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Nov 21, 2024
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2009-2010 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]
Pre-Medicine
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Students who intend to pursue a career in medicine must carefully plan their undergraduate programs in order to be sure they meet the requirements for admission to medical school. Many medical schools require the B.A. or B.S. degree for admission and all consider a degree to be highly desirable. The USD School of Medicine may admit outstanding undergraduates who have completed three years (90 semester hours) of pre-medical coursework and fulfilled all entrance requirements. USD School of Medicine does encourage prospective applicants to complete the B.A. or B.S. degree prior to admission. The pre-medicine program at USD is designed to permit the student to accomplish two simultaneous objectives: (1) fulfill the requirements for a B.A. or B.S. degree within the student’s academic major and (2) fulfill the requirements for entrance into the USD School of Medicine. The significant science emphasis of the prerequisite courses makes it convenient for the pre-medicine student to choose a major in the science disciplines, however, it is entirely possible for the student to fulfill the prerequisite coursework while working on an undergraduate major in a non-scientific discipline. One very workable scenario would be to pursue a B.S. degree from the College of Arts and Sciences consisting of a combination of a major in a scientific discipline along with a minor in the social sciences and the humanities. Such a combination would provide the student with an excellent academic foundation upon which to enter medical school at USD or elsewhere.
Additional information regarding the USD School of Medicine is available by contacting: USD School of Medicine Admissions Office, 677-5233 (http://www.usd.edu/med/md); Academic Advising Center, 677-5381; Health Professions Advisor, 677-5156 or Department of Biology, 677-5211, or by visiting the following web site: http://admissions.usd.edu/academics/majors/pre-health-professions.cfm
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RECOMMENDED CURRICULUM
The USD School of Medicine, and most other medical schools, requires that the pre-medical student take, as a minimum, one year each of: Mathematics (preferably through calculus):
Additional Requirements
In addition, it is expected that the student will take additional coursework in English, Speech, Literature, Humanities, Fine Arts, and Social Science in fulfillment of the regental general education requirements.
All prerequisite courses taken in the areas noted above should be the same courses required of the major. Students who have been permitted to enroll in advanced courses should indicate on their academic record that the usual prerequisites have been satisfied. The USD School of Medicine does accept Advanced Placement (AP) or CLEP courses in fulfillment of pre-medicine requirements. In the case of AP courses or courses waived by examination (CLEP), it is expected that students will enroll in advanced courses 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. All prerequisite courses should be completed before the student takes the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and files the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application. Four Year Plan
The following course of study is an example that the student may find helpful in planning how to meet the pre-medicine requirements. The example demonstrated below is a plan of study that should allow students to fulfill all pre-med requirements and prepare to take the MCAT exam by April of their junior year. This would allow students to begin applying for medical school during the summer before their senior undergraduate year. Please note that this four-year plan is not intended for any specific major but is a suggested sequence of courses that demonstrates how students might meet the medicine prerequisites. Students should also consult the suggested four-year plan provided by their major department. 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. First Semester 15-16 hours
Second Semester 15-16 hours
First Semester 16 hours
Other System/Institutional/College/Major Requirements/Electives 16cr Second Semester 16 hours
Other System/Institutional/College/Major Requirements/Electives 16cr Note
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. |
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