Students thinking of a career in medicine or dentistry can meet the requirements for medical or dental school effectively with a program in the chemistry department, and students with these interests are welcomed by the department. Most medical schools require that students complete, as a minimum, the equivalent of two Lawrence courses in biology, two in general chemistry, two in organic chemistry, and two in physics. A number of pre-medical students find that a major in chemistry meets their interests, while others will build programs around the new (2008) major in Biochemistry. Other students decide on a major in biology, while a few prefer to complete majors in other areas – philosophy, history, English, or psychology, for example. For many of these students whose major is not chemistry, a Chemistry Minor is a good choice. Beyond the introductory and organic chemistry courses that medical schools require, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and the Chemical Dynamics course are particularly valuable, and that set of courses would satisfy the requirements for a Chemistry Minor.
