UNSOM Prospective Applicants: Admissions Information: Course Requirements
The MCAT and a minimum of three years of college work (90 semester hours) are required. The MCAT must be taken prior to the November 1 application deadline. The MCAT must be taken within three years of the anticipated date of enrollment and no later than the fall prior to the planned year of entrance. The Admissions Selection Committee strongly recommends completion of a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation in medical school.
Applicants are encouraged to have a broad educational background and to enroll in an in-depth course curriculum that will lead to a discipline-oriented major, e.g., biology, English, psychology. However, no specific major is favored over any other. In addition to academic course work, people-oriented activities and health care exposure are important.
Course work must include:
Biology (Must include 3 sem. hrs. of upper division credit) |
12 |
Inorganic Chemistry |
8 |
Organic Chemistry |
8 |
Physics |
8 |
Behavioral Sciences (Must include 3 sem. hrs. of upper division credit.) |
6 |
Supplemental courses strongly recommended, but not required, for admission include
- biochemistry
- microbiology
- genetics
- calculus
- statistics
- immunology
Required courses meet UNSOM's minimum criteria, but successful medical students most often have coursework over and above these minimum credits. A solid base in the humanities and social sciences is also important and may include courses in a wide range of subjects such as history, literature, philosophy, ethics, or computer science.
In fulfillment of the behavioral sciences requirement students should take courses that deal with the psychological stages of the life cycle (e.g., human growth and development, adolescence, aging, human sexuality, abnormal psychology, family dynamics, or medically oriented sociology). Courses which will/will not satisfy Behavioral Sciences Program - PDF.
Correspondence, CLEP (college-level exam programs--test out), AP (advanced placement), and/or pass/fail or audit in lieu of a letter grade is not acceptable for the above required courses.
A demonstrated competency in English composition and expression is required. Generally, students are expected to satisfy the English composition requirements of their undergraduate institution.
Accepted students are responsible for completing all prerequisite course work prior to matriculation.
