Preparing to Apply to Medical School
Prerequisite Coursework
The suggested course of study outlined below represents the minimal course requirements for medical school. For requirements of other programs see the Health Related Careers page. Specific medical schools will have additional requirements so you should visit web sites of schools you are interested in to learn what these might be.
These pre-professional courses will provide you a broad educational background - a strong foundation in the natural sciences, highly developed communication skills and a solid background in the social sciences and humanities. A liberal arts education can help you achieve an understanding of self and of others. Attitudes, values and motivations are important determinants of behavior in sickness as well as in health. You should learn to state information precisely and develop a conscious technique for organizing or memorizing relevant information. It is particularly desirable that you develop your communication skills through courses in speech, writing, reading and participation in extracurricular activities. Medical schools want individuals with a diversity of backgrounds, talents and interests.
Medical School Prerequisite Courses
| First Year | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 108N,109N - Diversity of Life & Laboratory | 3,2 (5) | - |
| * BIOL 110N - Principles of Biology | - | 4 |
| CHMY 141N – College Chemistry & Laboratory | 5 | - |
| CHMY 143N – College Chemistry II & Laboratory | - | 5 |
| †M121 –College Algebra | 5 | - |
| †M151 – Precalculus | - | 4 |
| Second Year | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| CHMY 221,222 – Organic Chemistry & Laboratory | 5 | - |
| CHMY 223, 224 – Organic Chemistry II & Laboratory | - | 5 |
| Third Year | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 111N, 113N – Fundamentals of Physics I | 5 | - |
| PHYS 112N, 114N – Fundamentals of Physics II | - | 5 |
| Recommended Courses | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 221 -- Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 | - |
| BIOL 223 – Genetics and Evolution | - | 4 |
| BIOL 312N – Anatomy & Physiology I & Laboratory | 4 | - |
| BIOL 313N -- Anatomy & Physiology II & Laboratory | 4 | |
| BIOC 380 -- Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 4 | |
| HC395.8 – Health Professions Preparation and Overview | 2 | |
| HS 440E -- Health Care & Public Policy | 3 (even-numbered years) | |
| PHIL 421E – Medical Ethics | 3 (offered intermittently) |
|
Specific Additional Requirements:
In addition, to the above courses, students must satisfy the specific requirements for their major, as well as the University’s general education requirements. Medical schools may require additional coursework in English and the humanities. It is strongly suggested that students research the specific programs that interest them, in order to make sure they will meet the school’s course requirements.
* Students majoring in Biological Chemistry, Microbiology, or Human Biology satisfy this requirement with other biology laboratory courses. † A small but growing number of medical schools require a course sequence in mathematics, which may include college algebra, calculus and statistics. All schools value mathematical competence. A student who places into a higher level math, such as M162--Applied Calculus, should take that course instead of M121. Students may also wish to take STAT 216 following M 121, 151, or 162. |