Medical School Academic Preparation
Medical School Academic Preparation
These courses meet the requirements for most medical schools (MD, DO, DPM) and for
preparation for the MCAT. Medical schools generally do not accept AP credit or on-line courses
for these required courses. Be sure to check each medical school’s requirements.
No medical school requires a science major, nor are science majors given extra
consideration in the admission process. Becoming a competitive medical school applicant also
requires more than a solid GPA and MCAT score. Be sure you are meeting regularly with
your HPAO advisor.
One year General Chemistry with Labs
CHEM 200 General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisites: Knowledge of introductory chemistry as demonstrated by completion of CHEM 100 with a grade of C or better, or satisfaction of the Entry-Level Mathematics requirement and qualification on the Chemistry Department Placement Examination
CHEM 201 General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisite: CHEM 200 or 202 with grade of C or better
One year of Organic Chemistry with Labs
CHEM 232/232L Organic Chemistry (4)
Prerequisite: CHEM 201 with grade of C or better and credit or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 232L
CHEM 432/432L Organic Chemistry (4)
Prerequisite: CHEM 232 with a grade of C or better and credit or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 432L
One semester of Biochemistry
CHEM 365 Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 203, 203L and CHEM 232, 232L
One year of Biology with Labs
BIOL 203/203L Principles of Cell & Molecular Biology (4)
Prerequisite: Credit/concurrent registration in CHEM 200 or 202 and satisfaction of the English placement test requirement
BIOL 204/204L Principles of Organismal Biology (4)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the English placement test requirement. Recommended completion of BIOL 203/203L
One year of Physics with Labs
PHYS 180A/182A Fundamentals of Physics I/Lab (4)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement. Recommended concurrent registration in PHYS 182A
PHYS 180B/182B Fundamentals of Physics II/Lab (4)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement, PHYS 180A. Recommended concurrent registration in PHYS 182B
OR
PHYS 195/195L Principles of Physics/Lab (4)
Prerequisites: High school physics or PHYS 180A. MATH 150 with a minimum grade of C.
PHYS 196/196L Principles of Physics/Lab (4)
Prerequisites: PHYS 195. MATH 151
One semester of Calculus
MATH 124 Calculus for Life Sciences (4)
Prerequisites: Knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry as demonstrated by either (1) satisfactory
completions of MATH 141 with a grade of C (2.0) or above; or (2) satisfaction of the Entry Level Mathematics
requirement and qualification on the Mathematics Departmental Precalculus Proficiency Examination. Proof of
completion of prerequisites required.
OR
MATH 150 Calculus I (4)
Prerequisites: Knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry as demonstrated by either (1) satisfactory
completions of MATH 141 with a grade of C (2.0) or above; or (2) satisfaction of the Entry Level Mathematics
requirement and qualification on the Mathematics Placement Assessment. Proof of completion of prerequisites
required.
One semester of Statistics
STAT 250 Statistical Principles and Practices* (3)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement
OR
BIOL 215 Biostatistics* (3)
Prerequisites: Credit or concurrent registration in BIOL 203, 203L, or 204, 204L and MATH 122, 124, 141, or 150
*Other statistics courses may also meet this requirement for some medical schools. Check with HPAO.
One year of English
RWS 100 College Composition* (3)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the SDSU written communication assessment requirement. RWS 200
Rhetoric of Written Arguments in Context* (3)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the SDSU Written Communication Assessment requirement and Rhetoric and Writing Studies 100 [or English 100] or 105B, or Africana Studies 120 or American Indian Studies 120 or Chicana and Chicano Studies 111B or English 100 or Linguistics 100B. Proof of completion of prerequisites required: Test scores or verification of exemption; copy of transcript.
*Other composition courses may also meet this requirement for some medical schools. Check with HPAO.
OR
If you have AP credit for RWS 100…
RWS 200 Rhetoric of Written Arguments in Context* (3)
RWS 305W Writing in Various Settings (3)
Prerequisite: Junior, Senior, or Grad Level
OR
If you have AP credit for RWS 100 and RWS 200 …
RWS 305W Writing in Various Settings (3)
RWS 503W Professional Writing (3)
Prerequisite: Junior, Senior, or Grad Level
Not required but may be helpful for MCAT preparation (check prerequisites)
BIOL 250A Pre Professional Topics: Topics in Medicine (1)
PSY 101 Introductory Psychology (3)
SOC 101 Introductory Sociology: Study of Society (3)
SOC 102 Introduction to Social Problems (3)
BIOL 212 Human Anatomy (4)
BIOL 336 Principles of Human Physiology (3)
