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, taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), andand, in the summer between the junior and senior year, applying for admission to medical schools.

Most people complete a full bachelor's degree, including a major, before entering medical school. 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)
• ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing (3)

• BIOL 150 Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology (4, fall & spring, can substitute BIOL 400 & 402)
• BIOL 152 Principles of Organismal Biology (4, spring & summer, can substitute BIOL 646 & 647)

• CHEM 184 Foundations of Chemistry I (5, must be eligible for MATH 115)
• CHEM 188 Foundations of Chemistry II (5, spring & summer)

• CHEM 624 Organic Chemistry I & 625 Lab (3 & 2, fall & spring)
• CHEM 626 Organic Chemistry II & 627 Lab (3 & 2, spring & summer)
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)
• PHSX 115 College Physics II (4)

Some medical schools require BIOL 350 Principles of Genetics, BIOL 600 Introductory Biochemistry, MATH 115 Calculus I, and/or MATH 116 Calculus II. Recommended science courses include BIOL 400 Fundamentals of Microbiology and BIOL 646 Mammalian Physiology.

Many schools require that prerequisites be taken for letter grades, and a few will not accept AP or CLEP credit for entry requirements.

Most students take chemistry their first year, organic their second year, and physics their third year. 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 putting required and some recommended science courses together. Here is one possibility:

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.