Pre-Health at Carthage

Carthage offers many ways for students to prepare for medical school or graduate programs for the health professions. The College serves students who are interested in:

The College also prepares students who are interested in a career as a physician’s assistant or in public health, or who want to pursue a master's or doctoral degree in genetics, biochemistry and other biomedical fields.

Majors

Most pre-health students major in one of the natural sciences, such as biology, chemistry, psychology or neuroscience. Pre-health students can major in any area, but students should know the admission requirements of their intended medical school or program. The following courses are prerequisites for most medical programs: one year of biology, one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, and one year of physics. Students need to become familiar with the additional prerequisites of the particular school or program to which they plan to apply.

Pre-health Advising

All Carthage students work closely with their advisors during their years at Carthage. Pre-health students are assigned a faculty advisor who will assist them in determining which courses they should take and which career best suits their interests and ultimate goals.

Undergraduate Research

Giving students opportunities to do real research, guided by faculty, is a priority in the Division of Natural Sciences at Carthage. Unique academic programs like SURE give students significant research experiences, and all faculty in the division involve students in their ongoing research projects. This emphasis on undergraduate research has helped Carthage students gain acceptance into national research programs, such as REU, and Carthage students regularly present their findings at regional and national conferences.

Special Academic Programs

In addition to research on campus, pre-health students at Carthage have the opportunity for field study off campus and around the world. During J-Term, students have the opportunity to travel to Arizona, Belize, Costa Rica, China and Nicaragua to study biology, ecology and geography. The Nicaragua J-Term trip is especially popular with pre-health students, because students work in the country's rural medical clinics.

Carthage also offers a major in neuroscience, a minor in entrepreneurial studies intended to give science majors real-world business skills, and dual-degree programs in medical physics, pharmacy, and occupational therapy. Read about the special academic programs for pre-health students.

Academics at Carthage

Prospective Students

J-Term in Nicaragua

This annual trip allows Carthage students to explore the geography of Ometepe, and treat patients in the island's medical clinics. Watch the video.

Student Voices

"The thing I love most about Carthage is the feeling of community. Even as I learn to think and act as an individual, Carthage has also taught me the importance of being a part of something bigger than myself."

— Bridget Holck, '11, McHenry, Ill.

Hear what students have to say about studying pre-health at Carthage.

Research Opportunities

Summer Undergraduate Research Experience leads to real world success. Read more.