Pre-Medical Preparation
Pre-Health Courses
Medical schools have been revising their required courses to reflect the changing nature of medicine, and many are placing an increased emphasis on a broad-based liberal arts education instead of merely a checklist of science courses. For example, preparing for medical school now includes courses in sociology, psychology, and intercultural communication. In addition to course offerings from Science and Mathematics, the Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration, and a full semester of study abroad, our Life Sciences courses will also help prepare students for their applications to medical school and health-affiliated programs.
Chemistry Foundations. The introduction to science at Soka that includes quantitative skills and a rich project-based laboratory research experience in drug design.
Integrated Biology and Chemistry. An innovative interdisciplinary course focused on the molecular biology of cancer and the underlying chemistry of cell biology. The integration will develop increased understanding and direct application of essential concepts in both biology and chemistry. Laboratory research will focus on cancer biology using model systems.
Single Semesters Each of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. Rather than a traditional one-year organic chemistry course designed for students pursuing chemistry careers, integrating relevant topics from both organic chemistry and biochemistry allows for better focus on students pursuing careers in the health sciences.
Physics for Life Sciences. Rather than offering physics courses to prepare engineers, these courses will feature applications of physics in a biological context.
Contact
To inquire about Health Professions, please email prehealth@soka.edu.
Advisory Board Members and Specialists
Associate provost of National University of Singapore and former professor at UCSF and Duke-NUS Medical School, Kamei, a licensed pediatrician, is one of the founders of the educational program at Duke-NUS and developed new forms of team-based learning and assessment that is being emulated worldwide.
Linton serves as associate dean of admissions at Duke University Medical school, and is licensed in pediatric emergency medicine. His work includes all phases of medical education and practice, as well as admissions and curriculum design for medical schools.
Richard Lewis is chair of the psychology department at Pomona College, and has directed its pre-medical advising program for over 15 years. He was part of a national advisory committee that recently redesigned the MCAT examination.