Students preparing for entrance to professional or graduate school in the health sciences can major either in an academic department or in the Health Sciences program. The advantage of majoring in Health Sciences is that it allows greater flexibility in course scheduling and a large number of elective course options.

For instance, a pre-med, pre-vet or pre-dent student can major in Health Sciences and still keep open the option to easily change his/her major to Biology or Chemistry (if he/she has Calculus) until the junior spring.

In addition to the flexibility for changing a major from Health Sciences to Biology or Chemistry, the fact that the majority of Health Sciences requirements are met by the end of the sophomore year allows a person enough time to take courses in another department, either as a double major or a concentration in another field. There have been a number of Health Sciences/Psychology, Health Sciences/Economics, and Health Sciences/Sociology majors. It should be noted that as long as an applicant to health professions schools meets the course requirements of the program, he/she may major in any area of study. One area is not preferable to another.

The Health Sciences major consists of a Core Curriculum plus one of several supplemental sequences. Each sequence is designed to meet admissions requirements of a particular type of professional school or graduate program. Grades of C or better must be earned in the Core Curriculum.

In addition, at least 4 more units in division II (with grades of C or better) are required. (Courses for non-science majors will not meet this 4-unit requirement.) In practice, the 4 units usually are specified by admissions requirements of professional schools. (See suggested cognate courses on the curriculum guide.) Since the major is interdepartmental, a student may not double major in Health Sciences/Biology or in Health Sciences/Chemistry.

The 22 academic units required by the College outside the major department are interpreted for majors in Health Sciences as being outside the department in which the Health Sciences major has the largest number of units.

Below is a typical pre-professional curriculum. It may vary depending on your chosen major and study abroad plans.

It is important to note that medical schools do not discriminate in favor of science majors. Although medical schools require a year each of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and English, an applicant may major in any area. It is desirable to follow the Health Sciences major through the freshman and sophomore years to complete the necessary sequential science cognates.

OPTION TO MAJOR IN CHEMISTRY

The freshman Health Sciences major who wishes to retain the option to major in Chemistry should take the following courses during the freshman year:

	BIOL 112
	CHEM 110 and 120
	MATH 112-113

OPTION TO MAJOR IN BIOLOGY

The freshman Health Sciences major who wishes to retain the option to major in Biology should take the following courses during the freshman year:

	BIOL 112 and 124
	CHEM 110 and 120

E-MAILING LIST AND WEB SITE

To receive important announcements and information about upcoming events, put yourself on the Health Sciences information e-mailing list by sending an e-mail to dkiino@kzoo.edu.

The Health Sciences web site is a valuable resource for our students. It contains links to many other health professions-related sites and is an important means of communication between the Health Sciences program and our students, containing course information, professional school applicant information and announcements.