General Catalog 2009-2010

Programs and Courses

Pre-Health

• General Information
• Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental
• Pre-Optometry
• Pre-Physical Therapy
• Pre-Pharmacy

General Information

Student Goals: Transfer

Pre-health programs are designed for students preparing for the following professional schools: medical, dental, pharmacy, physical therapy, and optometry. Students planning to apply to one of these schools should first pursue the baccalaureate degree at a four-year institution. In view of the keen competition for admission to professional schools, it is practical to have a major in a field that one could pursue as an alternative. Traditionally, students have chosen biology, chemistry, or biochemistry as their major. All majors are acceptable as long as pre-med prerequisites are met.

Requirements are fairly uniform across the country. However, students should become acquainted with the requirements of a particular professional school by consulting its catalog as soon as possible. Students are urged to consult with a departmental advisor in their chosen major to plan a program for transfer to a four-year institution.

Students who take all their science requirements at the community college should be sure to take some upper-division science courses at a four year institution. Although the community college experience is a time of exploration for a suitable major, by the junior year a major should be selected.

Note: The following programs recommend pre-health courses suitable for transfer students. The total credits recommended exceed the requirement for the AA degree. Students who intend to achieve an AA degree should pay particular attention to the recommendations for general education courses.

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Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental

A physician, whether allopathic, osteopathic, or podiatric diagnoses, prescribes medication for, and treats diseases and disorders of the human body. A physician may also perform surgery and operations and often specializes in one aspect of medical care and treatment.

Dentists are concerned with examination, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of ailments or abnormalities of gums and teeth. Most dentists are general practitioners with a few specializing in certain areas.

Program Description:

This is a suggested curriculum for the first two years of preparation for entering medical or dental school. Students are urged to consult with a faculty advisor in planning a program which will meet the entrance requirements of professional schools.

(+) indicates course prerequisites.

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

BIO181 BIO182 CHM151 CHM151LL CHM152 CHM152LL CHM154 CHM154LL CHM235 CHM235LL CHM236 CHM236LL MAT151*

General Biology (Majors) I General Biology (Majors) II General Chemistry I (3) and General Chemistry I Laboratory (1) General Chemistry II (3) and General Chemistry II Laboratory (1) or General Chemistry II with Qual (3) and General Chemistry II with Qual Laboratory (1) General Organic Chemistry I (3) and General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1) General Organic Chemistry II (3) and General Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (1) College Algebra / Functions

4 4 4 4-5 4 4 4

+ + +

MAT182 PHY111 PHY112

Plane Trigonometry General Physics I General Physics II

3 4 4

* See guidelines for proper placement of students in math. Students applying for medical school need to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). Calculus is required in a few medical schools. See specific medical school catalog. Unless a student wishes to major in a science, it is advised to take some sciences at the upper division level, not at the community college.

General Education Requirements:

See approved list for AA degree here. In determining course choices, students should be guided by the requirements of the four-year institution from which they expect to graduate.

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Pre-Optometry

An optometrist examines and determines the condition of one’s eyes and prescribes treatment to conserve or improve vision without the use of medicine, drugs, or surgery.

Program Description:

This is a suggested curriculum for the first two years of preparation for entering optometry school. Students are urged to choose a specific professional school as soon as possible, and to consult with a faculty advisor in planning a program which will meet the entrance requirements of that school.

(+) indicates course prerequisites.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

BIO181 BIO182 BIO205** CHM151 CHM151LL CHM152 CHM152LL CHM154 CHM154LL CHM235 CHM235LL CHM236 CHM236LL MAT151 MAT182 MAT220* PHY111 PHY112 PSY230

General Biology (Majors) I General Biology (Majors) II Microbiology General Chemistry I (3) and General Chemistry I Laboratory (1) General Chemistry II (3) and General Chemistry II Laboratory (1) or General Chemistry II with Qual (3) and General Chemistry II with Qual Laboratory (1) General Organic Chemistry I (3) and General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1) General Organic Chemistry II A (3) and General Organic Chemistry II A Laboratory (1) College Algebra / Functions Plane Trigonometry Analytic Geometry and Calculus I General Physics I General Physics II Introduction to Statistics

4 4 4 4 4-5 4 4 4 3 5 4 4 3

* Most optometry schools require calculus. In this case MAT230 is also recommended.

** Two-thirds of optometry schools require microbiology or bacteriology.

See approved list for AA degree here. The following course is recommended within
the General Education requirements in this program.
Social and Behavioral Sciences:

PSY101

Introduction to Psychology

3

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Pre-Physical Therapy

Working within the scope of a physical therapy practice act, physical therapists identify, prevent, and rehabilitate dysfunction of the structural and physiological systems of the body. Through various evaluation and therapeutic procedures, physical therapy optimizes the function of individuals with impairment of the neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems.

Physical therapists work in settings such as general hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private offices, schools, home health care agencies, and universities. The ability to work with a varied patient population in diverse practice settings contributes to the challenging and stimulating nature of the physical therapy profession.

All persons practicing physical therapy in the state of Arizona must be licensed by the Arizona Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. Licensure requirements include graduation from an accredited physical therapy program and successful completion of an examination administered by the board.

With the increase of rehabilitation programs and with the expansion of facilities for the elderly, the disabled, and the chronically ill, new positions for physical therapists should be created. Related specialties are in pediatrics, geriatrics, amputations, arthritis, and spinal cord injuries.

Program Description:

This is a suggested curriculum for the first two years of courses that would prepare students for a physical therapy program. The program at Northern Arizona University is now a master’s program. An applicant must earn a Bachelor of Science degree before applying to the program. This program is extremely competitive (300 applicants for 40 positions.) Students are urged to choose a specific professional school as soon as possible, and to consult with a faculty advisor in planning a program which will meet the entrance requirements of that school.

(+) indicates course prerequisites.

See approved list for AA degree here.

The following course is recommended within the General Education requirements in this program. Students transferring to NAU must complete upper division General Education credits approved by NAU before they apply to NAU’s program.
Social and Behavioral Sciences:

Kirksville College through Grand Canyon University is offering several masters programs in related fields. They are:

Physical Therapy (50 students/year)
Occupational Therapy (30 students/year)
Physicians Assistant (25 students/year)
Sports Health Medicine (15 students/year)

Because of the prerequisites at Grand Canyon for their pre-health programs, it is strongly suggested to see an advisor at Grand Canyon to plan courses to take at the community college. Any preparatory science and math through algebra and trigonometry, as well as other non-science credits should be taken at the community college.

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Pre-Pharmacy

Pharmacists are medication specialists, who advise patients on the proper use of medicines, monitor patients for therapeutic and adverse drug responses, and serve as consultants to other health professionals on drug therapy.

Pharmacy is a health-care profession which offers the practitioner excellent and diverse career opportunities in community or hospital practice, clinical pharmacy, industry, education, or government.

University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, Pre-Pharmacy Curriculum: For students attending classes at the Maricopa County Community Colleges and preparing to transfer to The University of Arizona, the following course work is recommended. Admission into the professional phase of the pharmacy program is very competitive and requires the completion of the pre-pharmacy curriculum. A maximum of 64 credits of community college course work may be applied to a bachelor’s degree program at The University of Arizona. Refer to The UA General Catalog or contact the College of Pharmacy (520-626-4311) to obtain more information.

Students are highly encouraged to contact the College of Pharmacy for advising assistance and to ensure timely completion of the pre-pharmacy course requirements.

(+) indicates course prerequisites.