Postbaccalaureate Curriculum

Programs of study—which take into account science courses already completed—are developed through discussion between individual students and faculty. The basic requirements for acceptance into U.S. medical schools are two terms each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, with accompanying labs; one term of calculus is also recommended. At Bennington, postbaccalaureate students are encouraged to take additional advanced courses, particularly in the biological sciences, as their schedules permit. Various veterinary medical colleges have additional course requirements in biology, which Bennington can accommodate. For students wishing to study in areas not formally addressed by course offerings, individual or group tutorials may be arranged with qualified faculty members. Students are also invited to take courses outside of the sciences and mathematics as their schedules permit.

Program Options

A student may choose to complete the program in one year (June to June) or in two years. The one-year option includes an intensive, three-course summer schedule and two full terms. The two-year option gives the student two full academic years with the usual academic schedule (each course entails two 1.5-hour classes per week plus afternoon labs). The two-year program allows the student to select more elective courses. The options can be discussed with the premed advisor.

One-Year Program:

The postbac curriculum for the one-year program is designed to give you the basic requirements for medical school or other health professions in a summer term followed by a fall and spring term (June to June). Our philosophy of education is that you learn science by doing science; therefore, our emphasis in the courses is in applying the concepts, developing experimental projects, and participating in discussions. All of our courses focus on involvement in the science. Our classes are small (10–20) and students are expected to present articles, develop experimental ideas, and do problem sets. Professors are available often for help and cooperative studying is encouraged. Many classes include a term project that might be experimental or research based.

Suggested course curriculum for the one-year program:

• Summer:
       Biology 1: Introduction to Cell Biology
       Chemistry 1: Chemical Concepts*
       Chemistry 2: Organic Structure & Bonding*
• Fall:
       Animal Physiology*
       Physics I: Forces & Motion*
       Chemistry 3: Organic Reactions & Mechanisms*
• Spring:
       Physics II: Fields & Atoms*
       Chemistry 4: The Chemistry of Materials
       Biochemistry

  
  

• *Indicates a course with a lab component

Two-Year Program:

The postbac curriculum allows students to take courses over two academic years; students opting for the two-year program typically have greater flexibility in their course options and can choose a greater number of electives.

Suggested course curriculum for the two-year program:

• Year 1—Fall Year 1—Spring
  Biology 1: Cells, Genes & Energy* Chemistry 2: Organic Structure & Bonding*
  Chemistry 1: Chemical Concepts* Genetics
  Calculus I Statistics
  Elective
• *Indicates a course with a lab component
• Year 2—Fall Year 2—Spring
  Animal Physiology * Biochemistry
  Chemistry 3: Organic Reactions & Mechanisms* Chemistry 4: Equilibrium Processes*
  Physics I: Forces & Motion Physics II: Fields & Atoms*
  Biology Elective
  
• *Indicates a course with a lab component