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Pre-Professional Medical

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Academic Programs

Associate in Science Degree with a Concentration in Pre-Professional Medical (510)

 

This concentration in preprofessional medical outlines the basic lower-level courses required by medical, chiropractic, dental, optometry, veterinary, and pharmacy schools. Students prepare for admission to a professional school by completing required math and science courses in a bachelor’s degree such as biology, chemistry, psychology or a related program.

The associate in science (A.S.) degree is designed to complete the lower-division (freshman and sophomore) portion of a bachelor of science degree in STEM related majors. As a result, the A.S. degree does not include the entire General Education Core Curriculum. Therefore, students will need to complete MORE general education courses after transfer by completing the GECC curriculum while enrolled at the participating Illinois transfer institution OR fulfilling the general education requirements of their selected non-participating transfer institution.

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Transfer Considerations

Students who have already chosen the university to which they plan to transfer should consult that institution's catalog or department advisor and an SVCC academic advisor in planning their program.

  1. Pre-professional undergraduate programs are areas of interest, not majors.
  2. Strong math-dependent science coursework is required to prepare for pre-professional studies. Completion of anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and/or physics sequences is recommended prior to transfer.

Competitive Admissions

Since admission is competitive, completing the recommended courses does not by itself guarantee admission.

Undergraduate admission requirements will vary depending on selected major.

For professional schools, typical admission requirements include:

  1. **A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  2. Competitive cumulative and science-based grade point average
  3. Prerequisite courses completed successfully
  4. Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or a similar admission test completed
  5. Professional school application that can require letters of recommendation, professional essays, personal statement, work/activities, interview

Special Considerations

  1. Preprofessional health careers require advanced study at a professional school. For instance, to become a medical doctor, students need to earn an MD (medical degree) followed by a residency program. Some specialty areas require longer residencies or a fellowship program.
  2. **Some professional health programs competitively admit students with 3 years of undergraduate study including prerequisite coursework
  3. Practical experience in the healthcare field is highly recommended. This includes volunteer and work experience.
  4. For more information, go to the following sites based on pre-professional program interests: American Chiropractic Association: www.acatoday.org Association of Medical Colleges: www.aamc.org American Optometric Association: http://www.aoa.org American Veterinary Association: www.avma.org American Dental Association: www.ada.org American Academy of Physician Assistants: www.aapa.org Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education: www.acpe-accredit.org

Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College

  • Academic Advising, 815-835-6354

Minimum Total Credit Hours - 65-66 Hours

Suggested Course Sequence

First Semester - 18 Hours

  • *

    BIO105 - Principles of Biology ( 5 Semester Hours)

    A survey of the basic principles of biology including nature of science, cells, structure and function of organisms, genetics, evolution and ecology. This course is designed to satisfy the biology requirement for general education and vocation-occupational curriculum majors. It provides a basis for understanding principles common to all major fields of biology for the science or professional major. This course along with BIO 123 (Introduction to Botany) and BIO 131 (General Zoology) is part of the three-semester sequence that satisfies the IAI 910 Biology requirement. Students who have completed BIO 105 with a grade of C or better will not receive credit for BIO 103 or BIO 104. Prerequisite: None 5 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): L1 910L, BIO 910 Lecture/Lab Hours 4 lec, 2 lab/week

  • CHE105 - General Chemistry I ( 5 Semester Hours)

    This course involves the study of matter, measurements, the periodic table of the elements, atomic structure, basic concepts of quantum theory, bonding, stoichiometry of compounds and reactions, solution chemistry, introduction to acids and bases, thermochemistry, the gaseous state, and basic concepts of the liquid and solid states. This class is for chemistry, engineering, premedical, and science majors. Prerequisite: One year of high school chemistry or CHE 103 or CHE 102. 5 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): P1 902L, CHM 911 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec, 3 lab/week

  • ENG101 - Composition I ( 3 Semester Hours)

    This course (1) develops awareness of the writing process; (2) provides inventional, organizational, and editorial strategies; (3) stresses the variety of uses for writing; and (4) emphasizes critical skills in reading, thinking, and writing. Prerequisite: Required placement score on approved English placement test, high school unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher, or a grade of C or higher in ELA 099. 3 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): C1 900 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

  • FYE101 - First Year Experience ( 1 Semester Hours)

    The focus of this course is how to be successful in college. Study skills, goal setting, academic planning, time and money management, and information research skills are among the core topics included in this course. Within a supportive environment, students will share their college experiences and develop connections with fellow students and SVCC staff. Prerequisite: None 1 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 1 lec/week

  • MAT203 - Calculus & Analytic Geometry I ( 4 Semester Hours)

    The elementary concepts of differential and integral calculus are introduced and applications are discussed. These include limits, continuity, the derivative, rules of differentiation, the indefinite and definite integral. Trigonometric functions are dealt with. Some applications are: related rates, graphing, extreme value problems, and Newton's method for finding roots of equations. Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in MAT 121, College Algebra, AND MAT 122, Trigonometry OR appropriate placement (see current placement score prerequisite chart) 4 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): M1 900-1, MTH 901 Lecture/Lab Hours: 4 lec/week

Second Semester - 17-18 Hours

  • Social/Behavioral Science 3 Semester hour(s)
  • Fine Arts 3 Semester hour(s)
  • Additional Mathematics 3-4 Semester hour(s)
  • CHE106 - General Chemistry II ( 5 Semester Hours)

    This course is a continuation of CHE 105. This course involves the study of solutions, acids and bases, equilibria, acid-base equilibria, solubility equilibria, kinetics, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, coordination compounds, and nuclear chemistry. This class is for chemistry, engineering, premedical, and science majors. Prerequisite: CHE 105 General Chemistry I or equivalent with a C or higher. 5 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): CHM 912 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec, 3 lab/week

  • ENG103 - Composition II ( 3 Semester Hours)

    An advanced course in essay writing with emphasis on formal research, ENG 103 serves to develop a proficiency in the collection and selection of data as applied to the completion of a formal research paper. In addition, students receive instruction in logic and reasoning, including the fundamentals of argumentative and persuasive writing. Prerequisite: A grade of C or higher in ENG 101 or its equivalent or consent of instructor. 3 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): C1 901R Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

Third Semester - 16 Hours

  • Social/Behavioral Science 3 Semester hour(s)
  • *

    BIO131 - General Zoology ( 5 Semester Hours)

    An introduction to the principles of classification of animals, followed by a systematic study of invertebrate and vertebrate animals including their morphology, physiology, and natural history. Concepts of evolution, paleontology, and ecology are discussed. This course along with BIO 105 (Principles of Biology) and BIO 123 (Introduction to Botany) is part of the three semester sequence that satisfies the IAI Bio 910 Biology major requirement. Prerequisite: BIO 105 with a grade of "C" or higher. 5 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): L1 910L, BIO 910 Lecture/Lab Hours: 4 lec, 2 lab/week

  • CHE201 - Organic Chemistry I ( 5 Semester Hours)

    This course covers the following topics: bonding; molecular structure and properties; reactivity and nomenclature of alkanes, cycloalkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alkyl halides, alcohols and ethers; stereochemistry; nucleophilic substitution and elimination reaction; infrared spectroscopy. Laboratory is required. Prerequisite: CHE 106 - General Chemistry II. Students should complete both CHE 201 and CHE 202 before transferring to another institution. Prerequisite: CHE 106 5 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): CHM 913 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec, 4 lab/week

    OR

    PHY201 - General Physics I ( 5 Semester Hours)

    This course is a survey of the general principles of mechanics, sound and heat. It is designed for: (1) those students whose curriculum requires a one-year course in physics (pre-medical, pre-dental, architecture, agriculture, radio communication); (2) engineering students who have not had high school physics; (3) students who have an interest in the field of physics and select it to satisfy the science requirement of their curriculum. The main objective of the course is to acquaint the student with the experimental method, to develop laboratory skills and to present the student with an organized body of knowledge related to physical phenomena encountered in the student's life. Prerequisite: MAT 121 or higher 5 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): P1 900L Lecture/Lab Hours: 4 lec, 2 lab/week

       
    • COM131 - Intro to Oral Communication ( 3 Semester Hours)

      The oral communication course combines communication theory with the practice of oral communication skills. The course: (1) develops awareness of the communication process; (2) provides inventional, organizational, and expressive strategies; (3) promotes understanding of and adaptation to a variety of communication contexts; and (4) emphasizes critical skills in listening, reading, thinking, and speaking. Prerequisite: None 3 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): C2 900 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

    Fourth Semester - 14 Hours

    • Personal Development 3 Semester hour(s)
    • Humanities 3 Semester hour(s)
    • Social/Behavioral Science or major field requirement 3 Semester hour(s)
    • CHE202 - Organic Chemistry II ( 5 Semester Hours)

      This course covers the following topics: Nomenclature, reactions, and synthesis of aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, aromatic compounds; conjugated dienes, dicarbonyl compounds, amines, amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, phenols, NMR spectroscopy and MS spectrometry. Laboratory is required. Prerequisite: CHE 201 Organic Chemistry I with a C or higher. 5 Semester hour(s) Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI): CHM 914 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec, 4 lab/week

      OR

      PHY202 - General Physics II ( 5 Semester Hours)

      This course is a survey of the general principles of electricity, magnetism, light and optics, and modern physics. It provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts and mathematics associated with physics as an organized body of knowledge based on the scientific method. Prerequisite: PHY 201. Semester hour(s): 5 Lecture/Lab Hours: 4 lec, 2 lab/week

         

      Footnotes

      • *Some institutions require BIO 123 Intro to Botany in addition to BIO 105 and 131. BIO 109 & 110 may also be required by some transfer institutions.