Neuroscience is an excellent major for students interested in a career in healthcare. Below are examples of 4-year plans for other pre-health neuroscience majors based on common requirements for admission to these programs. It is in your best interest to research the requirements at several schools to which you are considering applying to ensure that you complete all of the necessary pre-requisite coursework.
Note that the pre-optometry and pre-pharmacy plans are for students who hope to enroll in professional school immediately after graduating from OSU and, therefore, must take the OAT/PCAT by the end of their junior year. Students in these tracks who intend to take a gap year can spread out their pre-health courses. The GRE (may be required for graduate programs in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine) can be taken before the completion of program pre-requisites.
Please speak with an advisor to ensure that all of your general education (GE) requirements are met and that any AP or transfer credits apply. Details on the Bachelor of Science GE requirements can be found here: bs_ge_au15_v3.pdf. Math through the first semester of calculus (Math 1151) is required for a B.S. in neuroscience.
Download a major planning sheet here.
- Pre-Advanced Practice Nursing (Nurse Practitioner Graduate Entry)
- Pre-Chiropractics
- Pre-Occupational Therapy
- Pre-Optometry
- Pre-Pharmacy
- Pre-Physical Therapy
- Pre-Physician's Assistant
- Pre-Prosthetics/Orthotics
- Pre-Veterinary
Pre-Advanced Practice Nursing (Nurse Practitioner Graduate Entry)
Freshman Year Fall
- Psych 1100
- Psych 3313
- Bio 1113
- Chem 1210
- College Survey 1100
- Neuro 1100H
Freshman Year Spring
- Neuro 3000
- GE
- Bio 1114
- Chem 1220 (recommended) or GE
Sophomore Year Fall
- Psych 3513
- Math 1151
- GE
- GE
- GE
Sophomore Year Spring
- Neuro 3050
- Specialization/Breadth
- Microbiology*
- GE
- GE
Junior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Nursing 2470*
- Data Analysis
- GE
Junior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- Human Nutrition 2310*
- GE
- GE
- Study for GRE (if required by program)
Junior Year Summer
- Take GRE (if required by program)
- Take STNA course
Senior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- Anatomy*
- GE
- Apply for nursing school!
Senior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Physiology 3200 (Many schools require lab component-may need to take this at a different institution)
- GE
- GE
- GE
*Denotes pre-nursing classes
Pre-Chiropractics
Freshman Year Fall
- Psych 1100
- Psych 3313
- Chem 1210*
- Bio 1113*
- College Survey 1100
- Neuro 1100H
Freshman Year Spring
- Neuro 3000
- Math 1151
- Chem 1220*
- Sociology 1101
Sophomore Year Fall
- Chem 2510 & 2540*
- Physics 1200*
- Psych 3513
- GE
Sophomore Year Spring
- Neuro 3050
- Physics 1201*
- Biochem 4511
- Data Analysis
Junior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Physiology 3200 (Many schools require lab component-may need to take this at a different institution)
- Bio 1114*
- Anatomy 3300*
Junior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- EDUPAES 5500*
- GE
- GE
- STUDY FOR GRE (if required by program)
Junior Year Summer
- Take GRE (if required by program)
Senior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- GE
- Apply to chiropractic school!
Senior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- GE
* Denotes pre-chiro courses
Association of Chiropractic Colleges Website
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Freshman Year Fall
- Psych 1100
- Psych 3313
- Bio 1113
- College Survey 1100
- Neuro 1100H
- Chem 1210
Freshman Year Spring
- Neuro 3000
- GE
- GE
- Chem 1220 (recommended) or GE
Sophomore Year Fall
- Psych 3331*
- Soc 1101*
- Math 1151
- GE
Sophomore Year Spring
- Psych 3513
- Anatomy*
- Data Analysis*
- GE
- GE
Junior Year Fall
- Neuro 3050
- Specialization/Breadth
- Physiology 3200 (Many schools require lab component-may need to take this at a different institution)
- GE
- GE
Junior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/breadth
- English 3304 or 2367*
- GE
- Study for GRE
Junior Year Summer
- Take GRE
Senior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- Apply to OT school!
Senior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- GE
* Denotes pre-OT courses
OSU School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Pre-Optometry
Freshman Year Fall
- Psych 1100
- Bio 1113*
- Psych 3313
- Chem 1210*
- College Survey 1100
- Neuro 1100H
Freshman Year Spring
- Neuro 3000
- GE
- Bio 1114*
- Chem 1220*
Sophomore Year Fall
- Microbiology*
- Chem 2510 & 2540*
- Psych 3513
Sophomore Year Spring
- Neuro 3050
- Chem 2520 & 2550*
- Physics 1200*
- Physiology 3200 (Many schools require lab component-may need to take this at a different institution)
Sophomore Year Summer
- STUDY FOR OAT
- GE (if necessary to graduate on time or to lighten courseload if desired)
Junior Year Fall
- Physics 1201*
- Biochem 4511*
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- STUDY FOR OAT
Junior Year Spring
- Data Analysis
- GE
- GE
- GE (if necessary to graduate on time, otherwise, devote "extra" time to OAT study)
- STUDY FOR AND TAKE OAT
Junior Year Summer
- Apply for optometry school!
Senior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
Senior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
* Denotes pre-optometry courses
Pre-Pharmacy
Freshman Year Fall
- Psych 1100
- Bio 1113*
- Psych 3313
- Chem 1210*
- College Survey 1100
- Neuro 1100H
Freshman Year Spring
- Neuro 3000
- Physics 1200*
- Chem 1220*
- Bio 1114
Sophomore Year Fall
- Psych 3513
- Chem 2510 & 2540*
- Physics 1201*
- GE (if necessary to graduate on time)
Sophomore Year Spring
- Neuro 3050
- Chem 2520 & 2550*
- Microbiology*
- GE
Sophomore Year Summer
- STUDY FOR PCAT
Junior Year Fall
- Math 1151
- Anatomy*
- Biochem 4511*
- GE (if necessary to graduate on time otherwise, devote extra time to PCAT study)
- STUDY FOR PCAT
Junior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Data Analysis
- GE
- GE
- GE
- STUDY FOR AND TAKE PCAT
Junior Year Summer
- Apply for pharmacy school!
Senior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
Senior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- GE
* Denotes pre-pharmacy courses
Pre-Physical Therapy
Freshman Year Fall
- Psych 1100
- Psych 3313
- Chem 1210*
- Bio 1113*
- College Survey 1100
- Neuro 1100H
Freshman Year Spring
- Neuro 3000
- GE
- Chem 1220*
- Bio 1114
Sophomore Year Fall
- Math 1151
- Physics 1200*
- Psych 3513
- Sociology 1101
Sophomore Year Spring
- Neuro 3050
- Physics 1201*
- Anatomy 3300*
- Data Analysis*
Junior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Psych 2300*
- Physiology 3200 (Many schools require lab component-may need to take this at a different institution)
- Psych 3340*
- GE
Junior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- EDUPAES 5500*
- GE
- STUDY FOR GRE
Junior Year Summer
- Take GRE
Senior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- GE
- Apply to PT school!
Senior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- GE
* Denotes pre-PT courses
OSU School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Pre-Physician's Assistant
Requirements for PA school, including pre-requisite coursework and standardized testing, can vary tremendously. It is recommended that those interested in entering a PA program research the requirements for every school to which they are considering applying. The following consists of courses that are commonly required.
Freshman Year Fall
- Psych 1100*
- Psych 3313
- Chem 1210*
- Bio 1113*
- College Survey 1100
- Neuro 1100H
Freshman Year Spring
- Neuro 3000
- GE
- Bio 1114*
- Chem 1220*
Sophomore Year Fall
- Math 1151
- Chem 2510*
- Data Analysis*
- Psych 3513
Sophomore Year Spring
- Neuro 3050
- Biochem 4511*
- Anatomy 3300*
- GE
Junior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Microbiology 4000*
- Physiology 3200 (Many schools require lab component-may need to take this at a different institution)
- GE
- Study for GRE or other standardized test (if required for admission at school of choice)
Junior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- ALLIMED 2500: Medical Terminology*
- GE
- GE
- STUDY FOR AND TAKE GRE or other standardized test (if required)
Junior Year Summer
- Apply for PA school!
Senior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- GE
Senior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- GE
* Denotes pre-PA courses
Pre-Prosthetics/Orthotics
Requirements for P/O school, including pre-requisite coursework and standardized testing, can vary tremendously. It is recommended that those interested in entering a P/O program research the requirements for every school to which they are considering applying. The following consists of courses that are commonly required.
Freshman Year Fall
- Psych 1100*
- Psych 3313
- Chem 1210*
- College Survey 1100
- Neuro 1100H
- Bio 1113*
Freshman Year Spring
- Neuro 3000
- Math 1151
- GE
- GE
Sophomore Year Fall
- Psych 3513
- Psych 3331*
- Physics 1200*
- GE
Sophomore Year Spring
- Neuro 3050
- Data Analysis*
- Anatomy 2300 or 3300*
- Physics 1201*
Junior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Human Growth & Development*
- Physiology 3200 (Many schools require lab component-may need to take this at a different institution)
- GE
Junior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- STUDY FOR GRE
Junior Year Summer
-
Take GRE
Senior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- Apply to P/O school!
Senior Year Spring
-
Specialization/Breadth
-
Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- GE
*Denotes pre-P/O courses
Pre-Veterinary
Freshman Year Fall
- Psych 1100
- Psych 3313
- Chem 1210*
- Bio 1113*
- College Survey 1100
- Neuro 1100H
Freshman Year Spring
- Neuro 3000
- GE
- Bio 1114*
- Chem 1220*
Sophomore Year Fall
- Psych 3513
- Chem 2510*
- Data Analysis
- Math 1151
Sophomore Year Spring
- Neuro 3050
- Chem 2520*
- Microbiology 4000*
- GE
Junior Year Fall
- Biochem 4511*
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- Study for GRE
Junior Year Spring
- MolGen 4500*
- Physics 1200*
- GE
- GE
- STUDY FOR AND TAKE GRE
Junior Year Summer
- Apply for veterinary school!
Senior Year Fall
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- Physics 1201*
- GE
Senior Year Spring
- Specialization/Breadth
- Specialization/Breadth
- GE
- GE
- GE
* Denotes pre-vet courses
