Preprofessional Health Programs and Internships

See also the Institute for Healthcare Professions

Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine

Albion College maintains a strong program for the preparation of students for admission to professional schools in medicine and dentistry. A premedical, pre-veterinary or pre-dental student may major in any discipline in which he or she has interest and ability. Most of our students choose to major in biology or chemistry, but any major may be pursued, as long as the basic science and other requirements of the health professions schools are met. Regardless of the major chosen, the premedical, pre-veterinary or pre-dental student should plan to take the following minimum required courses. All science courses require laboratory work.

Biology, one year (Biology 195, 210)*
Inorganic Chemistry, one year (Chemistry 121, 123)
Organic Chemistry, one year (Chemistry 211, 212)
Biochemistry, one semester (Chemistry or Biology 337)
Physics, one year (Physics 115, 116)
Math, one semester (Math 125-Precalculus (Functions), 141-Calculus, and/or Math 209-Statistics)
English, one year (English 101 or 203-composition and one English literature course)
Additional humanities and social science courses required by many professional schools

*Most professional schools also require at least one upper-level biology course. Be sure to consult with the Institute for Healthcare Professions about the prerequisite course work required for professional schools you are considering. All new members of the Institute are issued an Institute Advising Guide during Albion’s Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) program which includes detailed information about applying to professional school.

Allied Health Professions

Albion College maintains courses appropriate for preparing students for admission to programs in physician assistant, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, and public health (please note this is not an exhaustive list). Unlike medical, dental, and veterinary schools, these programs are quite varied in their requirements. Be sure to consult with the Institute for Healthcare Professions about the prerequisite course work required for professional schools you are considering. All new members of the Institute are issued an Institute Advising Guide during Albion’s Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) program which includes detailed information about applying to professional school.

General Information

For many healthcare professional schools, prerequisite course work should be completed by the end of the junior year in preparation for taking the admissions test for professional schools unless you plan to take a transitional year between graduating from college and beginning your graduate training. Please note that healthcare students are expected to take courses in the arts, humanitites, and social sciences as well as the natural sciences. In planning their Albion course work, students should check the current admission requirements of specific professional schools in which they are interested.

Experiential learning is also very important. In addition to their regular courses, a number of preprofessional students take advantage of the undergraduate practicum/internship program offered by Albion College. All members of the Institute for Healthcare Professions are required to complete at least one 40-hour documented experiential learning project (DELP). All these programs allow students to gain firsthand experience in the hospital, clinic, or offices of a supervising physician, dentist, or other professional, and thus expand their understanding of the profession of their choice. Interested students should consult the staff of the Institute for Healthcare Professions for more information.

Students considering a healthcare profession should apply to the Institute as well as to Albion College. Beginning at SOAR and continuing throughout students’ college experience, the Institute staff works with students in long-range curriculum planning. The Institute also provides students with information and assistance while they are preparing for and applying to professional schools.