General Information
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Health Professions Program is administered jointly by the health professions faculty and by the Center for Career Development. Any student interested in pursuing a career within the health professions (medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, nursing, etc.) should contact the Health Professions team.
In the summer, first-year students who have expressed interest in a health-related career receive notice to attend an informational meeting. At this meeting, we will cover information regarding required coursework and the Health Professions advising program. Interested students will receive invitations to group advising sessions or enroll in the Health Professions Program 101 course, Exploring the Health Professions, in the fall semester, covering a variety of topics. Following group advising or completion of the course, we will add interested individuals to the Health Professions Program student roster after receiving completed entry materials.
We will assign each student to a Health Professions Advisor. The advisor will work with the student each semester on course selection. The Health Professions Advisor in the Center for Career Development supports all Health Professions Program students and alumni with health career information and assistance as requested by students during the professional school application and interview process.
Most students major in one of the sciences; however, applicants can pursue any major based on their interests. Students must prove their academic capability to perform superior work in the required science courses. Building pre-professional competencies is important in preparing for the application process.
If planning to attend professional school immediately following graduation, students in all majors should finish their science courses by the end of junior year to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or other professional exams. At the earliest, candidates should take these tests in the spring of their junior year. Many professional school applicants choose to wait until after graduation to take their tests and apply for professional school programs. These students often participate in "post-baccalaureate (or post-bac)" programs to gain experience before their chosen program.
EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES
Both the Health Professions Program and Pre-Health Society Club, the student club for those with an interest in pursuing health professions, and our MAPS Club (Minority Association of Pre-Health Students) provide workshops with alumni and guest speakers discussing treatments, techniques, and educational opportunities. New organizations include the Pre-Optometry Society, Pre-Dental Society, and Pre-Veterinary Society. Many of these programs are interactive and offer students opportunities to connect directly with professionals in various medical and healthcare fields. Career interest groups can be created for students exploring other health professions, such as nursing, physician assistant/associate, or physical and occupational therapy, among others (Allied Health).
Experiential opportunities exist locally with six hospitals as well as non-profit, healthcare-related organizations. Our students begin exploring internships, clinical-related opportunities, and research work following their first year on campus. They may explore options with the Health Professions Advisor in the Center for Career Development and find roles that are locally, regionally, or nationally based.
The Health Professions Program is here to support our students in the exploration and achievement of professional accomplishments. After graduation, our alumni pursue medical and other healthcare professions programs across the US and internationally.
COURSES
COMMON COURSES TO COMPLETE BEFORE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL APPLICATION
Chemistry: 5 semesters (inorganic - 131, 132 or 141, 243; organic - 241, 242, and biochemistry – 331, no lab, or 342, with lab) *See notes below
Biology: 2 semesters (131, 132 - these courses are not sequential *)
(* Students planning to major in Neuroscience should take Biology 132 in the Fall and Psychology 125 in the spring of their first year.)
Physics: 2 semesters (sequence 141, 142 preferred; however, 131, 132 will suffice)
Note: The Dickinson Committee for the Health Professions requires completion of seven of the nine courses listed above (chemistry, biology, and physics) at Dickinson College for the committee letter evaluation process. The committee letter serves as an institutional recommendation for medical and dental school applications based on transcripts, activities, and character.
Mathematics: 2 semesters (choose: 170, 171, or 170, 121)
English/writing: 2 semesters
Psychology/sociology: Discuss options for specific courses with your Faculty Pre-Health Advisor. Depending on your healthcare interests, recommendations might include:
PSYC 120 Introduction to Health Psychology
PSYC 155 Human Development: Conception through Childhood
PSYC 160 Human Development: Adolescence through Death
PSYC 165 Psychopathology
And possibly other options
* Chemistry notes: Students with appropriate placement scores may substitute CHEM 141, Accelerated General Chemistry, for the CHEM 131/132 sequence, resulting in three of the four required courses for medical schools and other health professions programs. When scheduling the advanced course, students should explore whether the schools to which they plan to apply will still require four undergraduate chemistry courses. If so, the Committee recommends CHEM 243, Modern Chemical Analysis, as the “additional course.”
Chemistry 111 will not satisfy this requirement.
Professional schools and the Committee for the Health Professions will also accept CHEM 343, Metabolism, to meet the biochemistry requirement; however, CHEM 342, or a combination of both courses, would be preferred by the professional and medical schools in preparation for entry into their programs.
OPTIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES OFFERED BY THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS PROGRAM
HPPG 101: Exploring the Health Professions (0.5 credits, graded credit/no credit): Introductory seminar for students considering careers in clinical and allied health fields, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, physician assistant studies, physical and occupational therapy, pharmacy, public health, and related professions. Through short readings, guest panels, structured shadowing or site visits, informational interviews, and guided reflective assignments, students will compare career pathways, learn prerequisites and timelines, and build an individualized plan for curricular and co-curricular preparation. The course emphasizes professional identity formation through mentoring, networking, and community engagement, as well as ethical, equity, and systems-level perspectives on healthcare delivery and access.
HPPG 401: Healthcare Career Preparation Capstone (0.5 Credits graded credit/no credit): Intensive preparation seminar for junior and senior students applying to health professions graduate and professional programs. This course provides structured guidance on application timelines, centralized application systems, development of personal statements and secondary essays, preparation of professional CVs or résumés, selection and solicitation of letters of recommendation, standardized test preparation, and interview preparation, including traditional and multiple mini-interview (MMI) formats. Students engage in iterative drafting, peer and instructor feedback, mock interviews, and ethical discussions related to professional conduct and disclosure. The course culminates in a polished application preparation portfolio and a personalized post-submission plan. Although not required, this course is intentionally aligned with HPPG 1XX: Exploring the Health Professions and is recommended for students who have previously engaged in structured exploration and preparation planning through coursework or co-curricular programming.
Academic Plans
Meet with your Health Professions Advisor to discuss specific courses for individual health professions, such as physician assistant, physician, or others. In addition to the courses above, other prerequisite courses suggested by individual professional schools might include statistics, microbiology, human anatomy, human physiology, cell biology, genetics, histology, metabolism, nutrition, medical terminology, and humanities courses.
Major
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Health Professions Program is administered jointly by the health professions faculty and by the Center for Career Development. Any student interested in pursuing a career within the health professions (medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, nursing, etc.) should contact the Health Professions team.
In the summer, first-year students who have expressed interest in a health-related career receive notice to attend an informational meeting. At this meeting, we will cover information regarding required coursework and the Health Professions advising program. Interested students will receive invitations to group advising sessions or enroll in the Health Professions Program 101 course, Exploring the Health Professions, in the fall semester, covering a variety of topics. Following group advising or completion of the course, we will add interested individuals to the Health Professions Program student roster after receiving completed entry materials.
We will assign each student to a Health Professions Advisor. The advisor will work with the student each semester on course selection. The Health Professions Advisor in the Center for Career Development supports all Health Professions Program students and alumni with health career information and assistance as requested by students during the professional school application and interview process.
Most students major in one of the sciences; however, applicants can pursue any major based on their interests. Students must prove their academic capability to perform superior work in the required science courses. Building pre-professional competencies is important in preparing for the application process.
If planning to attend professional school immediately following graduation, students in all majors should finish their science courses by the end of junior year to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or other professional exams. At the earliest, candidates should take these tests in the spring of their junior year. Many professional school applicants choose to wait until after graduation to take their tests and apply for professional school programs. These students often participate in "post-baccalaureate (or post-bac)" programs to gain experience before their chosen program.
EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES
Both the Health Professions Program and Pre-Health Society Club, the student club for those with an interest in pursuing health professions, and our MAPS Club (Minority Association of Pre-Health Students) provide workshops with alumni and guest speakers discussing treatments, techniques, and educational opportunities. New organizations include the Pre-Optometry Society, Pre-Dental Society, and Pre-Veterinary Society. Many of these programs are interactive and offer students opportunities to connect directly with professionals in various medical and healthcare fields. Career interest groups can be created for students exploring other health professions, such as nursing, physician assistant/associate, or physical and occupational therapy, among others (Allied Health).
Experiential opportunities exist locally with six hospitals as well as non-profit, healthcare-related organizations. Our students begin exploring internships, clinical-related opportunities, and research work following their first year on campus. They may explore options with the Health Professions Advisor in the Center for Career Development and find roles that are locally, regionally, or nationally based.
The Health Professions Program is here to support our students in the exploration and achievement of professional accomplishments. After graduation, our alumni pursue medical and other healthcare professions programs across the US and internationally.
COURSES
COMMON COURSES TO COMPLETE BEFORE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL APPLICATION
Chemistry: 5 semesters (inorganic - 131, 132 or 141, 243; organic - 241, 242, and biochemistry – 331, no lab, or 342, with lab) *See notes below
Biology: 2 semesters (131, 132 - these courses are not sequential *)
(* Students planning to major in Neuroscience should take Biology 132 in the Fall and Psychology 125 in the spring of their first year.)
Physics: 2 semesters (sequence 141, 142 preferred; however, 131, 132 will suffice)
Note: The Dickinson Committee for the Health Professions requires completion of seven of the nine courses listed above (chemistry, biology, and physics) at Dickinson College for the committee letter evaluation process. The committee letter serves as an institutional recommendation for medical and dental school applications based on transcripts, activities, and character.
Mathematics: 2 semesters (choose: 170, 171, or 170, 121
English/writing: 2 semesters
Psychology/sociology: Discuss options for specific courses with your Faculty Pre-Health Advisor. Depending on your healthcare interests, recommendations might include:
PSYC 120 Introduction to Health Psychology
PYSC 155 Human Development: Conception through Childhood
PSYC 160 Human Development: Adolescence through Death
PSYC 165 Psychopathology
And possibly other options
* Chemistry notes: Students with appropriate placement scores may substitute CHEM 141, Accelerated General Chemistry, for the CHEM 131/132 sequence, resulting in three of the four required courses for medical schools and other health professions programs. When scheduling the advanced course, students should explore whether the schools to which they plan to apply will still require four undergraduate chemistry courses. If so, the Committee recommends CHEM 243, Modern Chemical Analysis, as the “additional course.”
Chemistry 111 will not satisfy this requirement.
Professional schools and the Committee for the Health Professions will also accept CHEM 343, Metabolism, to meet the biochemistry requirement; however, CHEM 342, or a combination of both courses, would be preferred by the professional and medical schools in preparation for entry into their programs.
OPTIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES OFFERED BY THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS PROGRAM
HPPG 101: Exploring the Health Professions (0.5 credits, graded credit/no credit): Introductory seminar for students considering careers in clinical and allied health fields, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, physician assistant studies, physical and occupational therapy, pharmacy, public health, and related professions. Through short readings, guest panels, structured shadowing or site visits, informational interviews, and guided reflective assignments, students will compare career pathways, learn prerequisites and timelines, and build an individualized plan for curricular and co-curricular preparation. The course emphasizes professional identity formation through mentoring, networking, and community engagement, as well as ethical, equity, and systems-level perspectives on healthcare delivery and access.
HPPG 401: Healthcare Career Preparation Capstone (0.5 Credits graded credit/no credit): Intensive preparation seminar for junior and senior students applying to health professions graduate and professional programs. This course provides structured guidance on application timelines, centralized application systems, development of personal statements and secondary essays, preparation of professional CVs or résumés, selection and solicitation of letters of recommendation, standardized test preparation, and interview preparation, including traditional and multiple mini-interview (MMI) formats. Students engage in iterative drafting, peer and instructor feedback, mock interviews, and ethical discussions related to professional conduct and disclosure. The course culminates in a polished application preparation portfolio and a personalized post-submission plan. Although not required, this course is intentionally aligned with HPPG 101: Exploring the Health Professions and is recommended for students who have previously engaged in structured exploration and preparation planning through coursework or co-curricular programming.
Academic Plans
Meet with your Health Professions Advisor to discuss specific courses for individual health professions, such as physician assistant, physician, or others. In addition to the courses above, other prerequisite courses suggested by individual professional schools might include statistics, microbiology, human anatomy, human physiology, cell biology, genetics, histology, metabolism, nutrition, medical terminology, and humanities courses.
Courses
101 Exploring the Health Professions
Introductory seminar for students considering careers in clinical and allied health fields including medicine, dentistry, nursing, physician assistant studies, physical and occupational therapy, pharmacy, public health, and related professions. Through short readings, guest panels, structured shadowing or site visits, informational interviews, and guided reflective assignments, students will compare career pathways, learn prerequisites and timelines, and build an individualized plan for curricular and co-curricular preparation. The course emphasizes professional identity formation through mentoring, networking, and community engagement, as well as ethical, equity, and systems-level perspectives on healthcare delivery and access.
401 Healthcare Career Preparation Capstone
Intensive preparation seminar for junior and senior students applying to health professions graduate and professional programs. This course provides structured guidance on application timelines, centralized application systems, development of personal statements and secondary essays, preparation of professional CVs or résumés, selection and solicitation of letters of recommendation, standardized test preparation, and interview preparation, including traditional and multiple mini-interview (MMI) formats.
Students engage in iterative drafting, peer and instructor feedback, mock interviews, and ethical discussions related to professional conduct and disclosure. The course culminates in a polished application preparation portfolio and a personalized post-submission plan. Although not required, this course is intentionally aligned with HPPG 101: Exploring the Health Professions and is recommended for students who have previously engaged in structured exploration and preparation planning through coursework or co-curricular programming.
