Pre-Medicine Handout

Pre-Medicine is a career interest, rather than a major or formal program. Developing this interest involves taking courses to build a foundation for a medical education, studying to perform well, gaining health care experience, developing a commitment to serving others, taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and, in the summer between the junior and senior year, applying for admission to medical schools.

The KU School of Medicine and most medical schools require a full bachelor's degree, including a major, before entering. Although most requirements are sciences, you can choose any degree and any major. As a minimum, most medical schools require two semesters each of English, biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, for example:

•ENGL 101 Composition (3 credit hours), or 105 Honors
• ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing (3), or 205 Honors

• BIOL 150 Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology (4, fall & spring, CHEM 184 co- or pre-requisite), or 151 Honors, can substitute BIOL 400 & 402
• BIOL 152 Principles of Organismal Biology (4, spring & summer) or 153 Honors, can substitute BIOL 646 & 647

• CHEM 184 Foundations of Chemistry I (5, must be eligible for MATH 115), or 170 for Chemical Sciences Majors, or 185 Honors
• CHEM 188 Foundations of Chemistry II (5, spring & summer), or 175 for Chemical Sciences Majors, or 189 Honors

• CHEM 624 Organic Chemistry I & 625 Lab (3 & 2, fall & spring), or 628 Honors
• CHEM 626 Organic Chemistry II & 627 Lab (3 & 2, spring & summer), or 630 Honors
At this time, KU’s organic sequence meets the KU School of Medicine requirement without the 2nd lab, but most students take 627 to meet requirements at other medical schools.

• PHSX 114 College Physics I (4, prerequisite MATH ACT >24 or MATH 104 Pre-Calculus), or 211 Calculus-Based, or 213 Honors
• PHSX 115 College Physics II (4), or 212 Calculus-Based, or 214 Honors

Starting in 2015, BIOL 600 Introductory Biochemistry, PSYC 104 General Psychology and SOC 104 Elements of Sociology will be needed for the new MCAT.

Some medical schools require BIOL 350 Principles of Genetics, BIOL 600 Introductory Biochemistry, and/or calculus. BIOL 400 Fundamentals of Microbiology, BIOL 646 Mammalian Physiology, statistics, and Spanish are highly recommended.

You should plan on completing required courses by the end of your junior year, as they cover content needed for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)! There are many ways of sequencing required science courses. Here is one possibility:

1st Fall 1st Spring 2nd Fall 2nd Spring 3rd Fall 3rd Spring 4th Fall 4th Spring
CHEM 184 CHEM 188 CHEM 624 CHEM 626 PHSX 114 PHSX 115    
BIOL 150 BIOL 152 CHEM 625 CHEM 627 BIOL 600      
    PSYC 104 SOC 104        
               
               

If you're a prospective student, you can contact the Office of Admissions & Scholarships, (785) 864-3911, www.admissions.ku.edu, to schedule a tour and information meetings with advisors. If you're currently a KU student, you can call 864-3500 to schedule an orientation or application meeting with the premedical advisor.

For more information, see the KU Premedicine Advising web site at www.medadvising.ku.edu/medicine.


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