Recommended First Semester Courses

These courses are suggested by USU’s pre-health advisors and are split into two sections. It is recommended that you sign up for 15-16 credits.

Professional school prerequisites. If a class is full, add yourself to a waitlist. If the class doesn’t have a waitlist option, check back frequently to look for openings. Make sure you register for a math class each semester until you are finished with math/stats.

General Education and Introductory courses are to help you satisfy the general education requirements needed to graduate. You should take one or more of these courses each semester until they are completed. Individual majors may have recommendations for the breadth courses below. Check to see if you’ve already met breadth requirements with previous credits or test scores.

Professional School Prerequisites:

Choose one or two from the blocks below:

CREDITS COURSE
3 & 1

(FALL & SUMMER ONLY)
BIOL 1610- Biology I and BIOL 1615- Biology I Laboratory

You may have already satisfied this requirement by completing any of the following:

  • AP Biology exam score of 4 or higher (also satisfies BLS requirement)
  • IBO Biology Higher-Level exam score of 5 or higher
4
&
1

CHEM 1210* - Principles of Chemistry I
&
CHEM 1215* - Chemical Principles Laboratory I

*Prerequisite(s):  

  • One of the following:
    • Math ACT score of at least 25 or equivalent SAT Math score 
    • AP Calculus AB score of 3 or higher 
    • ALEKS Math Placement of 76 or higher 
    • MATH 1050 or higher (may be taken concurrently)
  • High school chemistry recommended
Varies
(2-4)

Math Course Placement and Prerequisites

To enroll in any math course, your prerequisites (such as previous math classes, ACT/SAT math scores, or AP Calculus) must be from within the last year or 3 consecutive semesters, including summer.

The highest math course you need will depend on your major. However, pre-optometry students will need to take:

You can view the prerequisites for these courses by clicking on the course links in your registration system.

If you don’t meet the prerequisites for these courses, register for the highest-level course you qualify for from the list below:

  1. MATH 950 - Pre-algebra (4 credits)
  2. MATH 995 - College Mathematics Preparation (4 credits)

Not sure where to start? Take the proctored ALEKS Placement Exam to find the right math course for you.

General Education and Introductory Courses:

Choose the rest of your 15 credits from the following:

CREDITS COURSE or CATEGORY ALTERNATIVE & NOTES
3 ENGL 1010 (CL1) - Writing as Inquiry

ENGL 2010* (CL2) - Research and Argument Across Perspectives or ENGL 2020* (CL2) - Professional Communication

You may have already satisfied the CL1 requirement by completing any of the following:

  • ACT English test score of 29 or higher
  • RSAT Reading test score of 34 or higher
  • AP English Language test score of 3 or higher
  • CLEP College Composition test score of 50 or higher
  • IBO English A Language Higher-Level test score of 5 or higher
2 USU 1010 - University Connections Most incoming students take USU 1010 - University Connections. It is a two-credit academic course designed to ease your transition to Utah State by helping you understand the purpose of higher education and how you can intentionally take advantage of the many opportunities and challenges available to you as a college student.
3 Breadth Creative Arts (BCA)
View the list of Breadth Creative Arts courses offered for the Spring 2025 semester.
3 Breadth Humanities (BHU)
View the list of Breadth Humanities courses offered for the Spring 2025 semester.
3  Breadth Social Sciences (BSS) 
View the list of Breadth Social Sciences courses offered for the Spring 2025 semester.
 
3 Breadth American Institutions (BAI) 
View the list of Breadth American Institutions courses offered for the Spring 2025 semester.

Advising for Pre-Health in this Field

Get connected to the Pre-Health Advising Office through our MyUSU Pre-Health Advising group and ungraded Canvas courses. The pre-health advisors can answer questions for incoming first-year students via appointment or email.

Samantha Johnson

Academic Advisor

Office Location: TSC 302
Phone: 435-797-5534
Email: samantha.johnson@usu.edu

Schedule an Appointment
Yvonne Kobe

Academic Advisor

Office Location: TSC 302
Phone: 435-797-2577
Email: yvonne.kobe@usu.edu

Schedule an Appointment