT. New and expanded content includes biochemistry, psychology, sociology and research/research methodology.

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