Pre-Health Certificate Program
College: College of Science and Health
Department: Biological Sciences
Student Type: Non Degree Seeking Undergraduate
Degree: Certificate
Campus: Lisle Campus
The Pre-Health Certificate Program is designed to provide students with a strong academic foundation in the field of health sciences. This program consists of a minimum of 12 semester credit hours and includes core courses in Human Physiology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, and an elective course. These fundamental courses are essential for understanding the intricacies of the human body and its biological processes. The certificate allows students to choose courses based on their interests and goals, while also fulfilling the required minimum credit hours.
In addition to the core courses, students in the Pre-Health Certificate Program may select from upper-level biology electives to complete a minimum of 12 semester credit hours. These electives allow students to further explore specific areas of interest within the field of health sciences and tailor their education to their career goals. The specific upper-level biology electives available may vary depending on the semester.
By completing the Pre-Health Certificate Program, students will gain a solid foundation in the essential sciences necessary for success in various health-related fields. This program serves as an excellent stepping-stone for individuals who are planning to pursue graduate education, M.S. in Integrative Physiology (MSIP) or careers in healthcare professions such as nursing, medicine, or allied health.
The program admission requirements include pre-requisites for the core courses (General Biology with laboratory (2 semesters), general chemistry with laboratory (2 semesters), Genetics and a semester of Organic chemistry). The 12 semester credit hours of courses will earn them the pre-health certificate and potential graduate (MSIP) students can take up to 2 5000-level elective courses that can be transferred to earn a master’s degree in Integrative Physiology. All courses for the certificate must be taken at Benedictine University.
Required courses (substitutions allowed):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 3258 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 4340 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 3261 | Principles of Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL elective 4000-level or above | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 13 | |
Students in the PRE-HEALTH CERTIFICATE program will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):
Student Learning Outcome 1: Students will demonstrate biochemical knowledge that is expected in professional settings - USLO#1
University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills; 5. Analytical Skills
Student Learning Outcome 2: 2. Students will learn to effectively communicate scientific concepts - USLO#3 University SLO: 3. Communication Skills