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  • Preprofessional Advising

      Pre-Health Programs

      Students who intend to go to medical, dental, veterinary medical, pharmacy, physician assistant, optometry, physical therapy or occupational therapy school may choose almost any major. However, you should not pursue majors that prepare you for specific health professions such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing or pharmacy unless that is your specific area of interest.

      First year pre-health students are encouraged to view the Pre-Health 101 Workshop offered by the Pre-Health Advising Office. Additional workshops are offered for pre-health students to help them explore and prepare for a healthcare profession and to prepare an application to a professional graduate program. Visit the pre-health website for more information.

      Pre-health students should plan to complete the following courses, which are the basic prerequisites for many pre-health graduate programs. However, some health professions do not require all of these courses, and some require more. Also, requirements vary from program to program, so you should carefully investigate the requirements of the institutions to which you plan to apply.

      • Mathematics: At least two semesters of college-level mathematics; one semester of statistics is required. Calculus (MAC 2311 or 3472) is recommended for pre-medical and pre-dental students, and required for pre-veterinary, pre-pharmacy, and pre-optometry students.
      • General Chemistry: CHM 2045/2045L and CHM 2046/2046L -or-
        CHM 2045/2045L and CHM 2051/2046L -or-
        CHM 2095/2045L and CHM 2096/2046L -or
        CHM 2047/2047L
      • Organic Chemistry: CHM 2210, 2211 and 2211L -or-
        CHM 3217, 3218 and CHM 2211L
      • Biochemistry: One semester is required by many professional schools. BCH 4024 or CHM 3218
      • Physics: PHY 2053/2053L and PHY 2054/2054L -or-
        PHY 2048/2048L and PHY 2049/2049L -or-
        PHY 2060, 2061 and PHY 2048L, 2049L
      • Biology: BSC 2010/2010L and BSC 2011/2011L
      • English: At least two semesters at the college level

      Additional Course Requirements

    Pre-medical students should take:
    • PSY 2012 General Psychology
    • SYG 2000 Principles of Sociology

      Pre-dental students (if you plan on applying to UF’s College of Dentistry) should take:

      • MCB 3020/3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms and Lab (non-microbiology majors) -or-
        MCB 3023/3023L Principles of Microbiology and Lab (microbiology majors)

      Pre-optometry students should take:

      • PSY 2012 General Psychology; an additional psychology course is recommended
      • MCB 3020/3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms and Lab (non-microbiology majors) -or-
        MCB 3023/3023L Principles of Microbiology and Lab (microbiology majors)
      • Also recommended:
        • APK 2100C Applied Human Anatomy with Laboratory
        • APK 2105C Applied Human Physiology with Laboratory
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      Pre-pharmacy students should take:

      • APK 2100C and 2105C Applied Human Anatomy with Laboratory and Applied Human Physiology with Physiology Laboratory -or- ZOO3713C Functional Vertebrate Anatomy and PCB4723C Physiology and Molecular Biology of Animals (acceptable for UF College of Pharmacy)
      • MCB 3020/3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms and Lab (non-microbiology majors) -or-
        MCB 3023/3023L Principles of Microbiology and Lab (microbiology majors)
      • Also recommended: ECO 2023 Microeconomics or ECO 2013 Macroeconomics

      Pre-veterinary students should take:

      • ANS 3006C Introduction to Animal Science
      • ANS 3440 Principles of Animal Nutrition
      • MCB 3020/3020L Basic Biology of Microorganisms and Lab (non-microbiology majors) -or-
        MCB 3023/3023L Principles of Microbiology and Lab (microbiology majors)
      • PCB 3063 or AGR 3303 Genetics (non-microbiology majors) -or-
        ANS 3384 Genetic Improvement of Farm Animals

      Pre-Physician Assistant Course Recommendations

      • General Chemistry: CHM 2045/2045L and CHM 2046/2046L
      • Organic Chemistry: CHM 2210 -or- CHM 2200
      • General Biology: BSC 2010/2010L and BSC 2011/2011L
      • Applied Human Anatomy with Laboratory and Applied Human Physiology with Laboratory: APK 2100C and 2105C
      • Microbiology: MCB 3020/3020L -or- MCB 3023/3023L
      • Introduction to Statistics: STA 2023
      • Health and Medical Terminology: HSC 3537
      • Also recommended:
        • General Psychology: PSY 2012
        • Genetics: PCB 3063
        • Organic Chemistry: CHM 2210 and CHM 2211/2211L
        • Public Speaking: SPC 2608 -or- Oral Communication: AEC 3030C
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      Pre-Law

      UF's pre-law advisors offer students assistance as they explore their interest in law and provide guidance during the law school application process. Students are encouraged to utilize UF's pre-law resources:

      • Pre-law Website: Review pre-law tips, timelines and resources at www.advising.ufl.edu/prelaw.
      • Pre-law Listserv: Join the listserv to receive pre-law announcements and stay connected with UF's abundant pre-law activities. Instructions are available at: www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-law/pre-law-listserv/.
      • Pre-law Advising: Pre-law advisors are located in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Center in Farrior Hall. Students may call to make an appointment (352.392.1521) or come in as a walk-in. In addition, students may reach the pre-law advisors at prelaw@advising.ufl.edu.

      Choosing a Major: Pre-law students must develop analytic and problem-solving skills, critical reading abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities, research skills and organization and priority management skills. These skills can be attained through virtually any major in combination with a wide variety of complementary electives. There is no "pre-law" major at UF; students should choose a major in which they have a true interest and select a broad, diverse and challenging array of courses from demanding instructors in order to prepare for success in law school.

      Exploration: Pre-law students are encouraged to carefully assess their interest in and motivation for attending law school. The pre-law timeline, featured on the website, encourages you to shadow attorneys, conduct informational interviews, complete internships and speak to admission officers to learn about law schools and the legal profession. Students should also consider studying overseas, writing an honors thesis and getting involved in leadership opportunities. These activities will enhance the depth and value of students' undergraduate education and may also distinguish students from other top law school applicants.

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