All information is subject to change. Please consult with a counselor for updated information.
Please check with an admissions counselor for your pre-health program for specific admission requirements.
BIOL 125- Human Anatomy
BIOL 226- Human Physiology
BIOL 206- Genetics
BIOL 222- Microbiology
BIOL 200- Principles of Biology 1 (Molecular and Cellular Biology)
BIOL 201- Principles of Biology 2 (Diversity and Ecology)
CHEM 130- General Chemistry
CHEM 140- General Chemistry
CHEM 230- Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 231- Organic Chemistry II
PHY 150- General Physics I
PHY 160- General Physics II
PHY 211- Physics for Scientists and Engineers – I
PHY 213- Physics for Scientists and Engineers – III
MATH 190- Calculus I
MATH 191- Calculus II
MATH 130- Statistics
PSY 190- Behavioral Statistics
PSY 101- General Psychology
PSY 112- Lifespan Development
SOC 101- Introduction to Sociology
SPEECH 101- Oral Communication
ENGLISH 101- Freshman Composition
ENGLISH 201- Critical Thinking
PHIL 112- Introduction to Logic
FOREIGN LANGUAGE COURSES
Post-baccalaureate degrees: MD, DO
The pre-medicine track is a rigorous sequence of courses in math, biology, chemistry and physics, and typically takes three years to complete.
Minimum Pre-requisites for Admission in General
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is required. Each program has its own prerequisites; check specific schools for detailed prerequisites and admission requirements. Furthermore, visit Association of American Medical Schools (AAMC) for assistance and additional resources.
General Course prerequisites include the following:
- 1 year English
- 1 year of General (Inorganic) Chemistry with Laboratory
- 1 year of Organic Chemistry with Laboratory
- 1 year of General Biology with Laboratory (Please consult a counselor or admissions rep for the campus you are applying to.)
- 1 year of Physics with Laboratory
Tests Needed
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Online MCAT registration is available on the AAMC website.
California Medical Schools
University of California Davis
University of California Irvine
University of California Los Angeles
University of California San Diego
University of California San Francisco
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine
Post-baccalaureate degree: PharmD
Pharmacists are health care professionals who dispense medications prescribed by physicians. They also counsel patients on proper drug use. Pharmacists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, retail businesses, long-term care facilities, internet pharmacies, and public health services.
Minimum Prerequisites for Admission
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is recommended. Each program has its own prerequisites; check specific schools for prerequisites details.
General course prerequisites include the following:
- 1 year of general biology with lab
- 1 year of biochemistry
- human anatomy and physiology
- microbiology with lab
- 1 year of general chemistry with lab
- 1 year of organic chemistry with lab
- 1 year of general physics with lab
- 1 year of English
- calculus, two courses
- speech, two courses
Test Needed
Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)
California Pharmacy Schools
California Northstate University
University of California Irvine
University of California San Diego
University of California San Francisco
Post-baccalaureate degree: DDS
Dentists play a significant role in our oral health care throughout our lives. Whether it’s maintenance in our early years, braces in our adolescent years, or treatment for gum disease or teeth extractions in our senior years, successful dentists are capable and compassionate practitioners.
Minimum Prerequisites for Admission
A baccalaureate degree strongly preferred. Each program has its own prerequisites; check specific schools for prerequisites details.
General course prerequisites include the following:
- 1 year of general biology with lab
- 1 year of general chemistry with lab
- 1 year of organic chemistry with lab
- 1 year of general physics with lab
- 1 year of English, one year
Other highly recommended courses are:
- upper division biology courses like human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology, histology, embryology, and cell biology
- business courses like personnel management, accounting, and marketing
- calculus
- psychology
- public speaking
- sociology
Test Needed
Dental Admission Test (DAT)
California Dental Schools
Loma Linda University
University of California San Francisco
University of California Los Angeles
Post-baccalaureate degree: OD
Optometrists are trained to provide eye-care for people who have vision problems or develop
them as a result of reduced ability to adjust their eyes to changing light and distance, a problem that often appears as we age. Optometrists spend much of their time assessing the vision status of each patient to provide individualized lenses, in the form of contact lenses or glasses. Recently, optometrists have also begun to perform laser surgeries on the eye and to specialize in low-vision care.
Minimum Prerequisites for Admission
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is preferred. Each program has its own prerequisites; check specific school for prerequisites details.
General course prerequisites include the following:
- at least 3 years of pre-optometric study, minimum 135 quarter units prior to admission
- 1 year of general biology with lab
- 1 year of general chemistry with lab
- 1 year of organic chemistry with lab
- 1 year of general physics with lab
- 1 year of English
- calculus
- statistics
- biochemistry
- microbiology
- psychology
- anatomy
- cellular physiology
Test Needed
Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
California Optometry Schools
Marshal B. Ketchum University, Southern California College of Optometry
Post-baccalaureate degree: DVM
Veterinarians specialize in providing medical care for domestic food animals, pets, zoo animals and those of the wild. Part of their activities are also providing for the health of the human population by controlling animal diseases such as rabies and mad cow disease. In addition, they inspect our meats, fish and milk to keep these foods safe for us.
Minimum Pre-requisites for Admission
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is required. Each program has its own prerequisites; check specific school for detail prerequisites. Furthermore, visit American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for assistance and additional resources.
General course prerequisites include the following:
- 1 year of English
- 1 year of general (inorganic) chemistry with lab
- 1 year of organic chemistry with lab
- 1 course of biochemistry
- 1 year of college mathematics including college algebra, college trigonometry, calculus and/or statistics
- 1 year of general biology with lab
- 1 year of physics with lab
Other highly recommended courses are:
- Animal Nutrition
- Animal Husbandry
- Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals
- Genetics of Domestic Animals
- Mammalian Endocrinology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Medical Bacteriology
- Virology
- Medical Mycology
- Cell, Molecular, and developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Concepts of Molecular Biology
- Anatomy
- Embryology
- Animal Physiology
- Histology
Animal experience requirements include a minimum of 300 hours of veterinary-related experience through internship and/or externship.
Tests Needed:
GRE or MCAT or VCAT
Online MCAT registration is available on the AAMC website.
California Veterinary Schools
University of California Davis
Post-baccalaureate degree: OT, OTD
Occupational therapy is the art and science of helping people do the day-to-day activities that are important and meaningful to their health and well-being. Occupational Therapists (OTs) make it possible for people who face physical, cognitive, or mental health changes to participate more fully in their life roles at home and at the school, at work, and at play. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.
Minimum Pre-requisites for Admission
The following prerequisites must be completed prior to matriculation in an occupational therapy program:
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is required. Each program has its own prerequisites; check specific school for prerequisites details. Note that some schools will not accept AP credit for prerequisites.
General course prerequisites include the following:
- 1 year of general biology with lab
- human anatomy and physiology with lab
- 1 year of general chemistry with lab
- 1 year of English
- statistics
- 1 year of behavioral science
Test Needed
Most programs require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for admission and have established a GRE Code for the reporting of scores.
California Occupational Therapy Schools
California State University Dominguez Hills
Post-baccalaureate degrees: MPT, DPT
Physical therapists (PTs) are evidence-based healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. They offer cost-effective treatment that improves mobility and relieves pain, reduces the need for surgery and prescription drugs, and allows patients to participate in a recovery plan designed for their specific needs. In addition, physical therapists work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.
Minimum Prerequisites for Admission
The following prerequisites must be completed prior to matriculation in a physical therapy program:
baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
- 1 year of general biology with lab
- 1 year of general chemistry with lab
- 1 year of general physics with lab
- 1 year of English
- statistics
- 1 year of behavioral science
- human anatomy and physiology with lab
Test Needed
Most programs require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for admission.
California Physical Therapy Schools
Azusa Pacific University
California State University Fresno
California State University Long Beach
California State University Northridge
California State University Sacramento
California State University San Diego
University of California San Francisco
University of Southern California
University of Southern California Hybrid Program
Post-Baccalaureate Certification: PA-C
Physician Assistants (PAs) are health care professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. PAs provide physical exams, order and administer tests, make diagnoses, and treat illnesses. PAs work in a variety of settings including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and surgical centers. They are qualified to practice in over 60 specialty areas.
Minimum Pre-requisites for Admission
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is require with a minimum cumulative overall G.P.A. of 2.5 with minimum pre-requisite GPA of 2.7.
General Course prerequisites include the following:
- 1 full year of English including composition
- 1 year of inorganic chemistry with lab
- 1 year of biology with lab
- physiology
- microbiology with lab
- genetics
- college algebra
- human anatomy
- psychology
- sociology
- statistics
- Spanish
- 1 year of humanities (i.e. Art, Music, Ethics, Philosophy, Foreign Languages, Religion)
It is strongly recommended that applicants also complete courses in:
- medical terminology
- biochemistry with lab
- immunology
- other biology courses
- organic Chemistry
Clinical health care experience include about 1000 hours of direct patient contact.
Tests Needed:
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
California Programs
University of Southern California
For information on Rio Hondo College’s nursing and orthopedic technician program, visit the Health Sciences office in S206, call (562)-463-3227, or click here.
