Pre-Professional Guides
Pre-Medicine
Advisor: Dr. Robert Crackel
Pre-medicine is not a major, it is a program of study which prepares a student to apply to medical school. Although some medical schools require only three years of undergraduate work, the majority prefer that the entering student have a bachelor’s degree. The University of North Dakota (UND) Medical School (and most others) does not specify a particular academic major prospective students should pursue, but requires a particular core of coursework is completed. Prospective university medical students are strongly urged to declare a major area of study and to pursue a degree program at the baccalaureate level. The philosophy of education, required pre-medicine courses, and systems of training vary among the medical schools. All recognize the desirability of a broad education, a good foundation in the natural sciences (mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics), highly developed communication skills, and a solid background in the social sciences and humanities. At the UND School of Medicine the suggested minimum preparatory coursework includes:
| BIOL 150 & BIOL 151 | General Biology I and General Biology II | 8 |
| CHEM 121 & CHEM 122 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | 10 |
| CHEM 341 & CHEM 342 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II | 10 |
| CHEM 481 & CHEM 482 | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry II | 6 |
| ENGL 110 & ENGL 120 | College Composition I and College Composition II | 6 |
| MATH 103 | College Algebra | 4 |
| PHYS 211 & PHYS 212 | College Physics I and College Physics II | 8 |
| PSY 111 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 110 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| One or two upper level Biology courses emphasizing concepts applicable to human biology. | ||
| An upper level intensive-writing course | ||
| Total Hours | 58 | |
Other medical schools have similar requirements but their catalogs should be consulted. It is recommended that pre-med students at Minot State take more than the minimum requirements. Serious students should, in addition, consider courses such as:
| BIOL 202 | Introductory Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 220 & BIOL 221 | Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II | 8 |
| BIOL 215 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 335 | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 440 | Pre-Med Practicum | 3 |
| CHEM 480L | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| MATH 210 | Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| Total Hours | 29 | |
Pre-med students are also encouraged to take part in an undergraduate research project while at Minot State. High school students wishing to follow a pre-med track as an undergraduate should take at least one year each of biology, chemistry, and physics, and two or more years of math while in high school in order to be prepared for college coursework.
Non-degree advising: Pre-Medicine
| Freshman | Hours |
|---|---|
| CHEM 121 | 5 |
| CHEM 122 | 5 |
| ENGL 110 | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | 3 |
| MATH 103 | 4 |
| BIOL 150 | 4 |
| BIOL 151 | 4 |
| 28 | |
| Sophomore | Hours |
| CHEM 341 | 5 |
| CHEM 342 | 5 |
| COMM 110 | 3 |
| BIOL 202 | 4 |
| BIOL 215 | 4 |
| PSY 111 | 3 |
| 24 | |
| Junior | Hours |
| PHYS 211 | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | 4 |
| CHEM 481 | 3 |
| CHEM 482 | 3 |
| MATH 210 | 4 |
| BIOL 220 | 4 |
| BIOL 440 | 3 |
| 25 | |
| Total Hours: 77 | |
This is a non-degree program. General Education categories are shown for appropriate courses for information only. There is no requirement that these students complete the MSU General Education requirements, nor is there any requirement that they earn 120 cr.
Pre-Optometry
Advisors: Dr. Robert Crackel
Admission to a college of optometry requires a high school diploma and two to four years of study at an accredited college or university. Most students accepted to colleges of optometry have completed three years of college and a large percentage have bachelor’s degrees. In high school the students should take at least one year of biology, chemistry, and physics, and should take as much mathematics as possible, including algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. The curriculum at the University will depend on the individual student’s interest and the college of optometry where the student plans to apply. Each student will take a minimum of one year of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and English. Students planning to seek tuition support from North Dakota for out of state schools should notify both the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education and their University advisor.
Non-degree advising: Pre-Optometry
| Freshman | Hours |
|---|---|
| CHEM 121 (& CHEM 121L) | 5 |
| CHEM 122 (& CHEM 122L) | 5 |
| BIOL 150 | 4 |
| BIOL 202 | 4 |
| ENGL 110 | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | 3 |
| MATH 103 | 4 |
| MATH 107 | 4 |
| 32 | |
| Sophomore | Hours |
| BIOL 220 | 4 |
| BIOL 221 | 4 |
| CHEM 341 | 5 |
| CHEM 342 | 5 |
| PHYS 211 | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | 4 |
| MATH 165 | 4 |
| COMM 110 | 3 |
| PSY 111 | 3 |
| 36 | |
| Total Hours: 68 | |
This is a non-degree program. General Education categories are shown for appropriate courses for information only. There is no requirement that these students complete the MSU General Education requirements, nor is there any requirement that they earn 120 cr.
Pre-Pharmacy
Advisors: Dr. Robert Crackel, Dr. Mikhail Bobylev
The majority of colleges of pharmacy require students to have a minimum of two years of study at an accredited college or university prior to admission. An increasing number of pharmacy colleges are requiring a four-year degree for admission. The Pre-Pharmacy program at Minot State is designed to meet the interests of students as well as to satisfy the entrance requirements for the particular pharmacy school. Admission into a school of pharmacy is on a competitive basis. The criteria for admission include grade point average (especially in the sciences), performance on the pharmacy collage admission test (PCAT), and relevant experience in the field of pharmacy. The only school of pharmacy in North Dakota is at North Dakota State University. Courses that satisfy the Pre-Pharmacy curriculum at NDSU include Microbiology, General Biology I and II, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, Biochemistry I and II, Microeconomics, College Composition I and II, Applied Calculus, Statistics, Physics I, Fundamentals of Public Speaking, and a course in Science Writing. Other pharmacy schools have similar requirements but their catalogs should be consulted. It is recommended that pre-pharmacy students at Minot State take more than the minimum requirements.
Non-degree advising: Pre-Pharmacy
| Freshman | Hours |
|---|---|
| CHEM 121 | 5 |
| CHEM 122 | 5 |
| BIOL 150 | 4 |
| BIOL 151 | 4 |
| ENGL 110 | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | 3 |
| MATH 146 | 3 |
| 27 | |
| Sophomore | Hours |
| BIOL 220 | 4 |
| BIOL 221 | 4 |
| CHEM 341 | 5 |
| CHEM 342 | 5 |
| PHYS 211 | 4 |
| COMM 110 | 3 |
| ECON 201 | 3 |
| MATH 210 | 4 |
| 32 | |
| Junior | Hours |
| BIOL 302 | 4 |
| ENGL 315 | 3 |
| CHEM 481 | 3 |
| CHEM 482 | 3 |
| 13 | |
| Total Hours: 72 | |
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Advisor: Dr. Robert Crackel
It is suggested that students interested in applying to veterinary school pursue a degree in one of the sciences and take specific courses to meet admission requirements. Note that admission to veterinary school is highly competitive. Students planning to seek tuition support from the state of North Dakota should notify both the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education Office and their advisor. Although specific requirements vary, the following list of Minot State courses based on the University of Minnesota list is typical:
| CHEM 121 & CHEM 122 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | 10 |
| CHEM 341 & CHEM 342 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II | 10 |
| CHEM 481 & CHEM 482 | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry II | 6 |
| BIOL 215 | Genetics | 4 |
| PHYS 211 & PHYS 212 | College Physics I and College Physics II | 8 |
| MATH 103 | College Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 210 | Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | College Composition II | 3 |
| BIOL 150 | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIOL 151 | General Biology II | 4 |
Non-degree advising: Pre-Veterinary Medicine
| Freshman | Hours |
|---|---|
| CHEM 121 | 5 |
| CHEM 122 | 5 |
| BIOL 150 | 4 |
| BIOL 151 | 4 |
| MATH 103 | 4 |
| ENGL 110 | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | 3 |
| 28 | |
| Sophomore | Hours |
| CHEM 341 | 5 |
| CHEM 342 | 5 |
| BIOL 202 | 4 |
| BIOL 215 | 4 |
| MATH 210 | 4 |
| 22 | |
| Junior | Hours |
| CHEM 481 | 3 |
| CHEM 482 | 3 |
| PHYS 211 | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | 4 |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours: 64 | |
This is a non-degree program. General Education categories are shown for appropriate courses for information only. There is no requirement that these students complete the Minot State General Education requirements, nor is there any requirement that they earn 120 cr.