Program Overview

Pre-Health Core Studies, Post-Baccalaureate Preparatory Program

The Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate Programs at the University of Pennsylvania are designed for driven students who want to distinguish themselves as competitive medical, dental, or veterinary school candidates. The Core Studies program is specifically for students with a limited science background.

Program Requirements

• The minimum total course units for program completion is 12.
• Core Studies students typically take general chemistry, introductory biology, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry.
• The general chemistry, introductory biology, organic chemistry, and physics sequences consist of two semesters and include corresponding lab courses, but an individual's learning plan may vary based upon their past academic history.
• All Core Studies students may take additional courses beyond the minimum requirement, with most students taking a total of 13 to 16 course units to achieve their goals.
• A breadth and depth of upper-level science courses are available to all Core Studies students to deepen their knowledge and preparation for medical, dental, or veterinary training.

Curriculum

The following courses are part of the Core Studies program:

• BIOL 1101: Introduction to Biology A (1.5 course units)
• BIOL 1102: Introduction to Biology B (1.5 course units)
• CHEM 1011: Introduction to General Chemistry I (1 course unit)
• CHEM 2451: Experimental Organic Chemistry A (0.5 course units)
• CHEM 2452: Experimental Organic Chemistry B (0.5 course units)
• CHEM 1021: Introduction to General Chemistry II (1 course unit)
• CHEM 2410: Principles of Organic Chemistry I (1 course unit)
• CHEM 2420: Principles of Organic Chemistry II (1 course unit)
• CHEM 1101: General Chemistry Laboratory I (0.5 course units)
• CHEM 1102: General Chemistry Laboratory II (0.5 course units)
• PHYS 0101: General Physics: Mechanics, Heat and Sound (1.5 course units)
• PHYS 0102: General Physics: Electromagnetism, Optics, and Modern Physics (1.5 course units)
• BIOL 2801: Essentials of Biochemistry (required for most students)

Additional Requirements for Pre-Vet and Pre-Dental Students

• Pre-vet and pre-dental students often require additional courses in cell biology, microbiology, physiology, and genetics as prerequisites.
• Pre-Health students may also apply up to 1 course unit of online Human Anatomy (ANAT) toward their program requirements.

Program Structure and Admission

• The basic science courses are time-intensive, and students are strongly discouraged from maintaining employment in any capacity while enrolled in the Core Studies program.
• The core courses are also math-intensive, and a minimum of a college-level pre-calculus course is required for admission.
• Students may attend the Core Studies program on a full-time or part-time basis, but all program requirements are expected to be completed within two years of matriculation.