Rural Pre-Medicine
Program Details
Associate of Science Degree in Rural Pre-Health
Advanced Diploma in Rural Pre-Medicine
Overview
Program Summary
Our health care system needs professionals who want to practice in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. Moreover, professional health programs are seeking students who have lived and studied in rural areas. Take the first steps toward a fulfilling career in the health sciences while studying in the beautiful Kootenay mountains.
The comprehensive Rural Pre-Medicine Program pairs academic excellence with mentoring and community service opportunities, providing students with support to apply to medicine, pharmacy, optometry, dentistry, physical therapy, midwifery, veterinary medicine, naturopathy, public health, biomedical research and more. Students develop strengths in leadership, resilience, communication and collaboration as they progress along their pathway to a career in rural health.
Program Outcomes
In addition to the outcomes for University Arts and Sciences, on completion of the program graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate an academic foundation in the health sciences
- Demonstrate non-academic skills and strategies needed for subsequent health professional training
- Apply competitively to health professional programs
- Articulate the unique characteristics of rural health care
- Distinguish different paths to careers as rural health professionals
Program Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
Individuals applying for admission to the Rural Pre-Medicine Program should apply during the application period. Exact dates are posted on the Rural Pre-Medicine page on the college website. Applicants must have graduated from secondary school (or equivalent) and completed the following BC Provincial Curriculum courses (or their equivalents) with a minimum of 67% in each course:
- English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 or IELTS (minimum 6.5)
- Pre-calculus 12
- Two other approved Grade 12 courses, one of which must be: Biology 12, Chemistry 12, Geography 12, Geology 12, or Physics 12
- Chemistry 11
- Physics 11
Biology 12 and Chemistry 12 are strongly recommended. Students interested in the program who do not have the prerequisites should consult with the UAS school chair to discuss possible pathways.
Students interested in the program who do not have the prerequisites should consult with the UAS School Chair to discuss possible pathways.
Additional Requirements
Before an application is considered complete, the following must be received by the Admissions Office:
- Completed Selkirk College application form
- Completed RPM Program application form
- Official transcripts of all high school grades
- Official transcripts for any post-secondary studies
- Completed RPM personal reference forms
APPLICATION PROCESS:
1. Admission to the Rural Pre-Medicine Program is a selective admission process. Successful applicants are identified through the combined evaluation of academic qualifications, non-academic activities, and connection to rurality. A limited number of the most qualified applicants will be admitted into the program based on availability of seats.
2. Written offers will be sent to successful applicants. Receipt of a $500.00 non-refundable seat deposit by the offer-acceptance deadline is required otherwise the offer will be considered declined.
3. Once the available seats have been filled, a waitlist will be created for the current intake. The waitlist will be populated based on the review of applications in the original selection process. Applicants on the waitlist will be offered seats that become available after the offer-acceptance deadline.
4. Applicants who are not accepted into the program will receive notification.
5. Applicants who are not admitted or do not take a seat in a given year must reapply to be considered in a subsequent admission cycle.
Graduation and Promotion
In order for a student to remain in the RPM Program from one year to the next, the following requirements must be met:
a) Completion of all required RPM courses with a minimum grade of 60% in each course.
b) A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 for the year.
1. A student who fails to satisfy 1a or 1b must receive permission from the School Chair or designate for an alternate plan for completing the required courses in the program.
2. If permission is not granted or the student fails to adhere to the plan, then the student may be withdrawn from the program.
To qualify for graduation with an Associate of Science in Rural Pre-Health, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and successfully complete all of the required courses from the first and second year of the RPM Program.
To qualify for graduation with an Advanced Diploma in Rural Pre-Medicine, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and successfully complete all of the required courses from the third year of the RPM Program.
Program Courses
Term 1
Required Courses
Term 2
Required Courses
BIOL106 | Biology II | 3.00 | 90 |
CHEM125 | Foundations Of Chemistry II | 4.00 | 105 |
ENGL111 | Introduction to Literature | 3.00 | 45 |
MATH101 | Calculus II | 3.00 | 75 |
PSYC101 | Introductory Psychology II | 3.00 | 60 |
RPM121 | Rural Health Issues II | 1.00 | 15 |
Term 3
Required Courses
BIOL204 | Cell Biology | 3.00 | 90 |
CHEM212 | Organic Chemistry I | 3.00 | 90 |
INDG101 | Indigenous People's Relationships: Once You've Heard the Story | 3.00 | 45 |
| | | |
PHYS102 | Basic Physics I | 3.00 | 90 |
| Or | | |
PHYS104 | Fundamental Physics I | 3.00 | 90 |
| | | |
RPM220 | Rural Health Issues III | 1.00 | 15 |
STAT206 | Statistics | 3.00 | 75 |
Students choose between completing:
Both PHYS 102 (Term 3) and PHYS 103 (Term 4) OR Both PHYS 104 (TERM 3) and PHYS 105 (Term 4)
Term 4
Required Courses
The UAS elective could be any UAS Humanities or Social Science course of 3 or more credits at the 200-level or higher.
Term 5
Required Courses
BIOL164 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4.00 | 90 |
| Or | | |
ELECTIVE | ELECTIVE | 3.00 | 45 |
| | | |
BIOC302 | General Biochemistry | 3.00 | 90 |
CHEM225 | Physical Chemistry for Biosciences | 3.00 | 90 |
PHIL210 | Biomedical Ethics | 3.00 | 45 |
| | | |
PSYC202 | Research Methods | 3.00 | 60 |
| Or | | |
SOC205 | Introduction to Social Research | 3.00 | 45 |
| | | |
RPM320 | Rural Health Issues V | 1.00 | 15 |
Students choose between completing:
Both BIOL 164 (Term 5) and BIOL 165 (Term 6) OR Two UAS electives (one in Term 5 and one in Term 6)
Term 6
Required Courses
BIOL165 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4.00 | 90 |
| Or | | |
ELECTIVE | ELECTIVE | 3.00 | 45 |
| | | |
BIOL202 | Principles of Genetics | 3.00 | 67.5 |
INDG302 | Indigenous Health And Healing | 3.00 | 45 |
RPM321 | Rural Health Applied Research Project | 3.00 | 45 |
ELECTIVE | ELECTIVE | 3.00 | 45 |
The electives could be any course of 3 or more credits.
Elective Courses
Elective Options
Take:
one (1) 200- or 300-level UAS elective
See the UAS Courses by discipline page for course selections.
Additional Program Policies