Pre-Allied Health

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UMBC offers allied health programs to prepare students for clinical training in dental hygiene, medical technology, nursing, pharmacy and physical therapy. These programs involve two to four years of intensive study at UMBC. After completing 64 to 120 credits of required course work and satisfying other requirements (which may include evidence of exceptional promise, volunteer work and scores on a national entrance examination), students apply to allied health programs in Maryland and throughout the United States. UMBC’s Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising has full-time advisors for students considering allied health professions. These advisors help students select courses, plan their careers and apply to professional schools.

Pre-Dental Hygiene

Dental hygienists are licensed members of the dental health care team who strive to improve the oral health of the public through preventive services and education. They have special clinical and educational skills, an aptitude for science and a genuine concern for people. The pre-dental hygiene area of concentration usually involves two years of study at UMBC. Students then will complete professional studies and a bachelor’s degree at another institution and will not receive a degree from UMBC. The Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising can assist students interested in pursuing the pre-dental hygiene curriculum.

The program description below meets the requirements for most nationally accredited dental hygiene programs. Students should become familiar with the requirements of the school(s) from which they eventually wish to obtain the bachelor’s degree to plan a program that will best use time spent at UMBC.

Dental Hygiene Requirements and Equivalent UMBC Courses

English (9)

ENGL 100
ENGL 391 or 393
one additional ENGL writing course

Biology (12)

BIOL 101
BIOL 109
BIOL 275 and 275 Lab

Chemistry (9)

CHEM 123
CHEM 124 and 124 Lab

Anatomy and Physiology (8)

BIOL 251 and 251 Lab
BIOL 252 and 252 Lab

Nutrition (3)

BIOL 233

Mathematics/Statistics (4)

STAT 121

Psychology (4)

PSYC 100

Sociology (3)

SOCY 101

Social Sciences Electives (6)

Choose among Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Anthropology, Africana Studies, History

Arts and Humanities Electives (6)

Choose among Art, Literature, Mathematics, Philosophy, Fine Arts (no studio courses), Foreign Languages, American Studies, Africana Studies

Speech (3)

SPCH 100

TOTAL CREDITS 67

Pre-Medical Technology

Medical technologists assist in diagnosing and treating disease by applying scientific knowledge and skill to the supervision and accurate performance of complex laboratory, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Career opportunities exist for medical technologists in hospitals, private clinics, pharmaceutical research, government and industry.The professional curriculum usually includes courses in hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, immunology and immunohematology (blood banking).The pre-medical technology area of concentration usually involves only the first two years of study at UMBC. Students then will complete professional studies and a bachelor’s degree at another institution and will not receive a degree from UMBC.To complete the requirements for this, students should obtain 76 credits at UMBC. The final two years then are devoted to clinical studies. Upon successful completion of the program, a student earns the B.S. degree and is eligible to take the national certification exam given by the American Society for Clinical Pathologists.The program description below meets the requirements for most nationally accredited medical technology programs. Students should become familiar with the requirements of the school(s) from which they finally wish to obtain the degree to plan a program that will best use the time spent at UMBC. The Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising can assist students interested in pursuing the pre-medical technology curriculum.

Medical Technology Requirements and UMBC Equivalent Courses

English (6)

ENGL 100 and
one ENGL elective

Biology (23)

BIOL 141, 142
BIOL 275 and 275 Lab
BIOL 300 Lab
BIOL 302 and
one BIOL elective

Chemistry (15)

CHEM 101,
CHEM 102 and 102 Lab
CHEM 351 and 351 Lab

Mathematics/Statistics (8)

MATH 150
STAT 121

Anatomy and Physiology (4)

BIOL 251 and 251 Lab

Social Sciences Electives (6)

Choose from Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Anthropology, Social Work, History

Arts and Humanities Elective (3)

Choose from Literature, Foreign Language, Art, History, Music, Mathematics, Philosophy, Fine Arts (no studio courses)

Guided Elective (3)

SPCH 100 or CMSC 100

Other Electives (8) any discipline (no studio courses)

Recommended courses: CHEM 352 and 352 Lab OR PHYS 111,112

TOTAL CREDITS 76

Pre-Nursing

Nurses today have become the primary caregivers in many health care settings. A nurse is generally responsible for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a patient's health plan. Within the profession, a choice of career opportunities exists, including: nurse clinician, nurse educator, nurse researcher, community health nurse, visiting nurse, psychiatric nurse, and nurse practitioner. Nurses also find employment in settings outside the hospital or physician's office, including: hospice care, occupational health, industrial medicine, public health, quality assurance, and risk management. The pre-nursing area of concentration usually involves two years of study at UMBC. The Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising can assist students interested in pursuing the pre-nursing curriculum.

Nursing Requirements and UMBC Equivalent Courses

English (6)

ENGL 100 and
one literature course*

Biology (8-9)

BIOL 101
BIOL 275 and 275 Lab

Chemistry (9)

CHEM 123
CHEM 124 and 124 Lab

Mathematics/Statistics (7-8)

STAT 121
MATH 106 or higher

Anatomy and Physiology (8)

BIOL 251 and 251 Lab
BIOL 252 and 252 Lab

Nutrition (3)

BIOL 233

Psychology (7)

PSYC 100
PSYC 306

Sociology (3)

SOCY 101

Social Sciences Elective (3)

Choose among Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Anthropology, Social Work, History

Arts and Humanities Electives (9)

Choose among Literature, Foreign Language, Art, History, Music, Mathematics, Philosophy, Speech**

TOTAL CREDITS 64

*See advisor for acceptable courses.
**Courses must be completed in two different academic areas.

To become eligible for a professional program in nursing, students must complete a minimum of 64 credits in specific coursework. Taking this into consideration, an increasing number of students are planning to complete a bachelor’s degree at UMBC prior to continuing their professional studies in nursing at another institution. This option entitles students to assemble a more competitive overall portfolio for nursing program admission.

UMBC/UMB (University of Maryland School of Nursing) Nursing Partnership: For incoming freshmen who are interested in nursing, UMBC offers a collaborative partnership with the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB/UMSON), a premiere school of Nursing. This partnership focuses on enhanced advising, programming and preparation for nursing school while at UMBC. Students are paired with pre-nursing advisors who will mentor them through their academic career and foster a connection between UMBC and the UMB/UMSON School of Nursing. While at UMBC, students also have the added benefit of collective programmatic opportunities, including site visits to UMB to see classrooms, labs and clinical sites. Eligible students must indicate their intended program of study as Pre-Nursing prior to matriculation at UMBC. As part of this collaboration, each year UMBC secures as many as thirty seats in the UMB/UMSON School of Nursing class, offered to those who have met certain academic requirements. For more information on this exclusive partnership, please contact the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising.

Pre-Pharmacy

The field of pharmacy trains students for the efficient, ethical practice of all branches of pharmacy. Through exposure to general scientific and cultural subjects, students learn to read critically, express themselves clearly and think logically as members of a profession and citizens of a democracy. The curriculum also prepares students for scholarship and research in the healing arts of pharmacy. The pre-pharmacy concentration involves at least three years of study at UMBC. Given that 89 credits are currently required in terms of preparatory coursework, an increasing number of students are planning to complete a bachelor’s degree at UMBC prior to continuing their pre-professional studies in Pharmacy at another institution. This option allows students to assemble a more competitive overall portfolio for admission. The Office for Academic and Pre-professional Advising can assist students interested in pursuing a pre-pharmacy program.

The program description below meets the requirements for most nationally accredited pharmacy programs. Students should become familiar with the particular requirements of all the programs to which they intend to apply.

Pharmacy Requirements and UMBC Equivalent Courses

English (6)

ENGL 100
one course in world or English literature

Mathematics/Statistics (8)

MATH 151
STAT 350

Biology (29)

BIOL 141, 142
BIOL 251, 252
BIOL 275 and BIOL 275 Lab
BIOL 300 Lab
BIOL 430 or CHEM 437

Chemistry (20)

CHEM 101
CHEM 102 and 102 Lab
CHEM 351 and 351 Lab
CHEM 352 and 352 Lab

Physics (8)

PHYS 111, 112

Economics (3)

ECON 101

Speech (3)

SPCH 100

Arts and Humanities electives (6)

Choose among English, Fine Arts (no studio courses), Music, Philosophy, Foreign Languages, American Studies, Africana Studies, Ancient Studies

Social Sciences electives (6)

Choose among Psychology, Sociology, Geography, History, Political Science, Economics, Anthropology, Africana Studies

TOTAL CREDITS 89

Pre-Physical Therapy

Physical therapists work with people who are disabled by illness or accident or born with a handicap. Practitioners evaluate each patient's ability, disability, and potential for recovery. The most common areas of disorder include: neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, sensory motor, and related cardiovascular and respiratory functions. Students pursuing the physical therapy area of concentration must complete a bachelor's degree at UMBC. While no particular major is required, they must complete a certain selection of courses. The Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising can assist students interested in pursuing the pre-physical therapy curriculum.

Physical Therapy Requirements and UMBC Equivalent Courses

Biology (12)

BIOL 101
BIOL 251 and 251L
BIOL 252 and 252L

Chemistry (9-10)

CHEM 101, 102, and 102L OR

CHEM 123, 124, and 124L

Physics (8)

PHYS 111, 112

Mathematics/Statistics (4)

STAT 121

Psychology (7)

PSYC 100
PSYC 285 or 306

Other Coursework, including general and major requirements (approx. 79)

TOTAL CREDITS 120

A minimum of 100 hours of work or volunteer experience in a physical therapy setting is also required.