Undergraduate Programs in

Pre-Health (Pre-Medical) Studies

For students planning to pursue medical school and other advanced degrees in health and medicine, Hofstra University offers programs that provide students with the opportunity to obtain a well-rounded liberal arts education, including all of the prerequisite courses recommended by medical schools.

Programs

Students planning to pursue advanced studies in health and medicine are free to major in any discipline as long as they complete the necessary prerequisites for their professional goals. However, popular majors for these students include:

Hofstra also offers the BS in Pre-Medical Studies and the BA in Pre-Health (Pre-Medical) Studies with a Concentration in the Humanities or the Social Sciences.

Image
Biology experiment

The Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medical Studies is an interdisciplinary degree for those students who are interested primarily in science. This degree includes all science, mathematics, and statistics courses required for entrance into medical, dental, or veterinary school, as well as more advanced and specialized work in the sciences that is of particular relevance to students planning a professional career in health-related sciences.

Incorporation of all of the biology and chemistry pre-requisite courses into the requirements for this interdisciplinary degree enables students to simultaneously pursue other academic interests in addition to the sciences. As a BS degree, this program has reduced general education requirements and no language requirement.

The Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Medical or Pre-Health Studies with a Concentration in the Humanities or the Social Sciences is designed for those students whose academic interests are primarily in the humanities (literature, languages, philosophy) or social sciences (anthropology, geography, global studies, sociology, speech sciences). Students in this major will complete all of the science and mathematics courses required and recommended for entrance into medical, dental, or veterinary school as well as reduced requirements for a major in one of humanities or a social science. Concentrations in this program are currently available in Anthropology, Classics, Geography, Global Studies, Philosophy, Religion, Sociology and Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. Since this is a BA degree, it also includes all BA general education requirements, including the full distribution, writing, and language requirements. 

  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Classics
  • Cognitive Science
  • Community Health
  • Comparative Literature
  • Disability Studies
  • English
  • Exercise Science
  • Fine Arts
  • Forensic Science
  • Geography
  • Global Studies
  • Human Services
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine, Culture, and Society
  • Neuroscience
  • Nutrition Science
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Religion
  • Rhetorical Studies
  • Scientific Reasoning and Data Analysis
  • Sociology
  • Speech-Language-Hearing Science

Electives available in academic departments across the university that help pre-health and pre-medical students fulfill their science, humanities and social science requirements. Examples include:

Anthropology

• ANTH 143 – (BH) Introduction to Forensic Anthropology

Biology

• BIO 134 – General Microbiology (need permission from BIO dept if not a BIO major)

• BIO 122– Genetics (need permission from BIO dept if not a BIO major)

• BIO 123 – Cell Biology (need permission from BIO dept if not a BIO major)

Cognitive Science

• CGS 10 – (IS) Introduction to Cognitive Science

Comparative Literature and Languages

• ANY CLL literature course

• ANY foreign language course

Counseling and Mental Health Professions

• CMHP 100 – Introduction to Human Services

• CMHP 102 – Application of Counseling Skills and Ethics in the Human Services Profession

• CMHP 103 – Medical, Functional and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability

English

• ANY ENGL literature course

• ENGL 125 – (LT) Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Literature

• ENGL 193 – (LT) Medical Science Fiction

• ENGL 196D – (LT) Disability in Literature and Culture

Fine Arts

• FA 80 – (CP) Beginning Ceramics (especially for Pre-Dental)

Health Professions

• ANY HPR course

Health Science

• HSCI 103 – Human Anatomy and Physiology 1

• HSCI 105 – Human Anatomy and Physiology 2

Neuroscience

• NEUR 1 – Introduction to Neuroscience 001

Philosophy

• PHI 10 – (HP) Intro to Philosophy

• PHI 14 – (HP) Introduction to Ethics

• PHI 130 – (HP) Bioethics: Medicine and Morality

• PHI 150 – (HP) Critical Reasoning

• PHI 152 – Scientific Reasoning

• PHI 180B – Metaphysics

Psychology

• Any PSY course

• PSY 1 – Intro to Psychology (needed prior to taking any other PSY courses)

• PSY 89 – Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine

Religion

• RELI 40 – (CC, HP) Yoga, Psychology and Health

• RELI 80 – (CC) Life, Death and Immortality

• RELI 88 – (CC, HP) Alternative Medicine and Religion

Rhetorical Studies

• RHET 1 – (CP) Oral Communication

• RHET 7 – (CP) Public Speaking

• RHET 124 – Communication, Culture and Illness

Sociology

• Any SOC course

• SOC 4 – (BH) Contemporary Society

• SOC 104 – (BH) Sociology of Health and Medicine (best option)

• SOC 134 – (BH) Race and Ethnicity in the US

• SOC 140 – (BH) Social Inequality

Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences

• SPCH 9 – (BH) Exploring the Communication Sciences

• SPCH 10 – (BH, CC) Multicultural Aspects of Communication and Communication Disorders

Writing Composition

• WSC 109 – (AA) Communicating Science in Public Culture

Image
Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

BS-BA/MD 4+4 Program

For students who have already decided to become a physician, Hofstra offers the highly selective BS-BA/MD 4+4 Program. After earning a BS or BA from Hofstra University, a student in this program moves directly to the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, where they enter an interactive and exciting educational environment designed to attract individuals interested in a creative approach to advanced learning.  The innovative, case-based curriculum  weaves science and clinical medicine tightly together and stresses putting knowledge into action, prepare them well for the practice of medicine in the 21st century.

Only students who demonstrate superior high school achievement and academic aptitude, and who apply to Hofstra as first-time, full-time freshmen will be considered. More information

First Year Experience Clusters

Hofstra offers an integrated curriculum for first-year students interested in pre-medical and pre-health studies. The First-Year Connections Program (FYC) offers two special, dedicated sections of 3 courses (or clusters) required for admission to professional schools. These two clusters create a support group of peers who share common interests and goals. 

1) Pre-Health Sciences: Biology and Chemistry provides 11 semester hours of coursework for first-year students who take biology, chemistry, and first-year composition (WSC 1). This Pre-Health Sciences Cluster offers General Biology I, General Chemistry and lab sections. The WSC 1 course emphasizes writing in the sciences.

2) The Pre-Health Sciences Cluster with a Biology Focus offers General Biology I, lab sections and WSC 1.

Intro to Clinical Research

The course PRMD 021A: Introduction to Clinical Research Methodology, Public Health, and the Hospital combines didactics, clinical shifts, and participation in research projects to provide an overview of clinical research. Students learn basic methodology of clinical research, including data collection and statistical analysis as well as regulations and ethics unique to the clinical setting. Students participate in clinical research projects where they will gain experience as a research assistant with the Emergency Department at Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

Center for University Advising

Undergraduate students interested in pursuing health-related professions after graduating from Hofstra should speak to their advisement deans as well as the pre-health adviser in the Center for University Advising. Advisement deans help students choose courses that will satisfy entrance requirements into the various health-related professional schools. The Center for University Advising is the official liaison between the University and health professional schools, and will assist students throughout the application process.

Image
Faculty member advising student

Services Provided:

The Center for University Advising helps guide Hofstra undergraduate students and alumni interested in entering a health-related professional school, from the moment they express such an interest through the professional school application process. The services provided by the Center for University Advising include:

  • Individual advising and counseling appointments for pre-health students regarding course selection and extracurricular activities
  • Presentations and training sessions on topics such as:
    • Professional school application services and processes
    • Writing and editing personal statements; individual critiquing
    • Tips for strengthening your medical school application
  • Information on:
    • Various health-related professions
    • Health-related professional schools
    • Summer programs and special programs
    • Post-baccalaureate programs

Premedical Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program in Natural Science

Many students do not decide until after college that they want to pursue a career in the health professions. This program provides an opportunity for both career changers and academic record enhancers to prepare for entrance into the medical profession of their choice. Students may also retake science courses to demonstrate an improved mastery of those subjects.

This program can be taken on a full- or part-time basis and may be completed in as few as 15 months.  Each student will receive a customized program plan based on academic background and career goals, which will be created with the help of specially trained advisors. In order to earn the Certificate in Natural Sciences, students must earn a minimum of 32 credits.

Postbacc students have access to numerous student organizations including: American Medical Student Association (AMSA), Hofstra Association of Pre-Dental Students, Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS), Physician Assistant Club (PA Club), Student Occupational Therapy Association, Student Members of the American Chemical Society (SMACS), National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, Health Professions Scholars Program (HPSP), and the Postbaccalaureate Student Network.

Popular reasons to pursue a Premedical Postbaccalaureate program:

•    Career Change – Students who have not previously studied the sciences pursue this degree for entrance into a medical/health profession of their choice
•    Academic Record – Students may wish to enhance their academic record with this course of study for entrance into a medical/health professions program of their choice
•   Individualized Advisement is geared towards preparing students for graduate medical and health professions  programs including: Medical Doctor (MD or DO), Physician Assistant, Dentistry, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Nursing, Veterinarian, Chiropractic, Speech Language Pathology and more. 
•    Priority registration opportunities
•    Application assistance to the graduate medical/health profession program of choice

Outcomes

Our recent alumni are pursuing advanced studies at: 

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
Drexel University College of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
New York University College of Dentistry
Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
SUNY Downstate Medical School
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Stanford School of Medicine
Tulane University School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Contact us

Pre-health/pre-med faculty and professional advisors provide expert and detailed guidance throughout your undergraduate preparation for professional school.

Ashley Gray
Pre-Health Advisor and Assistant Dean
Center for University Advising 
101 Memorial Hall
Email
516-463-6770

Ellen C. Miller, Ed.D.
Associate Dean, Center for University Advising
Director, Premedical Certificate program
101 Memorial Hall
Email
516 463-6770