For students in the Pre-medical, Pre-dental, and Pre-veterinarian programs, one year of mathematics is usually strongly recommended. Some medical schools specifically require one year of Calculus.
For the most part, we recommend any one of the following options for students in these pre-professional programs to complete both their Core Curriculum Requirement in Mathematics and follow the guidelines of these programs:
- Take MT100 Calculus I, followed by MT101 Calculus II; or
- Take MT101 Calculus II, followed by MT202 Multivariable Calculus; or
- Take MT101 Calculus II, followed by BI230 BioStatistics.
Please visit our Calculus Advisement page for more information on the MT100-MT101 sequence of Calculus courses, which closely mirrors the "AB" high school Calculus curriculum.
Notes
- A majority of students in these programs (most are Biology majors) will take MT100 Calculus I in Fall semester, followed by MT101 Calculus II in Spring semester.
Students with strong mathematical backgrounds and AP credit should consider taking MT101 Calculus II in the Fall semester, followed by either BI230 BioStatistics or MT202 Multivariable Calculus. This allows you to get more quickly involved in intellectually-challenging, upper-level courses. However, this suggestion must be balanced against the fact that the first year of college is often a significant period of adjustment, which -- when combined with taking two science courses with laboratory -- suggests for some students the more conservative option of taking MT100 Calculus I in Fall semester, followed by MT101 Calculus II in Spring semester (even if this choice repeats material already learned in high school).
- Please note that pre-medical/pre-dental/pre-veterinary requirements may or may not coincide with the requirements of your major. In particular, students majoring in Chemistry, Geology-Geophysics, Geophysics, Mathematics, or Physics should complete Calculus courses for Math and Science majors (MT102 and MT103, instead of MT100 and MT101), due to requirements for these majors.
- Health professions graduate schools vary in their attitudes toward advanced placement, so students should contact individual schools if they have questions concerning how advanced placement in Mathematics is viewed. Generally, if you have received the equivalent of one year's worth of advanced placement in Mathematics, most schools will accept this and there is usually no need for you to take additional upper level math courses.
- If you are considering taking advantage of advanced placement, check with the Premedical Office and your proposed major department. Be sure as well to visit the Health Professions Graduate Studies home page for additional program guidance.