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Exploring Health Professions and Prerequisite Courses
If you are still exploring careers in healthcare, visit explorehealthcareers.org.
Below are some of the general prerequisite coursework to consider as you academically prepare for a health professional graduate program. Each program will have their own prerequisite courses and requirements. For example, some programs require all prerequisite courses to be complete at the time of application and some programs may not accept AP or online courses.
It is important to check individual programs to ensure that you are meeting, and even exceeding, minimum requirements.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for information about fulfilling English requirements.
Allopathic (MD) & Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Accordion Closed
Course | NAU equivalent |
|---|---|
Biology | BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs |
Chemistry | CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs |
Organic Chemistry | CHM 235 and CHM 238 with labs |
Biochemistry | CHM 360 |
Physics | PHY 111 and PHY 112 |
Psychology | PSY 101 |
Sociology | SOC 101 |
Check The Medical School Admission Requirements for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each MD program.
Check Choose DO Explorer for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each DO program.
Athletic Training Accordion Closed
| Course | NAU equivalent |
|---|---|
| Biology | BIO 181 with lab |
| Anatomy and Physiology | BIO 201 & BIO 202 with labs |
| Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology and/or Exercise Physiology | BIO 334 and BIO 338 |
| Biomechanics | BIO 442 |
| Chemistry | CHM 151 with lab |
| Nutrition | NTS 135 |
| Physics | PHY 111 |
| Psychology | PSY 101 |
Check AT Each Moment for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each program.
Chiropractic Accordion Closed
Most chiropractic programs require completion of at least 3 years of undergraduate study at an accredited institution, and an increasing number of programs are now requiring a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. At least 24 units will include physical and life science courses.
Minimum 24 units of life and physical science courses, at least 12 units should have a lab. Recommended courses include the following:
Course | NAU equivalent |
|---|---|
Biology | BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs |
Anatomy and Physiology | BIO 201 and BIO 202 with labs |
Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology and/or Exercise Physiology | BIO 334 and BIO 338 |
Biomechanics | BIO 442 |
Chemistry | CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs |
Math or Statistics | College-Level Math or STA 270 |
Organic Chemistry | CHM 235 and CHM 238 |
Biochemistry | CHM 360 |
Physics | PHY 111 and PHY 112 |
Social Science Courses | ANT, POS, PHY, SOC courses |
Psychology | PSY 101 |
Check The Association of Chiropractic Colleges for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each program.
Dentistry Accordion Closed
Course | NAU equivalent |
|---|---|
Biology | BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs |
Anatomy and Physiology | BIO 201 with lab (possibly BIO 202 with lab) |
Chemistry | CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs |
Organic Chemistry | CHM 235 and CHM 238 with labs |
Physics | PHY 111 and PHY 112 |
Course developing hand dexterity recommended | ART 135, ART 161, ART 181, etc. |
Check The American Dental Education Association for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each program.
Naturopathic Medicine Accordion Closed
Prerequisite courses vary by program. Recommended courses can include the following:
Course | NAU equivalent |
|---|---|
Biology | BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs |
Chemistry | CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs |
Organic Chemistry | CHM 235 and CHM 238 |
Biochemistry | CHM 360 |
Physics | PHY 111 and PHY 112 |
Psychology | PSY 101 |
Sociology | SOC 101 |
Humanities Courses | ARH, ART, HUM, PHI, REL |
Check The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each program.
Occupational Therapy Accordion Closed
Course | NAU equivalent |
|---|---|
Biology | BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs |
Anatomy and Physiology | BIO 201 and BIO 202 with labs |
Chemistry | CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs |
Statistics | STA 270 |
Psychology Courses | PSY 101, PSY 215, PSY 240, etc. |
Humanities and Social Science Courses | ANT, ARH, ART, HIS, HUM, PHI, REL, SOC, etc. |
Check The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each program.
Optometry Accordion Closed
Course | NAU equivalent |
|---|---|
Biology | BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs |
Anatomy and Physiology | BIO 201 and BIO 202 with labs |
Microbiology | BIO 205 |
Chemistry | CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs |
Organic Chemistry | CHM 235 with lab |
Biochemistry | CHM 360 |
Calculus | MAT 136 |
Statistics | STA 270 |
Psychology | PSY 101 |
Check The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each program.
Pharmacy Accordion Closed
Course | NAU equivalent |
|---|---|
Biology | BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs |
Anatomy and Physiology | BIO 201 and BIO 202 with labs |
Microbiology | BIO 205 |
Chemistry | CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs |
Organic Chemistry | CHM 235 and CHM 238 with labs |
Biochemistry | CHM 360 |
Calculus | MAT 136 and MAT 137 |
Physics | PHY 161 and PHY 262 |
Statistics | STA 270 |
Psychology | PSY 101 |
Humanities Courses | ARH, ART, HIS, HUM, PHI, REL, etc. |
Public Speaking | CST 111 |
Economics | ECO 284 or ECO 285 |
Check The Pharmacy College Application Service for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each program.
Physical Therapy Accordion Closed
Course | NAU equivalent |
|---|---|
Biology | BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs |
Anatomy and Physiology | BIO 201 and BIO 202 with labs |
Chemistry | CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs |
Physics | PHY 111 and PHY 112 |
Statistics | STA 270 |
Psychology Courses | PSY 101, PSY 215, PSY 240, etc. |
Check The Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each program.
Physician Assistant (PA) Accordion Closed
| Course | NAU Equivalent |
|---|---|
Biology | BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs |
Anatomy and Physiology | BIO 201 and BIO 202 with labs |
Microbiology | BIO 205 |
Chemistry | CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs |
Organic Chemistry | CHM 235 and CHM 238 with labs |
Biochemistry | CHM 360 |
Statistics | STA 270 |
Psychology | PSY 101 |
Social Science Courses | PSY, SOC, ANT, ECO, HIS, ES, POS, etc |
*Check The Physician Assistant Education Association for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each program.
Podiatry Accordion Closed
Course | NAU equivalent |
|---|---|
Biology | BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs |
Chemistry | CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs |
Organic Chemistry | CHM 235 and CHM 238 with labs |
Physics | PHY 111 and PHY 112 |
Check Step Into Podiatry for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each program.
Veterinary Medicine Accordion Closed
Course | NAU equivalent |
|---|---|
Biology | BIO 181 and BIO 182 with labs |
Microbiology | BIO 205 |
Chemistry | CHM 151 and CHM 152 with labs |
Organic Chemistry | CHM 235 and CHM 238 with labs |
Biochemistry | CHM 360 |
Physics | PHY 111 and PHY 112 |
Math or Statistics | College-Level Math or STA 270 |
Humanities and Social Science Courses | ANT, ARH, ART, HIS, HUM, PHI, REL, SOC, etc. |
Check The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges for a complete list of pre-requisite courses for each program.
Fulfilling English requirement at NAU:
NAU requires 1 semester of English (ENG 105 – 4 units), but some competitive graduate healthcare programs may ask for two semesters (or 6 units). There are a few ways you can complete your 2nd semester of English:
- ENG 105 (4 units) + ENG 205 (2 units) = 6 units (NAU)
- ENG 101 (3 units) + ENG 102 (3 units) = 6 units (community college)
- ENG 101 (3 units) + ENG 205 (2 units) = 5 units (community college + NAU)
- Ask the program if your Junior Level Writing Requirement could count as a 2nd English course (e.g. BIO 365W)