Naturopathic medicine is a health care profession that emphasizes prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances (alternative medicine practices) that encourage individuals' self-healing process. The goal of naturopathic medicine is to treat the whole person. Naturopathic practitioners, including naturopathic doctors (NDs), help with dietary and lifestyle changes, stress reduction, herbs and dietary supplements, homeopathy, exercise therapy and more. Naturopathic physicians generally complete a 4 year, graduate-level program at a naturopathic medical schools.
Currently, there is not a centralized application system for naturopathic medical schools. Students who are interested in applying to a naturopathic medicne program must apply directly to each individual school.
Each program is different, but typically, schools are looking for the following prerequisites:
| English |
1–3 Quarters |
| College Level Math |
1 Quarter |
| General Biology |
1 Year |
| General Chemistry |
1 Year |
| Organic Chemistry |
1–3 Quarters |
| Physics |
1–3 Quarters |
| Psychology |
1–2 Quarters |
It is important for students to check each school's requirements carefully as some schools will require courses not listed above. For more information about a specific program, contact that school directly.
Students should check with each program of interest for more information.
Students should meet with their academic advisor and the pre-health advisor each quarter to make sure they are taking the correct courses for their major/professional school interest.
Below is a sample timeline for a health sciences major. Please be aware that naturopathic programs do not require or prefer a specific major and the below timeline should not be used to replace regular meetings with an academic advisor.
Traditional 4 Year Sample Timeline - Major: Health Sciences: Bioscience General
Naturopathic Medicine
| 1st Year |
BIO 191: General Biology I
CHE 130/131 or CHE 120/131: General Chemistry
WRD 103: Writing and Rhetoric I
Discover or Explore Chicago |
BIO 192: General Biology II
CHE 132/133 or CHE 122/133: General Chemistry II
WRD 104: Writing and Rhetoric II
LSP 112: Focal Point Seminar |
BIO 193: General Biology III
CHE 134/135: General Chemistry III
Learning Domain
Learning Domain |
| 2nd Year |
CHE 230/231: Organic Chemistry
PHY 150 or PHY 170: Physics I
HLTH 201: Introduction to Health Sciences
LSP 200: Multicultural Seminar |
CHE 232/233: Organic Chemistry II
PHY 151 or PHY 171: Physics II
HLTH 202: Health Research Literacy
Learning Domain |
CHE 234/235: Organic Chemistry III
PHY 152 or PHY 172: Physics III
HLTH 210: Introduction to Public Health
Learning Domain |
| 3rd Year |
BIO 210: Microbiology
Junior Year Experiential Learning
Learning Domain
Open Elective |
BIO 250: Cell Biology
Learning Domain
Learning Domain
Open Elective |
BIO 206: Biostatistics
Learning Domain
Open Elective
Open Elective |
| 4th Year |
Bioscience Elective: HLTH 229
Learning Domain
Learning Domain
Open Elective |
HLTH 301: Anatomy and Physiology A
Learning Domain
Open Elective
Open Elective |
Bioscience Elective
HTLH 350: Health Sciences Capstone
Learning Domain
Open Elective |
If interested in shadowing a naturopathic physician, contact an admission representative at your local naturopathic medical school. The admissions representative can set up a shadowing opportunity with a local alumni.
Unfortunately, because naturopathic medicine programs do not have a centalized application system, Pre-Health Adivsing is unable to track this data.
It is important for students to check each school's requirements carefully as some schools will require information not listed above. Students are responsible for checking the prerequisites for the classes above and for the prerequisites for each individual professional school. For more information about a specific program, please contact the school directly.