This document is one in a series which provides basic information about mainline health professions and the Premedical Office at Xavier.

What majors do medical, dental, and other health professions schools require? None!! Medical and other health professions schools do not care what your major was in college as long as you take the certain basic requirements. Those requirements are discussed in more detail in #5 of this series.

What majors do we recommend for students interested in medicine, dentistry, and other health professions at Xavier? Biology-Premed, Psychology-Premed, or Chemistry-Premed!!

Why do XU's Premedical Advisers recommend that XU students interested in medical or dental school major in Biology-Premed, Psychology-Premed, or Chemistry-Premed? There are six factors a premedical student at Xavier must consider when choosing a major. They are...

XU students must take over fifty (50) hours of core requirements in the liberal arts and sciences in order to graduate so that they are well-rounded and can function in today's complex world. FYI, the majority of the hours in the required core are outside of mathematics and science. XU requires that a student have both a major and a minor to graduate—a good idea since it gives more options when looking for a job if you don't get into medical or dental school. Premedical students at any school are advised to make certain that the curriculum in which they enroll provides a degree in a real discipline (such as Biology or Chemistry or English) rather than only a "prep" degree such as "Premed" so that they have more options if they change their mind or do not get into medical, dental, etc. school. The Biology-Premed, Psychology-Premed, and the Chemistry-Premed degrees at Xavier offer real degrees in Biology, Psychology, and Chemistry, respectively. Essentially all medical, dental, etc. schools require that you complete one year of biology with lab, one year of general chemistry with lab, one year of organic chemistry with lab, one year of physics with lab, and one year of college math in order to apply. Since many schools now require a course in statistics, you should take statistics as an elective if it is not a requirement for your degree program. Since you must apply to medical or dental school at the end of your Junior year in college, you have to take these 40 semester hours of courses during your first three years of college. Medical and dental schools are extremely rigorous. The first year is particularly tough. First-year students are asked to carry about twice the load typical of undergraduate students. Past experience at XU has shown that students who take Comparative Anatomy, Histology, Anatomy and Physiology, Embryology, and Biochemistry while at Xavier are less likely to have trouble during the tough first year of medical/dental school. Therefore, students are strongly recommended to take at least 3 of these 5 courses before graduation. NOTE: In addition to the basic minimum required courses, medical, dental, etc. schools may REQUIRE additional courses. Students should periodically review the entrance requirements for each health professions school to which they are interested in applying to make certain that all course requirements are being met. The average student gaining admission into medical school, dental, etc. school has GOOD GRADES (about 3.5 or better) and has graduated from college in four years. Students who do not fit into this mold may have more difficulty in gaining entry than those who do (unless they have a very good reason for not doing so). Therefore, premedical students are encouraged to spread their course requirements out evenly so they can keep their grades up AND try to graduate in four years.

Now back to the question at hand, "Why should students at Xavier interested in medicine or dentistry seriously consider majoring in Biology-Premed, Psychology-Premed, or Chemistry-Premed?" ...Because these are the only three majors which allow you to graduate in four years while balancing all six of the above!!!

When should students at Xavier interested in medicine, dentistry, etc. schedule the courses which are required for entry into medical school AND those which XU's Premedical Office recommends? Students interested in medical, dental, etc. school should complete the basic minimum 40 hours of required science classes (1 year of General Biology with lab, 1 year of General Chemistry with lab, 1 year of Organic Chemistry with lab, 1 year of Physics with lab, and one year of college mathematics---statistics is a must) by the end of the Spring term of their Junior year so they can take the MCAT, DAT, etc. in April or May. Further, since some of the required math/science courses are prerequisites for others, it is extremely important that students begin to take the required courses during their freshman year at the University. Students at Xavier who are in one of the majors specifically designed for students interested in the health professions (Biology-Premed, Psychology-Premed, or Chemistry-Premed) will automatically complete the courses on time if they follow the curriculum in XU's catalog. Those who opt to major in other disciplines must make certain that their academic advisers place them into the required courses at the appropriate time. Go to http://www.xula.edu/catalog/index.php to view the most recent version of XU's catalog.

What would a student in Biology-Premed, Psychology-Premed, or Chemistry-Premed do if they are not accepted into medical, dental, etc. school? (i.e. Are the degrees worth anything if a student doesn't get accepted or changes his/her mind?) Although we at Xavier label these degrees as "premed" because they are specifically designed for students interested in gaining entry into medical, dental, etc. school, students who graduate in those fields have REAL degrees in Biology, Psychology, or Chemistry. That is, Xavier does not have a separate "premed" degree but rather degree programs within departments which provide a broad background in the liberal arts and a degree in a subject area AS WELL AS the basic requirements for entry into medical or dental school. Thus, students in these majors would be prepared to enter professional school, graduate school, or the work force just like other students who obtain majors from XU's Biology, Psychology, or Chemistry Departments.

Additional information regarding requirements for entry into schools of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, etc. may be obtained from the individuals schools or by referring to admissions requirement publications available in the Premedical Office.