USF 2005-2006 Undergraduate Catalog - Pages 74-75

Health Professions

The University of South Florida is an excellent location to prepare for a career in the health professions. The Veterans Administration Hospital, University of South Florida Medical Center, Shriner’s Hospital for Children, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida Mental Health Institute, and University Community Hospital are within walking distance of the campus and offer students excellent opportunities for observation, research, and experience.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers programs designed to prepare students for admission to professional schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant, and physical therapy. Most of these professions require four years of preprofessional preparation followed by four years of training in a professional school. A few well-prepared students with exceptional qualifications may be admitted to some professional schools as early as the completion of the junior year of preprofessional work. The preprofessional programs do not meet requirements for a degree; therefore, students must choose a major in addition to fulfilling their pre-professional requirements. Most preprofessional students major in biology, biomedical sciences, or chemistry because of their interests in the health sciences, and the considerable overlap between the preprofessional curriculum and the degree requirements for those majors. Entrance into all professional schools or programs is competitive, and students should begin establishing a record of excellence with the first semester at USF. Furthermore, it is essential that students pursue courses developing a sense of understanding of cultural and humane values as well as basic social problems. Students should also have some clinical and/or volunteer experience related to the medical field.

Students considering one of the health professions should contact the College of Arts and Sciences during the first semester at USF to declare their interest in a health professions program.

For specific information about the following programs in Florida, please see our health professions website at: http://www.cas.usf.edu/health_professions.

• Medical
• Dental
• Optometry
• Physical Therapy
• Veterinary Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Physician Assistant

Students who are interested in University of Florida, College of Dentistry School should check their web sites, http://www.dental.ufl.edu, regarding a special honors program.

Requirements for Health Professions Schools

These courses prepare students for admission to professional schools of chiropractic medicine, dentistry, medicine, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine, and pharmacy. All of these professional schools have in common the following course requirements, which should be completed by the end of the junior year, the usual time of application:

Biology

• BSC 2010, 2010L Biology I: Cellular Processes (3,1)
• BSC 2011, 2011L Biology II: Diversity (3,1)

Chemistry

• CHM 2045, 2045L General Chemistry I (3,1)
• CHM 2046, 2046L General Chemistry II (3,1)
• CHM 2210, 2210L Organic Chemistry I (3,2)
• CHM 2211, 2211L Organic Chemistry II (3,2)

Physics

• PHY 2053, 2053L General Physics I (3,1)
• PHY 2054, 2054L General Physics II (3,1)

In addition to these requirements it is generally expected that preprofessional students will complete two semesters of English and mathematics appropriate for their degree. Some schools require calculus and some require one or two courses in biochemistry. CLEP credit usually is not accepted by professional schools, and some schools do not accept AP or IB credits. Students should check with the school of their choice regarding credit.

Requirements for B.S. Degree for Early Admission Students

Early admission to professional school is exceptional with today’s competitive applicant pool; however, a few students may be admitted prior to completion of the bachelor’s degree through special programs such as the University Honors Program.

There are no State Mandated Common Prerequisites for this degree program.

Students planning on early admission should begin studies at a 4-year institution as professional schools require at least 1 year of studies at a university prior to application. Depending upon the professional school, additional science courses may be required or strongly recommended as indicated in the preceding sections. Exposure to a health profession is also strongly recommended.

Students who are admitted to an accredited U.S. medical or dental school after completing their junior year at the University of South Florida may be awarded the B.S. degree in Biomedical Sciences from the College of Arts and Sciences subject to the following conditions:

1. Transfer of a minimum of 30 semester hours of science courses from an accredited medical or dental school.

2. Completion of a minimum of 90 semester hours of credit with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 prior to transfer to the medical or dental school.

3. Completion of the following courses with at least a C- in each course:

   Biology

   • BSC 2010, 2010L Biology I: Cellular Processes (3,1)
   • BSC 2011, 2011L Biology II: Diversity (3,1)
   • MCB 3030C General Microbiology (4)

   Plus two of the following biology courses, including at least one with a laboratory (minimum 7 semester hours):

   • PCB 3023, 3023L Cell Biology (lab optional) (3-4)
   • PCB 3063, 3063L General Genetics (lab optional) (3-4)
   • MCB 4502 Virology (3)
   • MCB 4115 Determinative Bacteriology (5)
   • MCB 5815 Medical Mycology (3)
   • PCB 4064 Experimental Genetics (3)
   • PCB 4723 Animal Physiology (3)
   • PCB 4723L Animal Physiology Lab (1)
   • PCB 5235 Principles of Immunology (3)
   • ZOO 3323C Anatomy of Chordates (4)
   • ZOO 3713 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4)
   • ZOO 4603 Animal Embryology (4)
   • ZOO 4753C Histology (4)

   Chemistry

   • CHM 2045, 2045L General Chemistry I (3,1)
   • CHM 2046, 2046L General Chemistry II (3,1)
   • CHM 2210, 2210L Organic Chemistry I (3,2)
   • CHM 2211, 2211L Organic Chemistry II (3,2)
   • BCH 3023 Introductory Biochemistry (3)

   Physics

   • PHY 2053, 2053L General Physics I (3,1)
   • PHY 2054, 2054L General Physics II (3,1)

   Mathematics

   • MAC 2241, MAC 2311, or MAC 2281 Calculus (4,4,3)

   Plus either the second semester of a calculus sequence
   OR
   STA 2023 Introductory Statistics I (4)

4. Completion of the University’s General Education and Exit Requirements.

5. Completion of the last 30 hours prior to transfer to a medical or dental school in residence at the University of South Florida.

6. Application for the degree must be received no later than two years from the date of entrance into the professional school.

Students admitted to professional schools of veterinary medicine, optometry, or podiatric medicine prior to completion of their degree may also be able to transfer courses from the professional school and receive their bachelor’s degree. However, approval of the courses to be transferred must be obtained on an individual basis from the College of Arts and Sciences, and in some cases it may be necessary for students to complete more than 90 hours prior to leaving the University of South Florida.

Please send questions or comments to:
Karen M. Hall - webcat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 2005

http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0506/hprofs.htm