Common Villanova Courses for Health Professions Prerequisites
Common Villanova Courses for Health Professions Prerequisites
Use this page as a quick reference for Villanova courses commonly used to complete prerequisite subjects for health professions programs.
Before registering for courses:
Health profession prerequisites vary considerably by profession and by individual school. Consult with your faculty advisor before registering to make sure your course choices fit your major, course sequence, and degree requirements. You should also verify the prerequisite requirements of the professional programs you may eventually consider.
Common prerequisite subjects and Villanova courses
The courses below are commonly used by Villanova students to complete prerequisite subjects across several health professions. The table is intended to help you identify Villanova course options. It is not a prerequisite checklist for any individual profession or school.
There is substantial overlap among professional school prerequisites, particularly in biology, chemistry, statistics, psychology, and writing. The amount and type of coursework required can still differ significantly depending on the profession and individual institution.
For example, optometry programs commonly include biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, mathematics, and often microbiology or biochemistry. Podiatric medicine generally uses a science foundation similar to medical school preparation. Pharmacy programs may require biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, mathematics, statistics, or behavioral sciences, with considerable variation among schools. Veterinary medicine commonly includes biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and advanced sciences such as biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, or physiology.
Other pathways can have more specialized requirements. Occupational therapy programs often include anatomy and physiology, psychology, statistics, and behavioral or social science coursework. Audiology and speech-language pathology programs may require coursework in communication sciences and disorders that is specific to those professions in addition to broader science, statistics, and behavioral science preparation. Chiropractic and naturopathic medical programs also establish their own science and general education prerequisites.
Profession-specific prerequisite recommendations are coming soon. Those resources will provide more detailed guidance for planning coursework by health profession. Until then, review individual program admissions requirements and discuss your academic plan with your faculty advisor and HPA.
| Subject | Common Villanova Course(s) | Planning Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | BIO 2105 & BIO 2106 2 semesters with labs |
The two-semester sequence with labs is commonly used for introductory biology prerequisites. Some professional schools require or prefer additional biology coursework. Students with AP Biology credit should review individual school policies and should generally plan to complete at least two college-level biology courses with laboratories. |
| General Chemistry | CHM 1151 & CHM 1103 and CHM 1152 & CHM 1104 |
This is the standard two-semester general chemistry sequence with labs commonly used for health professions prerequisites. |
| Organic Chemistry | CHM 2211 & CHM 2201 and CHM 2212 & CHM 2202 |
The two-semester sequence with labs is frequently required for medicine and dentistry and is also part of the prerequisite foundation for several other health professions. Some programs require only one semester or allow biochemistry to satisfy part of the chemistry requirement. |
| Biochemistry | CHM 4611 or CHM 4621 |
CHM 4611, Survey Biochemistry, covers a broader range of topics. CHM 4621, Biochemistry I, explores fewer topics in greater depth. Both require Organic Chemistry I and II. CHM 4603 is the laboratory associated with CHM 4621. A biochemistry laboratory is generally not required for medical school admission, although requirements in other professions should be verified individually. |
| Physics | PHY 1100 & PHY 1101 and PHY 1102 & PHY 1103OR PHY 2410 & PHY 2411 |
The two-semester sequence with labs is commonly required for medicine, dentistry, optometry, DPT, veterinary medicine, and some other professional programs. At least one semester of college-level calculus is required before taking introductory physics at Villanova. Students should select the appropriate physics sequence with their faculty advisor. |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology | BIO 1205 & BIO 1206 or BIO 3055 & BIO 3085 |
Anatomy and physiology are commonly required for PA, DPT, occupational therapy, and several other health professions. Some dental schools also require or recommend this coursework. Sequence selection should be discussed with a faculty advisor because courses may apply differently toward major or elective requirements and availability may vary. |
| Microbiology | BIO 3595 | Microbiology is frequently required or recommended for PA, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry, and other health professions programs. Students should verify individual program requirements. |
| English / Writing | ACS 1000 ACS 1001 ENG 1975 |
Many professional programs require English, composition, or writing-intensive coursework. ACS 1000 and ACS 1001 may satisfy these requirements at some institutions, and CLAS students also complete ENG 1975 as part of their degree requirements. Students outside CLAS may need additional English or writing-intensive coursework. Faculty advisors can help identify appropriate options within the student’s academic program. |
| Mathematics | MAT 1312 MAT 1500 or equivalent |
Requirements vary by profession and program. Mathematics may be required for dental, pharmacy, optometry, DPT, veterinary, and other professional programs. The required level can range from college mathematics to calculus. |
| Statistics | STAT 1230 STAT 1250 STAT 1313 CSC 2300 PSY 2000 |
A statistics prerequisite may be satisfied by a STAT course or by an approved course in another discipline, such as psychology. Course selection should be coordinated with the student’s faculty advisor because not every statistics course satisfies every Villanova major requirement. STAT 1230 and STAT 1250, for example, typically do not fulfill statistics requirements for CLAS STEM programs. PSY 2000 may also have limited availability for students outside the Psychology major. |
| Behavioral Sciences | PSY 1000 PSY 3200 (Human Development) and/or other psychology or sociology coursework |
Behavioral science requirements vary widely. Programs may require general psychology, developmental or lifespan psychology, human development, sociology, or other coursework depending on the profession. |
| Medical Terminology | CLAS 2021 Language and Science of Medicine |
Some PA and other professional programs require or recommend medical terminology. Students should verify whether a program requires a dedicated medical terminology course. |
| Genetics | BIO 3351 | Genetics is required or recommended by some PA, veterinary, pharmacy, optometry, and other professional programs. Because requirements are inconsistent, students should review individual program prerequisites before adding the course specifically for professional school preparation. |
Upper-level science coursework
There is no standard list of upper-level science courses that every pre-health student should take. Advanced coursework can help you explore areas of interest, build on your science foundation, and meet requirements or recommendations for particular professional programs.
Use this table alongside your academic plan.
Use this page to identify common Villanova course options and to begin mapping prerequisite subjects into your academic plan. Confirm your sequence with your faculty advisor and review the admissions requirements of individual programs before assuming that a course will satisfy a professional school prerequisite.
Work with your faculty advisor before registering
Your faculty advisor can help you stay on track with major requirements, prerequisites, course sequencing, and degree progress. HPA can help you understand how professional school requirements fit into that academic plan and identify profession-specific considerations as you develop a school list.
