Academics

Students can prepare for entrance into medical, dental, veterinary, medical technology, physical therapy, and other health-related programs by entering one of the pre-medical arts programs of the College of Arts and Sciences at Valparaiso University. Students in these programs must have their schedules approved each semester by an assigned pre-medical arts academic advisor, all of whom are members of the committee on the pre-medical arts. All recommendations to the professional schools are sent out by this committee.

In some fields, such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine, completion of a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science is often required before admission to a professional school. However, if three years or less of college work are needed for entrance into a professional program, a student may earn a bachelor’s degree through the University’s Combined Liberal Arts-Medical Arts program. This involves three years of work at Valparaiso University and one year of work at an approved professional school. This program is often used by students in medical technology.

The commonly/generally accepted course work requirements for medical school admission include a minimum of one year of:

• General biology with lab
• Physics with lab
• General chemistry (inorganic chemistry) with lab
• Organic chemistry with lab
• English

In additional to a minimum of one semester of:

• Biochemistry
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Calculus

Some medical schools do not take AP credit, but that’s extremely variable (Harvard, for example, won’t take AP Biology credit but will take some AP Calculus credit.) Other schools have specific requirements for a course in statistics (Wisconsin) or additional courses in general psychology and sociology (Illinois). Check with the schools or academic advisor about these additional courses. When planning to complete pre-medical course work after receiving an undergraduate degree, students take these courses at nearly any four-year college.

Medical school admissions are competitive, so a strong GPA is essential. A GPA above 3.5 is usually required. A GPA below 3.5 usually raises a red flag for admission committees.

Students who want to enter allied health fields, which require two years or less of college preparation, may want to earn an associate of science.

Pre-medical students are strongly encouraged to get a taste of professional practice by participating in a supervised Health Care Professional Apprenticeship, for which credit can be obtained by registering for GS 394. Further information is available in the Valparaiso University general catalog and from pre-medical arts mentors.