PreProfessional (BS)
Science Preprofessional Studies is a 64-credit-hour integrative science major. The major requires 40 credit hours of core science courses in Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics paired with 24 credits of upper-level science courses. The major also requires a literature course for Liberal Arts 4. The majority of students in this major are preparing for graduate programs in the health professions, while a significant number plan to enter the industry after graduation. The major classes are taken during the school year, and only occasionally, with consultation with your advisor, should students take any of the major courses in the summer. The Notre Dame College of Science does not allow transfer of science courses with the exception of pre-approved courses through Notre Dame Global Programs.
For the SCPP biomedical track, students typically take upper-level coursework in physiology, cell biology, statistics, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, anatomy, and more. Upper-level labs are optional and customized to the student’s needs. Since research is vital to understanding the work and methodology of science, up to 6 credit hours of research in a College of Science department can be applied to the major. Students are encouraged to use their general elective credits (24 or more credits after satisfying the major and University and College core requirements) to develop a secondary expertise in the humanities, social sciences, or professional development courses in Compassionate Care in Medicine or Science and Patient Advocacy.
Those preparing for an industry career can customize the upper-level coursework for their needs and typically take statistics, biochemistry, cell biology, scientific computing, immunotherapy, microbiology, dynamic models in biology, geographic information systems, stem cells and regenerative medicine, pharmacology, chemistry in service to community, or chemistry of fermentation and distillation, among others. These students will often prepare for their professional skills outside the STEM background by adding a minor from the Mendoza College of Business, such as Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Foundations of Business, or Marketing.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | 8 | |
| Chemistry | 16 | |
| Mathematics | 8 | |
| Physics | 8 | |
| Language, Intermediate-level Competency * | 11 | |
| University Requirements ** | 21 | |
| The Moreau Program | 2 | |
| Science Electives | 24 | |
| General Electives * | 26 | |
| Total Hours | 124 | |
- *
Assumes Intermediate-level Competency in Language was achieved by taking two four-credit and one three-credit courses.
- **
One of these courses must be a University Seminar
Preprofessional Science Sequence
124 semester hour credits; 64 science hour credits minimum
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| Writing | 3 | |
| MATH 10350 | Calculus A | 4 |
| CHEM 10171 & CHEM 11171 |
Introduction to Chemical Principles and Introduction to Chemical Principles Laboratory |
4 |
| University Requirement 1 | 3 | |
| University Requirement 1 | 3 | |
| Moreau First Year Experience | 1 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Philosophy or Elective | 3 | |
| MATH 10360 | Calculus B | 4 |
| CHEM 10172 & CHEM 11172 |
Organic Structure and Reactivity and Organic Structure and Reactivity Laboratory |
4 |
| Literature | 3 | |
| University Requirement 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CHEM 20273 & CHEM 21273 |
Organic Reactions and Applications and Organic Reactions and Applications Laboratory |
4 |
| BIOS 10171 & BIOS 11173 |
Biology I :Big Questions and Biological Investigations Laboratory |
4 |
| Elective(s) | 3-6 | |
| Language | 3 | |
| Hours | 14-17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CHEM 20274 & CHEM 21274 |
Chemistry across the Periodic Table and Chemistry Across the Periodic Table Laboratory |
4 |
| BIOS 10172 & BIOS 11174 |
Biology II: Molecules to Ecosystems and Research Experience in Biology Laboratory |
4 |
| Elective(s) | 3 | |
| Language | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Science Elective | 3 | |
| PHYS 20210 & PHYS 21210 |
Physics for Life Sciences I and Physics for Life Sciences I Lab |
4 |
| Language or Elective | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Science Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Science Elective | 3 | |
| Science Elective | 3 | |
| PHYS 20220 & PHYS 21220 |
Physics for Life Sciences II and Physics for Life Sciences II Lab |
4 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Science Elective | 3 | |
| Science Elective | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Science Elective | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Science Elective | 3 | |
| Moreau Senior Capstone | 1 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 123-126 | |
- 1
One of these courses must be a University Seminar for those who start Notre Dame as First Year students; transfer students are exempt from the University Seminar.
Notes
1. Students who have completed only seven hours of mathematics in the first year of studies may transfer into the program, but they will be required to complete a mathematics sequence equivalent to MATH 10350, MATH 10360, or MATH 10550, MATH 10560. Students who have taken MATH 10250 may do this by taking MATH 10360, while those who have taken only one semester of MATH 10150 should take both MATH 10350 and MATH 10360. Those students should also see the discussion on degree credit found later in this section of the Bulletin. With the increased emphasis on Statistics, students should also plan to take a Statistics course as a science elective and for those with AP credit for MATH 10550/MATH 10560 the Statistics course will also fulfill their University Requirement for Quantitative Reasoning.
2. All students who have had previous exposure to language will be required to take a placement examination in that language for placement in the proper course if the student wishes to continue in that language for the college requirement. If a student wishes to take a new language, they must, of course, start from the beginning. Spanish is encouraged.
3. PHYS 10310 – PHYS 10320 or PHYS 10411, PHYS 10422 may be substituted for PHYS 20210–PHYS 21210.
4. Well-developed communication skills are essential in healthcare and patient safety, and in industry. Health professions schools require training in written communication, and employers expect high-level writing skills. With this in mind, the SCPP major will require a Literature course taught in English, which will also fulfill the University Liberal Arts Requirement 4.
5. Behavioral and social issues have a profound impact on health, and as a result, effective healthcare provision and health professions schools have increased their requirements for training in the social sciences. Industry operates inside the parameters of the social sciences. Students should plan on taking courses in psychology, sociology, or anthropology for health professions and economics for industry. One of these courses may also fulfill University Liberal Arts Requirement 5.
6. Undergraduate Research (e.g. BIOS 48498, CHEM 48498), Teaching Practicum (e.g.
BIOS 37492), and Directed Readings (BIOS 46497) may count toward the 24 credits of Science Electives with limits. Undergraduate Research and Teaching is limited to a total of six combined credit hours. Credits above these numbers will be counted in General Electives. Directed Readings are limited to 3 credit hours total.
7. Interested parties may obtain additional information including various statistics, from the department webpage: preprofessionalstudies.nd.edu.