Pre-Medicine

RECOMMENDED CURRICULUM

The Sanford School of Medicine, and most other medical schools, requires that the pre-medical student take, as a minimum, one year each of:

Additional Requirements

It is highly recommended that students also complete additional course work in Biochemistry, Genetics or Molecular Biology, Psychology, Sociology, and Statistics. Please note that some medical schools currently require courses in these fields as part of the pre-medicine curriculum, and that the required admission examination for medical schools, the MCAT, will assume prior completion of coursework in Biochemistry, Psychology, Sociology, and Statistics starting with MCATs administered in 2015.

Pre-medicine students are encouraged to take additional coursework in a number of disciplines in order to provide for a broad-based academic preparation for the study of medicine as well as to fulfill system-wide, institutional, college, or major requirements.

All prerequisite courses taken in the areas noted above should be the same courses required of students pursing the major in those fields. The Sanford School of Medicine does accept Advanced Placement (AP) or CLEP courses in fulfillment of pre-medicine requirements providing that these courses are listed for credit on the undergraduate transcript (although other medical schools may not).  In the case of AP courses or credit earned by examination (CLEP), it is expected that students will enroll in advanced courses in these disciplines that would be stimulating and challenging. It is preferred that students complete the prerequisite courses during the regular academic year. Correspondence courses are NOT considered acceptable substitutes for prerequisite courses. Typically all prerequisite courses should be completed before the student takes the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and submits the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application or the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) application.

Sequence of Courses

The sequence outlined below should allow students to fulfill all pre-med requirements, prepare to take the MCAT exam, and begin applying for medical school during the summer before their senior undergraduate year. Please note that this outline is not intended for any specific major but is a suggested sequence of courses that demonstrates how students might meet the medicine prerequisites. Often the medicine prerequisite courses may be used to fulfill requirements or electives of the major. Students should consult with their academic advisors about their career and academic plans.