Science, Math, and Pre-Health Students

For students interested in Health and Medicine, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, 3/2 Engineering, Environmental Studies, Mathematics, or Physics – following are notes from our science faculty to consider when you register for your fall courses.

If you are thinking about preparing for a career in HEALTH and MEDICINE:

  • Take the chemistry and calculus placement exams now (if you haven’t already done so).
  • If there is a place available in one of the following courses, grab it!
    • CHEM-110
      • Note: If you placed into CHEM-120, this course will be offered in winter.
    • BIOL-101
      • If the Biology courses are full, don’t worry. They will be offered again in winter.
  • Please know that Kalamazoo College does not offer a pre-med major. You can major in any field – science or non-science – and still pursue medical, veterinary, or other professional health programs. The preparation for a career in health and medicine involves a number of science and non-science courses.

If you are thinking about majoring in BIOCHEMISTRY:

  • Take the chemistry and calculus placement exams now (if you haven’t already done so).
  • If there is a space available in CHEM-110, grab it!
    • Note: If you placed into CHEM-120, this course will be offered in winter.
  • If there is a space available in the math course you placed into, grab it!
    • This is especially important if your math placement is MATH-110. That course begins a sequence that takes two consecutive terms. MATH-110 will be offered in the fall and winter terms this year.
    • If you placed in MATH-112 or 113, plan to take these during your first year.
  • Or, if there is a space available in BIOL-101, grab it!
    • Note: This course will also be offered in winter.

Have specific questions about Chemistry, Biochemistry, chemical engineering, or careers in health? The Chemistry and Biochemistry departments will be hosting an optional Open House before registration. Current students, Departmental Student Advisors, and faculty will be available to answer any questions about the majors, chemistry classes, and careers in chemistry or biochemistry (including health and medicine).
If you are interested/able to attend, you have two options:
In person (for those in the Kalamazoo area) – July 11th at 2:00 pm in Dow 226 (on K’s campus)
Virtual – July 15th at 11:00 am (Eastern) in Teams: Meeting Link
(Click here for instructions how to access Teams)
We are excited to meet you! Contact Dr. Tresca or Dr. Arias Rotondo at chembiochem@kzoo.edu with any questions.

If you are thinking about majoring in BIOLOGY:

  • If there is a place available in one of the sections of BIOL-101, grab it!
    • If the courses are full, don’t worry. They will be offered again in winter.
  • Please know that a Biology major will need exposure to at least one other science discipline as well as social science, humanities, and arts, so if something looks interesting to you, grab a spot!
    • Take the chemistry and calculus placement exams now (if you haven’t already done so) so you’ll know what math or chemistry class to start with if you choose to explore those disciplines as part of your Biology major.

If you are thinking about majoring in CHEMISTRY:

  • Take the chemistry and calculus placement exams now (if you haven’t already done so).
  • If there is a space available in CHEM-110, grab it!
    • Note: If you placed into CHEM-120, this course will be offered in winter.
  • If there is a space available in the math course you placed into, grab it!
    • This is especially important if your math placement is MATH-110. That course begins a sequence that takes two consecutive terms. MATH-110 will be offered in the fall and winter terms this year.
    • If you placed in MATH-112 or 113, plan to take these during your first year.

If you are thinking about majoring in COMPUTER SCIENCE:

  • Take the calculus placement exam now (if you haven’t already done so).
  • If there is a space available in one of the introductory combinations – COMP-101/COMP-102 or COMP-101/COMP-104, grab the combination!
    • IMPORTANT NOTE: COMP-101, 102, 104 are .5 unit courses, so you should take one of the two combinations above to equal a full 1.0 unit course.
    • If you place into COMP-210, we recommend taking COMP-210 plus COMP-101 (as an extra .5 unit) during the Fall.
    • If these courses are full, don’t worry. Similar courses are offered throughout the year.
  • If you placed into MATH-110, MATH-112, or MATH-113 and there is space available, grab it!
    • This is especially important if your math placement is MATH-110. That course begins a sequence that takes two consecutive terms. MATH-110 will be offered in the fall and winter terms this year.

If you are thinking about pursuing the 3/2 ENGINEERING Program:

  • Take the chemistry and calculus placement exams now (if you haven’t already done so).
  • If there is a space available in the calculus course you placed into, grab it!
    • This is especially important if your math placement is MATH-110. That course begins a sequence that takes two consecutive terms. MATH-110 will be offered in the fall and winter terms this year.
  • Plan to take PHYS-150 in the winter term of your first year. PHYS-150 requires that you have completed Calculus 1 (MATH-112) or equivalent (AP score, placement exam, or transfer credit) or have taken MATH-110 and are enrolled in MATH-111 concurrently with PHYS-150.

If you are thinking about pursuing the ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES concentration:

  • If there is space available in the ENVS/PHYS-105 Sustainable Energy course, grab it!
  • Additionally, look for classes that carry the “ENVS Concentration” course type.
    • Note: The ENVS-115 Environmental Science course will be offered in spring term this year.

If you are thinking about majoring in MATHEMATICS:

  • Take the calculus placement exam now (if you haven’t already done so).
  • If there is a space available in the math course you placed into, grab it!
    • This is especially important if your math placement is MATH-110. That course begins a sequence that takes two consecutive terms. MATH-110 will be offered in the fall and winter terms this year.

If you are thinking about majoring in PHYSICS:

  • Take the calculus placement exam now (if you haven’t already done so).
  • If there is a space available in the calculus course you placed into, grab it!
    • This is especially important if your math placement is MATH-110. That course begins a sequence that takes two consecutive terms. MATH-110 will be offered in the fall and winter terms this year.
  • Plan to take PHYS-150 in the winter term of your first year. PHYS-150 requires that you have completed Calculus 1 (MATH-112) or equivalent (AP score, placement exam, or transfer credit) or have taken MATH-110 and are enrolled in MATH-111 concurrently with PHYS-150.