Medical School Academic Preparation

Medical School Academic Preparation (PDF)

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

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

Prerequisite: CHEM 200 or 202 with grade of C or better

 

One year of Organic Chemistry with Labs

CHEM 232/232L         Organic Chemistry

Prerequisite: CHEM 201 with grade of C or better and credit or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 232L

CHEM 432/432L         Organic Chemistry

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

Prerequisites: BIOL 203, 203L and CHEM 232, 232L

One year of Biology with Labs

BIOL 203/203L            Principles of Cell & Molecular Biology

Prerequisite: Credit/concurrent registration in CHEM 200 or 202 and satisfaction of the English placement test requirement

BIOL 204/204L            Principles of Organismal Biology

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

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement. Recommended concurrent registration in PHYS 182A

PHYS 180B/182B       Fundamentals of Physics II/Lab

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement,  PHYS 180A.  Recommended concurrent registration in PHYS 182B

                        OR

PHYS 195/195L          Principles of Physics/Lab

Prerequisites: High school physics or PHYS 180A. MATH 150 with a minimum grade of C.

PHYS 196/196L          Principles of Physics/Lab

Prerequisites: PHYS 195. MATH 151

One year of Math and Statistics (one semester of each)

MATH 124                   Calculus for Life Sciences

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

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.

                        AND

STAT 250                    Statistical Principles and Practices*

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement

                        OR

BIOL 215                     Biostatistics*

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*

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the SDSU writing competency requirement

RWS 200                     Intermediate Composition*

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the SDSU writing competency requirement and RWS 100 or equivalent

*Other composition courses may also meet this requirement for some medical schools. Check with HPAO.

 

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)