The B.S. major in health sciences is designed to meet the needs of students who are interested in pursuing careers in medicine or biomedical research. The major is based on the B.S. degree in molecular, cell, and developmental biology, with identical course requirements in chemistry, physics, and math. Like many other biological sciences majors at UC Santa Cruz, the health sciences major satisfies admissions requirements for most medical schools. Unique features of the health sciences major are the required courses related to human health, the requirement of proficiency in Spanish, including a course in conversational Spanish for health care workers, and participation in a formal internship program. About 100 students at UC Santa Cruz seek admission to medical school each year. UC Santa Cruz students have been accepted at the eight California medical schools, as well as at all the major medical schools in the country, including Harvard, Yale, and Johns Hopkins.

Study and Research Opportunities

• B.S.
• The Health Sciences Internship Coordinator works with students to provide opportunities for experience working in health care in the local community.

HealthSci09.pdf

High School Preparation
High school students planning to pursue the health sciences major should have a solid background in high school biology (including physiology), chemistry, advanced mathematics (precalculus), and physics.

Transfer Preparation
The faculty encourage applications from transfer students in the biological sciences. Students and their college advisers are strongly recommended to examine the degree requirements for the student’s intended major. Students should satisfy as many introductory requirements as possible prior to transfer. Courses offered at the student’s institution should be compared to the UC Santa Cruz transfer agreements (found at www.assist.org) and/or course descriptions to ensure that they will qualify for transfer. It is very important for transfer students to complete science prerequisite courses before transfer, especially calculus, general and organic chemistry with labs, and an introductory biology sequence. Students should also take physics, if possible. Prospective transfer students should visit the Physical and Biological Sciences Undergraduate Affairs web site for further information (see the More Information section). In addition, please see the Course Substitution/Transfer Credit section.

Introductory requirements in health sciences are:

• Biology 20A, Cell and Molecular Biology; 20B, Development and Physiology; and 20L, Experimental Biology Laboratory

• Chemistry 1A, 1B/M and 1C/N, General Chemistry with Laboratory (three quarters)

•  112A/L, 112B/M, and 112C/N, Organic Chemistry with Laboratory (three quarters); or Chemistry 108A/L and 108B/M (two quarters)

• Mathematics 11A-B and 22, Calculus with Applications (three quarters); or Mathematics 19A-B and 22, Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (three quarters)

• Physics 6A/L, 6B/M, and 6C/N, Introduction to Physics with Laboratory (three quarters)

Careers

Chiropractics
Dentistry
Medical technology
Medicine
Optometry
Pharmacy
Physician’s assistant
Public health
Veterinary medicine

These are only samples of the field’s many possibilities.

Medical Spanish
The major includes a requirement of proficiency in Spanish. After completing Spanish 1–4, students take a unique course in Medical Spanish which will help prepare them to better meet the increasing need for bilingual health care professionals.

Alum Focus
Sarah Broker (B.S., health sciences, ’06) is a health client benefits representative with the MediCruz program of Santa Cruz County, where she assists people with permanent physical and emotional disabilities obtain medical coverage, social security, and disability benefits. Sarah feels that her experience as a health sciences student interning with the Homeless Persons Health Project (HPHP) was invaluable in preparing for her current position.

Eric Meyer-Reed (B.S., health sciences, ’06) is a medical school student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Eric is in the upper quartile of his class and will apply to a four-year combined residency in meds-peds.

Course Substitution/Transfer Credit
At least half of the upper-division courses (Biol/Bioe 100–190) required for each biological sciences major must be taken through the MCDB and EEB programs at UC Santa Cruz, not as transfer credits from another department or institution. Transfer students are advised to review the Transferring Credit section on the Physical and Biological Sciences Undergraduate Affairs web site and/or speak with an adviser before enrolling in numerous upper-division courses at other institutions.

Health Careers Advising
Students interested in careers in the health professions are strongly encouraged to meet with the campus Health Careers Advisor. Detailed information regarding health professions and professional school preparation can be found on the Health Career Advising web site.

Academic Advising
Academic advising is available at Physical and Biological Sciences Undergraduate Affairs. Undergraduate Affairs publishes the web site, which contains detailed information about the degree programs, sample schedules, transferring credit, placement exams, faculty research, and opportunities in the Biological Sciences majors.