Curriculum
WEINBERG COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Medical students have a variety of opportunities to interact one-on-one with their instructors.

In the Weinberg College you will pursue a customized course of study reflecting your needs and interests. The honors curriculum emphasizes flexibility and intellectual maturity; in addition to the sequence of required science courses described below, you will complete a variety of courses that reflect your own academic interests. You and your faculty adviser will design a program of study for your first two or three years that will enable you to explore many of the academic disciplines in the Weinberg College and prepare you to undertake advanced work in your final undergraduate year.

All HPME students must take specific science course that will provide a strong foundation for the course work in medical school.  The science sequence of 11 courses may be completed during the first two years, or distributed over the entire three or four years of your undergraduate experience.

The physics course provides a challenging quantitative consideration of classical and modern physics.

The first-year chemistry sequence consists of one quarter of inorganic chemistry, and one quarter of physical chemistry designed to extend the material presented in high school chemistry and ensure uniformity of preparation for subsequent courses.  Your studies in chemistry will continue with organic chemistry, which considers fundamental principles and theories and the reactions of aliphatic, aromatic, and biological compounds.  The three quarters of organic chemistry provide sufficient background for your further study in medical school.

Courses in the biological sciences that build on your previous and concurrent study of chemistry, physics, and mathematics are presented in the second year. Central topics in contemporary biology are emphasized with the goal of preparing you for advanced study.

In addition to the science requirements, you must complete six courses each in the social sciences and humanities. You will have considerable freedom in choosing electives, selecting among courses in English, philosophy, foreign language, history, art history, music, economics, psychology, political science, and other social and behavioral sciences.

Your final year in the Weinberg College is designed to be a culminating experience in which you continue to pursue your academic interests while completing advanced course work and research in one intellectual discipline. You will choose one of two options, for which you have prepared yourself in the preceding two years:

Study abroad in an affiliated Northwestern program. The University offers students the opportunity to study in a number of countries throughout the world. Study abroad normally involves a combination of courses, seminars, or tutorials, with opportunities for independent study and research. Proficiency in the language of the country in which you wish to study may be required.

 The BA degree in the Weinberg College requires, in addition to a departmental major, completion of distribution requirements and competency in a second language. Students who wish to pursue this option will be permitted to waive some Weinberg College requirements so they may receive the BA degree at the end of three or four years.

MCCORMICK SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE

In addition to the required science sequence described earlier, HPME students in the McCormick School must complete the following:

• 4 courses in calculus (2 of which may be satisfied with AP credits)
• 4 engineering analysis courses covering mechanics, linear algebra, computer proficiency, and differential equations
• 3 courses in design and communication
• 5 basic engineering courses
• 1 unrestricted elective
• 6 elective courses in the social sciences and humanities chosen around a theme
• 7 advanced engineering courses in the chosen area of specialization

School of Communication

In addition to the required science sequence described earlier, HPME students in the School of Communication must complete the following:

• 4 science courses in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD)
• 2 basic courses in CSD
• 1 statistics course in CSD
• 3 clinically oriented courses in CSD
• 3 electives in individual and social behavior
• 3 electives in the humanities
• 1 course in clinical applications
• departmental writing requirement