Pre-Medical Sciences Certificate
- Excellent preparation for students seeking any medical based pre-professional degree.
- Available to students of any major and non-degree seeking students.
- Pre-Professional advising and guidance.
- Preparation for pre-professional exams.
Course Work
Students pursuing the Pre-Medical Sciences Certificate will complete a range of coursework that will prepare students for pre-professional examinations and application to professional school. These courses include:
- Biol 141 - Principles of Biology
- Chem 261 & Chem 262 - General Chemistry I & II
- Chem 353 & 354 - Organic Chemistry I & II
- Biol 334 - Cell Biology
- Biol 434 (Macromolecules & Metabolism) or Chem 431 (Biochemistry I)
- Phys 175 & 176 with labs - Physics I & II (or Phys 205 & 206 with labs)
- Psy 201 - Introduction to Psychology
- Soc 121 - Introduction to Sociology
- 5-8 hours of Biology or Chemistry Electives
- A list of qualifying electives can be found in the USI Bulletin
- These electives must be unique from a student's BS or BA degree program (ie. they cannot double dip with your major).
- Electives are selected in consultation with a Certificate advisor in order to help each student prepare for their chosen speciality.
Students must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher in all certificate coursework.
Student Support & Advising
Certificate students are eligible for Financial Aid* as well as the full range of student support offered by USI. Pre-Professional students have access to a wide range of discipline-specific advising, including:
- Mock MCAT and other pre-professional exams
- HON 291 - A course aimed to help students prepare for their intended careers and applications.**
- Advisors that specialize in each pre-professional discipline.
*While the Pre-Medical Sciences Certificate is a Financial Aid Eligible program, Financial Aid eligibility is particular to each student's circumstances and should be individually confirmed with the USI Financial Aid office.
**Enrollment in HON 291 contingent on instructor approval.
How to Declare the Pre-Medical Sciences Certificate
You can add the Pre-Medical Sciences Certificate by contacting the registrar's office and filling out the appropriate form:
- For Degree-Seeking students (you have already declared a major):
- You need to complete the Change of Academic Program form. Available in the Biology Office or from the Registrar.
- On the form you should enter "Pre-Medical Sciences Certificate" in the "Add Major" section.
- Submit the form to the Biology Office.
- For Non-Degree Seeking students (you are taking classes, but have not declared a major or degree):
- By adding the Pre-Medical Sciences Certificate, you will now be declaring a program at USI.
- You need to complete the Change of Status form. This is available from the Registrar.
- Change of your status to a Degree-Seeking student will require that you submit High School and College transcripts. Contact the Registrar for more information.
- Submit the form to the Biology Office.
For questions about the Pre-Medical Sciences Certificate, please contact:
Dr. Rebecca Sparks-Thissen
Adjunct - Biology
Contact:
812-465-1084
Science Center
Email
Website
Dr. Kenneth Walsh
Associate Professor of ChemistryChair of Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
Contact:
812-461-5253
Science Center 2273
Email
Website
