Departments & Programs
Special Programs
Pre-Professional Pathways
Preparation for a career in the graduate health professions (e.g., medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, et. al.) is a multi-dimensional task. One important aspect is intellectual and academic development—the college education. The preprofessional student is urged to select a degree program that is of greatest interest to them. There is no preprofessional major. Most graduate health profession careers depend upon daily use of science, so a strong science foundation is critical in the student’s preparation. These careers also require academic breadth and depth, so a balanced science/non-science curriculum is advised. While some health professional programs (dental, pharmacy, veterinary medicine) may not require an undergraduate degree for especially strong applicants, the vast majority of the successful applicants have an undergraduate degree. Having a bachelor’s degree provides the necessary background, and serves as a backup plan if the student does not matriculate to a professional program.
Students may choose from a variety of majors while completing preprofessional requirements. Students are encouraged to consult with prospective major academic advisor, as well as the pre-professional advisor in the PREPs Office (if enrolled in a School of Science degree program; if not, see the health professions advisor in the Health and Life Sciences Advising Center).
Post-baccalaureate students may choose to take prerequisite courses through the School of Science for entry into professional health programs. These students should consult with the pre-professional advisor for help with the admission process and course selection.
Professional health programs generally require specific prerequisite courses, a strong GPA, and in many cases and entrance exam. Due to application timelines for prerequisite course completion, pre-professional students may complete degree and prerequisite course requirements in ways that deviate from the degree map. Students are strongly encouraged to plan their academic schedule in consultation with both their academic advisor and pre-professional advisor.
In addition, relevant experience including shadowing in the field, volunteering and leadership activities, undergraduate research, and paid clinical experience may be required. Students should see a pre-professional advisor to discuss opportunities and resources to build professional development skills.
Prerequisite Coursework
Each professional health program may require specific prerequisite coursework of their applicants. Science and math prerequisites are generally required to be of the level required for a science major’s degree. Each program’s Admissions Office is responsible for determining what coursework is required and whether individual courses completed will be accepted, including whether the program accepts AP, IB, or community college coursework. Students are encouraged to consult with the programs of their choice prior to applying for confirmation.
The courses listed below represent the prerequisite courses for most programs in the field. Students should consult the programs to which they plan to apply for any school-specific requirements not listed below.
Pre-Anesthesiologist Assistant
|
Course Requirement |
IU Indianapolis Course |
|
One year introductory biology with labs |
BIOL-K 101 (or BIOL-K 102) and BIOL-K 103 |
|
One year introductory chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 105, CHEM-C 106, CHEM-C 125, and CHEM-C 126 |
|
One year organic chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 341, CHEM-C 342, CHEM-C 343, and CHEM-C 344 |
|
One year general physics with labs |
PHYS-P 201 and PHYS-P 202 or |
|
One semester human anatomy with lab |
BIOL-N 261 |
|
One semester human physiology with lab |
BIOL-N 217 |
|
One semester biochemistry |
BIOL-K 384 or CHEM-C 484 |
|
One semester calculus |
MATH-I 231 or MATH-I 165 |
|
One semester statistics (including descriptive and inferential) |
STAT-I 301 or STAT-I 350 or PSY-B 305 or BIOL-L 337 |
|
Two semesters of English composition |
ENG-W 131 and |
Pre-Dentistry
|
Course Requirement |
IU Indianapolis Course |
|
One year introductory biology with labs |
BIOL-K 101 (or BIOL-K 102) and BIOL-K 103 |
|
One year introductory chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 105, CHEM-C 106, CHEM-C 125, and CHEM-C 126 |
|
One year organic chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 341, CHEM-C 342, CHEM-C 343, and CHEM-C 344 |
|
One year general physics with labs |
PHYS-P 201 and PHYS-P 202 or |
|
One semester human anatomy with lab |
BIOL-N 261 |
|
One semester human physiology with lab |
BIOL-N 217 |
|
One semester biochemistry |
BIOL-K 384 or CHEM-C 484 |
|
One semester microbiology |
BIOL-K 356 |
|
Two semesters of English composition |
ENG-W 131 and |
|
One semester introductory behavioral sciences |
PSY-B 110 |
Pre-Genetic Counseling
|
Course Requirement |
IU Indianapolis Course |
|
One year introductory biology with labs |
BIOL-K 101 (or BIOL-K 102) and BIOL-K 103 |
|
One year introductory chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 105, CHEM-C 106, CHEM-C 125, and CHEM-C 126 |
|
One semester organic chemistry with lab |
CHEM-C 341 and CHEM-C 343 |
|
One year general physics with labs |
PHYS-P 201 and PHYS-P 202 or |
|
One semester genetics |
BIOL-K 322 |
|
One semester biochemistry |
BIOL-K 384 or CHEM-C 484 |
|
One semester statistics (including descriptive and inferential) |
STAT-I 301 or STAT-I 350 or PSY-B 305 or BIOL-L 337 |
|
One semester introductory behavioral sciences |
PSY-B 110 |
Pre-Medicine
|
Course Requirement |
IU Indianapolis Course |
|
One year introductory biology with labs |
BIOL-K 101 (or BIOL-K 102) and BIOL-K 103 |
|
One year introductory chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 105, CHEM-C 106, CHEM-C 125, and CHEM-C 126 |
|
One year organic chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 341, CHEM-C 342, CHEM-C 343, and CHEM-C 344 |
|
One year general physics with labs |
PHYS-P 201 and PHYS-P 202 or |
|
One semester biochemistry |
BIOL-K 384 or CHEM-C 484 |
|
One semester statistics (including descriptive and inferential) |
STAT-I 301 or STAT-I 350 or PSY-B 305 or BIOL-L 337 |
|
Two semesters of English composition |
ENG-W 131 and |
|
One semester introductory behavioral sciences |
PSY-B 110 |
|
One semester introductory social sciences |
SOC-R 100 |
Pre-Occupational Therapy
|
Course Requirement |
IU Indianapolis Course |
|
One semester human anatomy with labs |
BIOL-N 261 |
|
One semester human physiology with labs |
BIOL-N 217 |
|
One semester statistics (including descriptive and inferential) |
STAT-I 301 or STAT-I 350 or PSY-B 305 or BIOL-L 337 |
|
One semester introductory behavioral sciences |
PSY-B 110 |
|
One semester lifespan human development |
PSY-B 310 |
|
One semester abnormal psychology |
PSY-B 380 |
|
One semester introductory social sciences |
SOC-R 100 |
|
One semester medical terminology |
HIM-M 330 or CLAS-C 210 or MHHS-M 325 or RADI-R 108 |
Pre-Optometry
|
Course Requirement |
IU Indianapolis Course |
|
One year introductory biology with labs |
BIOL-K 101 (or BIOL-K 102) and BIOL-K 103 |
|
One year introductory chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 105, CHEM-C 106, CHEM-C 125, and CHEM-C 126 |
|
One semester organic chemistry with lab |
CHEM-C 341 and CHEM-C 343 |
|
One year general physics with labs |
PHYS-P 201 and PHYS-P 202 or |
|
One semester microbiology with lab |
BIOL-K 356 and BIOL-K 357 |
|
One semester biochemistry |
BIOL-K 384 or CHEM-C 484 |
|
One semester calculus |
MATH-I 231 or MATH-I 165 |
|
One semester statistics (including descriptive and inferential) |
STAT-I 301 or STAT-I 350 or PSY-B 305 or BIOL-L 337 |
|
Two semesters of English composition |
ENG-W 131 and |
|
One semester introductory behavioral sciences |
PSY-B 110 |
Pre-Pharmacy
|
Course Requirement |
IU Indianapolis Course |
|
One year introductory biology with labs |
BIOL-K 101 (or BIOL-K 102) and BIOL-K 103 |
|
One year introductory chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 105, CHEM-C 106, CHEM-C 125, and CHEM-C 126 |
|
One year organic chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 341, CHEM-C 342, CHEM-C 343, and CHEM-C 344 |
|
One semester general physics with lab |
PHYS-P 201 and PHYS-P 202 or |
|
One semester human anatomy with lab |
BIOL-N 261 |
|
One semester human physiology with lab |
BIOL-N 217 |
|
One semester upper-level biology (genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, or immunology) |
BIOL-K 322 or BIOL-K 324 or BIOL-K 338 |
|
One semester microbiology with lab |
BIOL-K 356 and BIOL-K 357 |
|
One semester biochemistry |
BIOL-K 384 or CHEM-C 484 |
|
One semester calculus |
MATH-I 231 or MATH-I 165 |
|
One semester statistics (including descriptive and inferential) |
STAT-I 301 or STAT-I 350 or PSY-B 305 or BIOL-L 337 |
|
Two semesters of English composition |
ENG-W 131 and |
|
One semester introductory social or behavioral sciences |
PSY-B 110 or SOC-R 100 |
|
One semester speech communication |
COMM-R 110 |
|
One semester economics |
ECON-E 201 or ECON-E 202 or ECON-E 101 |
Pre-Physical Therapy
|
Course Requirement |
IU Indianapolis Course |
|
One semester introductory biology with lab |
BIOL-K 101 (or BIOL-K 102) |
|
One year introductory chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 105, CHEM-C 106, CHEM-C 125, and CHEM-C 126 |
|
One year general physics with labs |
PHYS-P 201 and PHYS-P 202 or |
|
One semester human anatomy with lab |
BIOL-N 261 |
|
One semester human physiology with lab |
BIOL-N 217 |
|
One semester statistics (including descriptive and inferential) |
STAT-I 301 or STAT-I 350 or PSY-B 305 or BIOL-L 337 |
|
One semester introductory behavioral sciences |
PSY-B 110 |
|
One semester lifespan human development |
PSY-B 310 |
|
One semester medical terminology |
HIM-M 330 or CLAS-C 210 or MHHS-M 325 or RADI-R 108 |
Pre-Physician Assistant
|
Course Requirement |
IU Indianapolis Course |
|
One year introductory biology with labs |
BIOL-K 101 (or BIOL-K 102) and BIOL-K 103 |
|
One year introductory chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 105, CHEM-C 106, CHEM-C 125, and CHEM-C 126 |
|
One semester organic chemistry with lab |
CHEM-C 341 and CHEM-C 343 |
|
One semester human anatomy with lab |
BIOL-N 261 |
|
One semester human physiology with lab |
BIOL-N 217 |
|
One semester upper-level biology (genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, or immunology) |
BIOL-K 322 or BIOL-K 324 or BIOL-K 338 |
|
One semester microbiology with lab |
BIOL-K 356 and BIOL-K 357 |
|
One semester calculus |
MATH-I 231 or MATH-I 165 |
|
One semester statistics (including descriptive and inferential) |
STAT-I 301 or STAT-I 350 or PSY-B 305 or BIOL-L 337 |
|
One semester introductory behavioral sciences |
PSY-B 110 |
|
One semester additional social or behavioral sciences |
SOC-R 100 or any PSY-B course |
|
One semester medical terminology |
HIM-M 330 or CLAS-C 210 or MHHS-M 325 or RADI-R 108 |
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
|
Course Requirement |
IU Indianapolis Course |
|
One year introductory biology with labs |
BIOL-K 101 (or BIOL-K 102) and BIOL-K 103 |
|
One year introductory chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 105, CHEM-C 106, CHEM-C 125, and CHEM-C 126 |
|
One year organic chemistry with labs |
CHEM-C 341, CHEM-C 342, CHEM-C 343, and CHEM-C 344 |
|
One year general physics with labs |
PHYS-P 201 and PHYS-P 202 or |
|
One semester genetics |
BIOL-K 322 |
|
One semester microbiology with lab |
BIOL-K 356 and BIOL-K 357 |
|
One semester biochemistry |
BIOL-K 384 or CHEM-C 484 |
|
One semester statistics (including descriptive and inferential) |
STAT-I 301 or STAT-I 350 or PSY-B 305 or BIOL-L 337 |
|
One semester speech communication |
COMM-R 110 |
|
Three semesters humanities or social sciences |
varies |
