The Curriculum

The minimum requirements for admission to most medical schools in the United States include 8 to 16 semester credits of biology, 16 to 20 of chemistry, 4 to 8 of mathematics, 6 to 8 of physics, and 8 to 10 credits from English and the humanities.

Central Courses

Students generally take the following courses:

BIOL 200–201 Principles of Biology
CHEM 131–132 General Chemistry
CHEM 231–232 Organic Chemistry
ENGL 6 to 8 credits, including composition*
MATH 121 Calculus I or MATH 118, 119
PHYS 220–221 Fundamentals of Physics
PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology

* in most cases, fulfilling the WA and WB requirements will suffice.

Recommended Courses

A student's application to medical school is strengthened if several of the following courses are taken:

BIOL 239 Molecular Genetics and Heredity
BIOL 334 Comparative Physiology or BIOL 344 Human Physiology
BIOL 341 Observations in the ER
CHEM 320 Biochemistry
MATH 122 Calculus II or a statistics course
PHLI 216 Bioethics: Doctors and Patients
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology

Many of these required and recommended courses are either full-year sequences, prerequisites for other courses, not offered every semester or year, or must be completed before taking the MCAT (usually taken in the spring of the junior year). Students should plan a tentative schedule for their entire course of study early.

The health professions advisors provide students with support and information concerning course selection, the MCAT, application procedures, and letters of recommendation. Students should consult with the health professions advisors to develop programs tailored to their particular needs and interests.

For other health-related fields, admissions requirements and application procedures are similar to those for medical school. Students interested in careers in dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, physician assistance, and the like should consult with the health professions advisors for more details and information.