Academics FAQ

Prerequisite Coursework & Academics

Q: I don’t have a 4.0 GPA. Can I still get into a health graduate program? 

A: Your GPA is an important metric on your application, but it is not the only metric. It is uncommon for applicants to have a 4.0 GPA. However, the average GPA for admitted students across health professions is above 3.6. If you are significantly below this GPA, speak with your PreHealth advisor about options for enhancing your GPA prior to applying. 

Q: I am nervous about my grade in a course. What should I do?

A: Before making any decision, students are encouraged to speak with their professor regarding their grade in the course.

It is only recommended that you Withdraw (“W”) from a course if you are receiving below the lowest acceptable grade. Typically, health professional programs will require a C grade or higher for prerequisite coursework (Some PA programs may require a higher grade, so this will be important to confirm with program websites). 

If you are earning at least the lowest acceptable grade, oftentimes a “W” on a transcript can be more unfavorable as health professional schools may assume you were failing the course (“D” or “F”). While you may be concerned with how this will impact your GPA and success in future courses, if you are earning higher than a “C” you are encouraged to stick with the course. Students can mitigate a lower grade by focusing on improved performance in future coursework.

Q: Should I retake a course to raise my GPA?

A: Health professional programs require you to report all attempts of repeated courses in your application to be used in the application services GPA calculations (with original grades given for those attempts), even if they are not included in Northeastern’s GPA calculations. We do not recommend re-taking a course for which you earned a passing grade (“C” or higher for most health professional programs). Students can mitigate a lower grade by focusing on improved performance in future coursework.

Q: Can I take prerequisite courses outside of Northeastern or after I graduate?

A: Yes. Health professional programs generally accept prerequisite courses taken as a non-degree seeking student or after graduation. However, you will need to request an official transcript from the institution where you completed the course for your application.

If you want an external course to count toward your Northeastern degree requirements, or if it is a prerequisite for a course you plan to take at NU, you should consult your Academic Advisor to ensure it is permissible for your academic program and will transfer appropriately.

Q: Can I take my prerequisite courses at a community college?

A: Many health professional programs typically allow students to complete prerequisite courses at a community college, particularly if the courses are taken while in high school or before matriculating into a bachelor’s degree program. However, policies vary by school, and some programs may prefer or require prerequisites to be completed at a four-year institution. Always check the specific requirements of each program you plan to apply to before enrolling in a course at a community college.

Q: Can I take any prerequisite courses online?

A: Health professional schools typically will not accept required laboratory science coursework taken online. You are strongly encouraged to take all laboratory science prerequisite courses in-person. However, schools had to become more flexible due to academic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you took an online laboratory science course in 2020, you are encouraged to review the policies regarding online coursework on individual schools’ websites.

Q: Can I take my prerequisite courses using the Pass/Fail option?

A: We strongly advise that PreMed/PreHealth students do NOT choose to have their prerequisite courses graded using the Pass/Fail option. Many health professional schools require a minimum letter grade for prerequisite courses and will not accept coursework graded Pass/Fail.

Q: Can I take any prerequisite courses in the summer?

A: While it is preferred that you take prerequisite courses in a fall or spring semester, and at Northeastern, students may take coursework in the summer with consideration to the following:

In support of our experiential learning programs (Co-op), Northeastern has two summer semesters in which we offer a full range of courses taught by our regular faculty and presented with the same rigor as the fall and spring offerings. Thus, taking summer courses at Northeastern is suggested.

However, if you are considering taking summer courses at another institution, please consult with your Academic Advisor to determine if this is needed and/or will be accepted for your degree requirements. Once this is determined with your Academic Advisor, we advise only enrolling in summer courses at four-year institutions of equal rigor to Northeastern.

Q: Can I take my prerequisite courses abroad?

A: Please review our Global Experience page to learn about taking coursework abroad.

Q: Will a school accept a different course than the prerequisite listed on their website?

A: Course names often vary by institution, so it’s common for classes not to have an exact title match (for example, Northeastern’s “Foundations of Biology” may be equivalent to many schools’ “General Biology” course). While programs may accept such equivalents, substitutions typically must fall within the same subject or closely related field.

If you are unsure whether a course you plan to take—or have already taken—will meet a program’s requirement, first discuss it with your PreHealth Advisor. They can help you determine whether it’s likely to count and guide you on how to approach programs if clarification is needed.

Q: Do I need to take two English courses to fulfill the Writing Requirement for my health professional program?

A: Students should check the prerequisite requirements for the individual schools they are interested in to determine the courses they will need to take before applying. That said, often, most humanities or social science courses involving substantial expository writing will satisfy the writing requirement for health professional schools, even if the course is not with the English Department.

Q: I took CHEM 1161/1162 or CHEM 1151/1212, but my schools list two semesters of General Chemistry as prerequisites. What do I do? 

A: General Chemistry (CHEM 1161 or CHEM 1151) at NU encompasses most learning objectives from both General Chemistry 1 and 2. This is widely accepted by allopathic medical programs and is commonly accepted by other health professional programs as fully meeting their requirements. However, it is the student’s responsibility to review school-specific policies and consult their PreHealth Advisor regarding any exceptions.

Q: My health professions program requires statistics. Do I need to take a specific statistics class?
A: Any statistics class is typically acceptable, unless otherwise specified on a health profession program’s website. While some statistics courses are offered by departments other than the Department of Mathematics, they maintain a strong foundation in statistical principles and methodologies relevant to various fields of study.

Q: Northeastern doesn’t offer a Medical Terminology course, but the PA schools I am considering require one. What do I do?
A: While we don’t offer a standalone Medical Terminology class, a core focus of our Basic Clinical Skills (HLTH 1203) course is introducing students to medical terminology. The course covers all chapters of Jane Rice’s Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals and integrates these concepts throughout the curriculum. Because of this comprehensive coverage, Basic Clinical Skills is widely accepted by PA programs as fulfilling the medical terminology requirement. However, it is the student’s responsibility to review school-specific policies and consult their PreHealth Advisor regarding any exceptions.

Q: What are my science, non-science, and cumulative GPAs, and how can I calculate them

A: Centralized application services for health professional programs typically calculate multiple GPAs, including science (often called BCMP—Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Physics), non-science, and cumulative GPAs. These GPAs are calculated separately for undergraduate and graduate coursework.

To determine your GPAs, review the instructions in the “GPA Calculations” section under Supporting Information on the Academic Preparation page.

For some students, courses included in the science GPA may come from departments outside Biology, Chemistry, Math, or Physics but still focus on those subjects. Here is a list of NU courses that we’ve identified as meeting these criteria.

Q: Can I still apply if I have not finished all my prerequisite courses? 

A: Prerequisite coursework varies across health professional programs. It is the applicant’s responsibility to review required coursework at each program they plan to apply. Some programs may require prerequisites to be completed prior to application submission while others may allow 1-2 prerequisites to be completed prior to matriculation. In cases where schools allow incomplete prerequisites, they often place preference on candidates who have completed all required courses by the time they apply. Therefore, it is generally in your best interest to complete prerequisite courses prior to taking your entrance exam. 

Additionally, completing required coursework helps you prepare for the program’s associated entrance exam.