Pre-Medicine

Are you thinking about a career in medicine or another health-related field? Find out what you need to know in the Jump Start pre-medicine course called, “Getting on Your Nerves: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and the World of Medicine.”

This course will introduce you to some of what's required to get into medical school: developing a solid foundation in biology, chemistry and physics. Already, you probably know that processes of the body follow physical and chemical laws. Gaining an understanding of how the body works, supported by the corresponding physics and chemistry information, allows us to see how all three scientific disciplines can provide insights into human health.

As the focus of this course, the nervous system is an excellent topic for interdisciplinary study. You'll be exploring a range of material, from the physics of electricity and rotational movement, and the chemistry of neurotransmitters to the study of nerves, action potentials and special senses. Classroom activities will include dissection, making observations of animal and human nervous system activity, and working with the underlying chemical and physical principles. These hands-on activities will be supplemented by classroom lectures, problem-solving and discussions.