Secondary school leavers often choose Medicine and Surgery as their course of study at the university, but many don’t know about the other options asides the MBBS degree.
In this post, you’ll discover the other medical courses and their admission requirements.
List of Medical Courses in Nigerian Universities & Requirements
Generally, the admission requirement for medical courses is the same as Medicine and Surgery.
The requirements are two A-level subjects from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Zoology or Botany plus UME requirement. The UME subjects are English Language, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. If you’re using the O’ Level option, the requirement is 5 O’ Level Credit Passes in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Now that you know the admission requirements, let’s learn about these medical courses.
1. Dentistry
Dentistry is a branch of medicine that involves the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral cavity, commonly in the dentition but also the oral mucosa, and of adjacent and related structures and tissues, particularly in the maxillofacial (jaw and facial) area. Visit https://urbansmileschicago.com/ for the best dentist in the Chicago.
Many people regard the dentist as the doctor of the teeth but dentistry is not limited to the teeth alone but it has to be an expert in many procedures such as in placing veneers. It also includes other aspects of the craniofacial complex including the temporomandibular joint and other supporting, muscular, lymphatic, nervous, vascular, and anatomical structures.
Usually, dental treatment and care are carried out by a dental team, which often consists of a dentist and dental auxiliaries (dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, as well as dental therapists).
As a dentist, you can work in private practices (primary care), dental hospitals or (secondary care) institutions (prisons, armed forces bases, etc.).
2. Pharmacy
Pharmacy is a medical course that entails the science and technique of preparing and dispensing drugs.
This course links health sciences with chemical sciences and aims to ensure the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs.
The scope of pharmacy practice includes more traditional roles such as compounding and dispensing medications, and it also includes more modern services related to health care, including clinical services, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy, and providing drug information. Pharmacists, therefore, are the experts on drug therapy and are the primary health professionals who optimize the use of medication for the benefit of the patients.
3. Medical Laboratory Science
Medical Laboratory Science is another medical course. It is also referred to as a medical technologist, a clinical scientist, or clinical laboratory technologist.
The medical lab scientist is a healthcare professional that performs chemical, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, and bacteriological diagnostic analyses on body fluids such as blood, urine, sputum, stool, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, and synovial fluid, as well as other specimens.
Generally, medical laboratory scientists work in clinical laboratories at hospitals, physician’s offices, reference labs, biotechnology labs, and non-clinical industrial labs.
4. Nursing
Nursing is a medical science that deals with the treatment and care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life.
This course is different from other health care providers by their approach to patient care, training, and scope of practice.
Generally, nurses practice in many specialties with differing levels of prescription authority. However, nurses are known to provide care within the ordering scope of physicians, and this traditional role has shaped the public image of nurses as care providers.
Nurses achieve this by developing a plan of care, working collaboratively with physicians, therapists, the patient, the patient’s family, and other team members, that focus on treating illness to improve quality of life.
5. Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is also known as physical therapy (PT). It is one of the allied health courses. It involves using mechanical force and movements (biomechanics or kinesiology), manual therapy, exercise therapy, and electrotherapy, remediates impairments and promotes mobility and function.
Physiotherapists improve the quality of life of patients through examination, diagnosis, prognosis, physical intervention, and patient education.
In addition to clinical practice, other activities encompassed in the physical therapy profession include research, education, consultation, and administration. Physical therapy services may be provided as primary care treatment or alongside, or in conjunction with, other medical services.
6. Optometry
Optometry is another allied medical course. It involves examining the eyes and applicable visual systems for defects or abnormalities as well as the medical diagnosis and minor treatments like dry eye treatment.
The optometrist services or as many people call them the eye doctor is trained intensively in the diagnosis and management of ocular disease in addition to correcting refractive error through the use of spectacles.
Optometrists hold an O.D degree which stands for Doctors of Optometry. These professionals typically work closely together with other eye care professionals such as ophthalmologists and opticians to deliver quality and efficient eye care to the general public.
7. Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary medicine is another medical course. It is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in non-human animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all animal species, both domesticated and wild, with a wide range of conditions which can affect different species.
The course is quite essential to human health as it is involved in the monitoring and control of zoonotic disease (infectious disease transmitted from non-human animals to humans), food safety, and indirectly through human applications from basic medical research.
Veterinary doctors also help to maintain food supply through livestock health monitoring and treatment, and mental health by keeping pets healthy and long living. Veterinary scientists often collaborate with epidemiologists, and other health or natural scientists depending on the type of work. Ethically, veterinarians are usually obliged to look after animal welfare.
8. Biochemistry
Biochemistry is another course that is related to medicine. It is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms.
Biochemistry is also related to molecular biology which is the study of the molecular mechanisms by which genetic information encoded in DNA is able to result in the processes of life.
The course is a sub-discipline of both biology and chemistry and it can be divided into three fields namely; molecular genetics, protein science, and metabolism.
9. Microbiology
Microbiology involves the study of microorganisms with particular emphasis on the biology of bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoan parasites. The course also focuses on the pathogenic potential of the organisms that cause disease in man
10. Radiography
Radiography is another medical course which aims to provide you with knowledge, understanding, and skills in radiographic practice. It incorporates the specific skills of radiation science, anatomy, physiology, pathology, and radiography.
This course deals with the treatment of diseases like cancer and also deal with the analysis of the diagnostic images of anatomic structures.