Pre-Professional Medical
Admissions and Records
- Email: admissions@svcc.edu
- Phone: (815) 835-6273
- Fax: (815) 456-4240
- Visit Admissions to view Hours
Associate in Science Degree with a Concentration in
Pre-Professional Medical (510)
This concentration in preprofessional medical outlines the basic lower-level courses required by medical, chiropractic, dental, optometry, veterinary, and pharmacy schools. Students prepare for admission to a professional school by completing required math and science courses in a bachelor’s degree such as biology, chemistry, psychology or a related program.
The associate in science (A.S.) degree is designed to complete the lower-division (freshman and sophomore) portion of a bachelor of science degree in STEM related majors. As a result, the A.S. degree does not include the entire General Education Core Curriculum. Therefore, students will need to complete MORE general education courses after transfer by completing the GECC curriculum while enrolled at the participating Illinois transfer institution OR fulfilling the general education requirements of their selected non-participating transfer institution
Follow this link for career information.
Transfer Considerations
Students who have already chosen the university to which they plan to transfer should consult that institution's catalog or department advisor and an SVCC academic advisor in planning their program.
- Pre-professional undergraduate programs are areas of interest, not majors.
- Strong math-dependent science coursework is required to prepare for pre-professional studies. Completion of anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and/or physics sequences is recommended prior to transfer.
Competitive Admissions
Since admission is competitive, completing the recommended courses does not by itself guarantee admission.
Undergraduate admission requirements will vary depending on selected major.
For professional schools, typical admission requirements include:
- **A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Competitive cumulative and science-based grade point average
- Prerequisite courses completed successfully
- Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or a similar admission test completed
- Professional school application that can require letters of recommendation, professional essays, personal statement, work/activities, interview
Special Considerations
- Preprofessional health careers require advanced study at a professional school. For instance, to become a medical doctor, students need to earn an MD (medical degree) followed by a residency program. Some specialty areas require longer residencies or a fellowship program.
- **Some professional health programs competitively admit students with 3 years of undergraduate study including prerequisite coursework
- Practical experience in the healthcare field is highly recommended. This includes volunteer and work experience.
- For more information, go to the following sites based on pre-professional program interests: American Chiropractic Association: www.acatoday.org Association of Medical Colleges: www.aamc.org American Optometric Association: http://www.aoa.org American Veterinary Association: www.avma.org American Dental Association: www.ada.org American Academy of Physician Assistants: www.aapa.org Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education: www.acpe-accredit.org
Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College
- Academic Advising, 815-835-6354
Minimum Total Credit Hours - 65-66 Hours
Suggested Course Sequence
First Semester - 18 Hours
| Course # | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| * BIO105 | Principles of Biology | 5 Hours |
| A survey of the basic principles of biology including nature of science cells structure and function of organisms genetics evolution and ecology. This course is designed to satisfy the biology requirement for general education and vocation-occupational curriculum majors. It provides a basis for understanding principles common to all major fields of biology for the science or professional major. This course along with BIO 123 Introduction to Botany and BIO 131 General Zoology is part of the three-semester sequence that satisfies the IAI 910 Biology requirement. Students who have completed BIO 105 with a grade of C or better will not receive credit for BIO 103 or BIO 104. Prerequisite None5 Semester hoursIllinois Articulation Initiative IAI L1 910L BIO 910 LectureLab Hours 4 lec 2 labweek | ||
| CHE105 | General Chemistry I | 5 Hours |
| This course involves the study of matter measurements the periodic table of the elements atomic structure basic concepts of quantum theory bonding stoichiometry of compounds and reactions solution chemistry introduction to acids and bases thermochemistry the gaseous state and basic concepts of the liquid and solid states. This class is for chemistry engineering premedical and science majors.Prerequisite One year of high school chemistry or CHE 103 or CHE 102. 5 Semester hoursIllinois Articulation Initiative IAI P1 902L CHM 911LectureLab Hours 3 lec 3 labweek | ||
| ENG101 | Composition I | 3 Hours |
| This course 1 develops awareness of the writing process 2 provides inventional organizational and editorial strategies 3 stresses the variety of uses for writing and 4 emphasizes critical skills in reading thinking and writing.Prerequisite Required placement score on approved English placement test high school unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher or a grade of C or higher in ELA 099.3 Semester hoursIllinois Articulation Initiative IAI C1 900LectureLab Hours 3 lecweek | ||
| FYE101 | First Year Experience | 1 Hour |
| The focus of this course is how to be successful in college. Study skills goal setting academic planning time and money management and information research skills are among the core topics included in this course. Within a supportive environment students will share their college experiences and develop connections with fellow students and SVCC staff. Prerequisite None1 Semester hoursLectureLab Hours 1 lecweek | ||
| MAT203 | Calculus & Analytic Geometry I | 4 Hours |
| The elementary concepts of differential and integral calculus are introduced and applications are discussed. These include limits continuity the derivative rules of differentiation the indefinite and definite integral. Trigonometric functions are dealt with. Some applications are related rates graphing extreme value problems and Newtons method for finding roots of equations.Prerequisite A grade of C or better in MAT 121 College Algebra AND MAT 122 Trigonometry OR appropriate placement see current placement score prerequisite chart 4 Semester hoursIllinois Articulation Initiative IAI M1 900-1 MTH 901LectureLab Hours 4 lecweek | ||
Second Semester - 17-18 Hours
| Course # | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Social / Behavioral Science | 3 Hours | |
| Fine Arts | 3 Hours | |
| Additional Mathematics | 3-4 Hours | |
| CHE106 | General Chemistry II | 5 Hours |
| This course is a continuation of CHE 105. This course involves the study of solutions acids and bases equilibria acid-base equilibria solubility equilibria kinetics thermodynamics electrochemistry coordination compounds and nuclear chemistry. This class is for chemistry engineering premedical and science majors.Prerequisite CHE 1055 Semester hoursIllinois Articulation Initiative IAI CHM 912LectureLab Hours 3 lec 3 labweek | ||
| ENG103 | Composition II | 3 Hours |
| An advanced course in essay writing with emphasis on formal research ENG 103 serves to develop a proficiency in the collection and selection of data as applied to the completion of a formal research paper. In addition students receive instruction in logic and reasoning including the fundamentals of argumentative and persuasive writing. Prerequisite A grade of C or higher in ENG 101 or its equivalent or consent of instructor. 3 Semester hoursIllinois Articulation Initiative IAI C1 901RLectureLab Hours 3 lecweek | ||
Third Semester - 16 Hours
| Course # | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Social / Behavioral Science | 3 Hours | |
| * BIO131 | General Zoology | 5 Hours |
| An introduction to the principles of classification of animals followed by a systematic study of invertebrate and vertebrate animals including their morphology physiology and natural history. Concepts of evolution paleontology and ecology are discussed. This course along with BIO 105 Principles of Biology and BIO 123 Introduction to Botany is part of the three semester sequence that satisfies the IAI Bio 910 Biology major requirement. Prerequisite BIO 105 with a grade of C or higher. 5 Semester hoursIllinois Articulation Initiative IAI L1 910L BIO 910LectureLab Hours 4 lec 2 labweek | ||
| CHE201 | Organic Chemistry I | 5 Hours |
| This course covers the following topics bonding molecular structure and properties reactivity and nomenclature of alkanes cycloalkanes alkenes alkynes alkyl halides alcohols and ethers stereochemistry nucleophilic substitution and elimination reaction infrared spectroscopy. Laboratory is required. Prerequisite CHE 106 - General Chemistry II. Students should complete both CHE 201 and CHE 202 before transferring to another institution.Prerequisite CHE 1065 Semester hoursIllinois Articulation Initiative IAI CHM 913LectureLab Hours 3 lec 4 labweek | ||
| - OR - | ||
| PHY201 | General Physics I | 5 Hours |
| This course is a survey of the general principles of mechanics sound and heat. It is designed for 1 those students whose curriculum requires a one-year course in physics pre-medical pre-dental architecture agriculture radio communication 2 engineering students who have not had high school physics 3 students who have an interest in the field of physics and select it to satisfy the science requirement of their curriculum. The main objective of the course is to acquaint the student with the experimental method to develop laboratory skills and to present the student with an organized body of knowledge related to physical phenomena encountered in the students life. Prerequisite MAT 121 or higher5 Semester hoursIllinois Articulation Initiative IAI P1 900LLectureLab Hours 4 lec 2 labweek | ||
| COM131 | Intro to Oral Communication | 3 Hours |
| The oral communication course combines communication theory with the practice of oral communication skills. The course 1 develops awareness of the communication process 2 provides inventional organizational and expressive strategies 3 promotes understanding of and adaptation to a variety of communication contexts and 4 emphasizes critical skills in listening reading thinking and speaking.Prerequisite None3 Semester hoursIllinois Articulation Initiative IAI C2 900LectureLab Hours 3 lecweek | ||
Fourth Semester - 14 Hours
| Course # | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Development | 3 Hours | |
| Humanities | 3 Hours | |
| Social / Behavioral Science or Major Field Requirement | 3 Hours | |
| CHE202 | Organic Chemistry II | 5 Hours |
| This course covers the following topics Nomenclature reactions and synthesis of aldehydes ketones carboxylic acids and their derivatives aromatic compounds conjugated dienes dicarbonyl compounds amines amino acids proteins carbohydrates phenols NMR spectroscopy and MS spectrometry. Laboratory is required. Prerequisite CHE 2015 Semester hoursIllinois Articulation Initiative IAI CHM 914LectureLab Hours 3 lec 4 labweek | ||
| - OR - | ||
| PHY202 | General Physics II | 5 Hours |
| This course is a survey of the general principles of electricity magnetism light and optics and modern physics. It provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts and mathematics associated with physics as an organized body of knowledge based on the scientific method. Prerequisite PHY 201. Semester hours 5LectureLab Hours 4 lec 2 labweek | ||
Footnotes
* Some institutions require BIO 123 Intro to Botany in addition to BIO 105 and 131. BIO 109 & 110 may also be required by some transfer institutions.