Oct 12, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin

Pre-Health (Pre-Medical) Studies With a Concentration in Humanities or Social Sciences, BA Major in


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Administered by the Departments of Concentration:

Professor Timothy Daniels, Chairperson of Anthropology
Professor Ilaria Marchesi, Adviser of the Classics Program
Professor Craig Rustici, Director of the Disability Studies Program
Professor Karyn Valerius, Chairperson of English and Creative Writing
Professor Sally Charnow, Chairperson of History
Professor Grant Saff, Chairperson of Global Studies and Geography
Professor Francesca Cassio, Chairperson of Music
Professor Amy Baehr, Chairperson of Philosophy
Professor Julie Byrne, Chairperson of Religion
Professor Christopher Niedt, Chairperson of Sociology
Professor Jenny Roberts, Chairperson of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences

Students must also seek advisement from the University Advisers for Pre-Health Studies.

The BA major in pre-health studies with a concentration in the humanities or the social sciences prepares students for medical, dental, or veterinary school by requiring, within the context of a broad education in the liberal arts and sciences, the courses in the sciences and mathematics needed for admission to professional degree programs in the health sciences, as well as a concentration in one specific field within either the humanities or the social sciences. Students are required to seek advisement from pre-health advisers and from the chairperson of the department of the elected concentration.

Graduation Requirements:


Candidates for graduation must complete:

  1. All general requirements for the Bachelor of Arts; see Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences BA Requirements  and;
  2. All science courses required for admission to medical, dental, or veterinary school:
  1. One statistics course, selected from:

and at least one additional course chosen from:

  1. Also recommended:

for medical school:

for veterinary school:

for dental school: courses in the fine arts (for example, sculpture or jewelry-making) that develop manual dexterity

All students planning on taking the MCATs are strongly encouraged to take at least one of the following:

  1. All requirements for one of the concentrations listed below. 

Anthropology


Professor Timothy Daniels, Chairperson

The concentration in anthropology will introduce students to the core concepts in anthropology, including the cross-cultural study of the physical and cultural adaptations to problems of disease, and help them develop an appreciation of human biological, sociocultural, and linguistic variation through space and time.

For the concentration in anthropology, 21 s.h. of course work:

Comparative Literature and Languages: Classics


Professor Ilaria Marchesi, Adviser of the Classics Program

The concentration in classics will introduce students to the literature and culture of antiquity while helping them develop critical thinking and important oral and written communication skills. It will also provide an important understanding of the classical roots of medical terminology and the origins of medical thought and perception of the body in antiquity.

For the concentration in classics, 21 s.h. of course work:

  1. 6 s.h. in Latin or ancient Greek;
  2. 12 s.h. in classical literature in CLL or LIT;
  3. LING 111 .

Creative Writing


Professor Karyn Valerius, Chairperson

The concentration in creative writing and literature introduces students to the core skills in imaginative writing and literary analysis, including introductory and advanced writing seminars in the genres of poetry, prose, playwriting, and creative nonfiction, and courses in the interpretation of literature.

For the concentration in Creative Writing and Literature, 21 s.h. of course work:

1) General Creative Writing seminar:


3) Select 6 s.h. in English (ENGL) courses.


4) Select 3 s.h. in Creative Writing (CRWR) or English (ENGL) courses.


Disability Studies


Professor Craig Rustici, Director of the Disability Studies Program

The concentration in disability studies develops “disability literacy” by introducing students to the distinction between “impairment,” an anomaly in the form or function of a particular person’s body, and “disability,” which comprises social and cultural responses – attitudinal, architectural, legislative, etc. – to anomalous bodies. The disability studies concentration explores how disability is expressed in systems of representation such as literature, film, and mass media; defined by legislation; understood by philosophy and ethics; created and accommodated (or not) by economies and methods of production.

For the concentration in Disability Studies, 21 s.h. of course work:

1) 6 semester hours of required course work in disability studies, as follows:


2) A minimum of 15 semester hours, chosen from the following:


Literatures in English


Professor Karyn Valerius, Chairperson

The concentration in literatures in English introduces students to the core skills in literary appreciation and analysis, including foundation courses in interpretation, introductory courses in national literary traditions, and advanced work in authors, topics, or fields.

For the concentration in literatures in English, 21 s.h. of course work:

1) The following two courses:


3) Select 6 s.h. from 100-level ENGL courses.


4) Select 6 s.h. from 100-level ENGL or CRWR courses (any combination).


Geography


Professor Grant Saff, Chairperson

The concentration in geography will introduce students to core concepts in geography and train students in critical thinking, help students develop important oral and written communication skills, and introduce students to important elements in understanding how the study of disease and health issues are rooted in geographical understandings of place, space and culture.

For the concentration in geography, 21 s.h. of course work:

Global Studies


Professor Grant Saff, Chairperson

The concentration in global studies will allow students to explore the core concepts of “globalization” from an interdisciplinary perspective. The concentration will train students in critical thinking, help students develop important oral and written communication skills, and introduce students to important elements in understanding how globalization has impacted the spread of disease vectors and the ways in which societal health issues are fundamentally tied to a study of global economic, political, and cultural processes.

For the concentration in global studies, 21 s.h. of course work:

  1. GS 001 , 002 ; GEOG 001 ;
  2. Select any two courses from the electives in global economics, politics and culture, as listed under the BA major in Global Studies .
  3. Select any two courses from the regional area studies electives as defined under the BA major in Global Studies .

History


Professor Sally Debra Charnow, Chairperson

In this concentration, students will acquire transferrable critical thinking and oral/written communication skills; they will develop a sensitivity to the diverse and complex world we live in with regard to race, gender, ethnicity, immigration, culture, and geography. They will also be introduced to the dynamic relationship between historical processes, human health, and medical technologies. In addition, students will become knowledgeable in the ways in which disease and health care have shaped and been shaped by our communities.

For the concentration in history, at least 21 s. h. of course work:

1) Required courses: 6 s. h.


3) Electives-select four courses from the following: 12 s. h.


Music


Professor Francesca Cassio, Chairperson

The concentration in music will offer students coursework in musical performance (private lessons, small ensembles, band, orchestra, chorus, jazz band), music theory and composition, music history and literature, music merchandising, and jazz and commercial music. 

For the concentration in music, 21 s.h. of coursework is required as follows:

1. Music Performance – Semester Hours: 6


3. Music Elective – Semester Hours: 3


Any 100-level music course , selected under advisement.

Philosophy


Professor Amy Baehr, Chairperson

The concentration in philosophy will introduce students to core ideas in the philosophical tradition, train students in critical thinking and ethical reasoning, help students develop important oral and written communication skills, and introduce students to important elements in the intellectual roots of medicine as a science and healing practice.

For the concentration in philosophy, 21 s.h. of course work, with at least 12 s.h. at the 100 level, including:

1) Core philosophical background - Total Semester Hours: 6


2) At least one course in ethical reasoning:


3) At least one upper-level philosophy course in scientific thought and reasoning:


4) Electives - Total Semester Hours: 9


Chosen from among any philosophy courses (that also satisfy, in conjunction with the student’s selections in [2] and [3], the requirement of 12 s.h. at the 100 level).

Religion


Professor Julie Byrne, Chairperson

The concentration in religion will introduce students to the overlap between medicine and religion, as well as equip students with skills for negotiating issues that arise in health care due to religious diversity.

For the concentration in religion, at least 21 s.h. of course work:

  1. RELI 010  and 086 ;
  2. Electives selected from any RELI courses.

Sociology


Professor Christopher Niedt, Chairperson

This concentration in Sociology will introduce students to the study of society and human interaction. Our students develop the critical reasoning and theoretical, analytical, and communication skills needed to understand and address social problems and inequalities in global, institutional, and interpersonal social relations. Students interested in a career in the health sciences would benefit from a better understanding of the social conditions that impact the health of individuals and populations.

For the concentration in sociology, 21 s. h. of course work: ​​​​​​

  1. Soc 004 (BH): Contemporary Society (3 s. h.)
  2. Soc 104 (BH): Sociology of Health and Medicine (3 s. h.)

Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences


Professor Jenny Roberts, Chairperson

The concentration in speech-language-hearing sciences will introduce students to the study of communication disorders across the lifespan and provide the appropriate background in the theories, methods, and research relevant for advanced study in either speech-language pathology or audiology.

1) For the concentration in speech-language pathology - Total Semester Hours: 21


including:

2) For the concentration in audiology - Total Semester Hours: 21


including:

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