Health Professions
Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) and Student Health Professions Network Website
Skidmore has a Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) and Student Health Professions Network to help students who are interested in a health profession plan their program of study to maximize their chances for admission to graduate programs. Those health professions may include: medical doctor (MD; allopathic medicine), osteopathic doctor (DO; osteopathic medicine), dentist, veterinarian, physician assistant, nurse, nurse practitioner, physical therapist, or chiropractor. Interested students should review the HPAC website and discuss with their summer academic advisor their interest in pursuing a health profession so that they can appropriately plan their academic program according to their interests and objectives.
For answers to frequently asked questions, please see: https://www.skidmore.edu/hpac/incoming-student-FAQ.php
Please review the chart of classes to fulfill the typical pre-requisite for pre-health tracks including medicine, dentistry, nursing, PA, PT, and veterinary medicine: https://www.skidmore.edu/hpac/documents/Prerequisite-Chart-for-Health-Professions.pdf
For advice prior to registering for classes for the fall semester, students may contact Professor Kelly Sheppard, Chair of Health Professions Advisory Committee, at ksheppar@skidmore.edu.
Upon arrival to Skidmore in the fall, pre-health students should sign up with the Student Health Professions Network; at that time students will be assigned a secondary academic advisor from the Health Professions Advisory Committee.
Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Veterinary Studies
A typical pre-med, pre-vet, or pre-dental student will need to complete at least one year of biology, two years of chemistry, one year of physics, one year of calculus, and one year of English, in addition to major and all-college requirements. The most appropriate curricular schedule for a given student depends on level of preparation, timetable for applying to health professions programs, or other factors such as plans to study abroad, adding a second major or a minor to one’s main area of academic interest, or spending the first semester in the London program.
Generally speaking, first semester pre-med, pre-vet or pre-dental students should take BI 107 or BI 108, CH 115 or CH 125 (depending on the results of the General Chemistry Placement Diagnostic), and either EN 105, MA 111, or an elective course, along with the Scribner Seminar. This schedule is optimal for completing the necessary courses that one can apply to health professional programs during the summer after the junior year of college for admission immediately after graduation. However, individual students may be advised to choose alternative schedules. It is most important to consult with a member of HPAC each semester to plan an academic program that best meets each student’s individual needs because pre-health profession students also need to prepare for standardized tests such as the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and plan for recommended research, clinical, internship and co-curricular experiences. Students may also join the student-led Pre-Health Club.
Recommended courses
An ideal first-year program for a student interested in a health profession would be:
Fall Semester
Course 1:
SSP 100 Scribner Seminar
Course 2:
BI 107 Molecular and Cellular Foundations of Life or BI 108 Organismal Biology
Course 3:
*CH 115 Fundamentals of Chemistry or CH 125 Principles of Chemistry
Course 4:
Suggestions for a fourth course include a writing course (EN 103, EN 105, EN 105H,
EN 110, or another Expository Writing-designated course, depending on your placement);
a course to fulfill a different All-College requirement (Humanistic Inquiry, Artistic
Inquiry, Global Cultural Perspectives, or Language Study); MA 111 Calulus I or MA
113 Calculus II, depending on placement; or a another course to explore a potential
major depending on interests
Spring Semester
Course 1:
BI 108: Organismal Biology or BI 107: Molecular and Cellular Foundations of Life
Course 2:
CH 126 Principles of Chemistry (if CH 115 was taken in the fall) or CH 221 Organic
Chemistry I (if CH 125 was taken in the fall)
Course 3:
You may want to consider a writing course if you haven't completed the Expository
Witing requirement yet; a calculus course (MA 111 or MA 113); a course of interest
to fulfill another All-College requirement; or a course to explore a potential major
or minor or to expand your intellectual horizons.
Course 4:
Select a course that interests you that fulfills an All-College requirement or to
explore a potential major or minor or to expand your intellectual horizons.
*General Chemistry Placement Diagnostic exam required. CH 115 and CH 125 are only offered in the fall.
Common variations from this schedule include the following:
- Pre-med students are not required to major in the natural sciences, and choice of major makes no significant difference in competitiveness.
- Non-science majors should balance their non-science interests with taking pre-requisites in a timely manner. It is doable but requires planning. Decisions should be guided by background, interests, and individual timetables.
- All pre-med students who are not considering a major in math or physics can take calculus later, but keep in mind that calculus is a co-requisite (needs to be taken at the same time or before) for physics at Skidmore (MA 111 Calculus I for PY 130 Introductory Physic I and MA 113 Calculus II for PY 140 Introductory Physics II).
- Potential Neuroscience majors could substitute NS 101 Introduction to Neuroscience for a biology course during their first year.
- Potential Health & Human Physiological Sciences majors could substitute HP 126 Human Anatomy and Physiology I for a biology course in the fall and then HP 127 Human Anatomy and Physiology II in the spring. Note, HP 127 has HP 126 as a pre-requisite.
- The 4-6 semesters of Chemistry courses are sequential with one another (e.g., CH 125 or CH 126 are the pre-requisite to take CH 221 Organic Chemistry I, and CH 221 is the pre-requisite to take CH 222 Organic Chemistry II).
- BI 107 Molecular and Cellular Foundations of Life and BI 108 Organismal Biology can be taken in any order (e.g., BI 108 before BI 107).
- Students should discuss with their advisor how many lab-based classes are appropriate for them to take within a given semester. The general recommendation is two lab sciences in a semester, especially if you want to go to programs directly after graduating Skidmore and or want to study abroad. Three can be a lot in the first semester. One may result in you needing to take courses over the summer or to take a gap year before going to your program of interest.
- Study abroad is encouraged but requires doubling up on organic chemistry and physics in the sophomore year, or delaying application to medical school by one year, or taking pre-requisite courses over the summer.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from New York University rory meyers College of Nursing (NYUCN)
New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing currently has an articulation agreement with Skidmore College. This articulation agreement enables Skidmore College students to complete requirements of the baccalaureate program at Skidmore College and enroll in the 15-Month Accelerated BS Program offered by New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing post-graduation. For more information see http://www.skidmore.edu/hpac/nursing/course-requirement-nursing.php.
Interested students are encouraged to contact Professor Kelly Sheppard, Chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee, at ksheppar@skidmore.edu.
Allied Health Professions
Skidmore College offers qualified students the opportunity to earn dual degrees in liberal arts and sciences and professional degrees in physical therapy and occupational therapy through cooperative programs at Russell Sage College Graduate School. Students may earn a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy through a cooperative 4+2 program, or a Doctor of Physical Therapy through a cooperative 4+3 program. These are challenging programs designed for students interested in entering the allied health professions. For more information see http://www.skidmore.edu/hpac/physical-occupational/index.php.
Interested students are encouraged to contact T.H. Reynolds, Chair and Professor of Health and Human Physiological Sciences Department, at treynold@skidmore.edu or 518-580-8349.