Preparatory Undergraduate Coursework for Medical School

It is important to understand that each medical school has its own admission requirements and recommendations.  There are no set in stone guidelines, however, the following courses are REQUIRED by the majority of US and Canadian Medical Schools:

 York required Courses

• Biology: 1 year (8 semester hours), with Lab.                                                            BIO 201, BIO 202
• General Chemistry: 1 year (8 semester hours), with Lab.                                     CHEM 101, CHEM 102
• Organic Chemistry: 1 year (8 semester hours), with Lab.                                     CHEM 231/2, 233/4
• Physics: 1 year (8 semester hours), with Lab.                                                            PHYS 151, 152
• Mathematics: Calculus and Statistics (6-8 credits)                                                   MATH 121
• English: 1 or 2 semesters                                                                                                      ENG 125, 200

While it may be easier to complete these requirements as a science major, a science degree is not required to enter a health professions program (dentistry, medicine, etc.). One should choose a major in a field of the student’s interest while completing required prehealth coursework. One can be a history, performing arts, or engineering major and still pursue a premedical curriculum though it may require taking summer classes or extra coursework to complete all the requirements. Advanced placement credit could help in scheduling these classes while keeping on schedule for a non-science degree.

Science coursework must be taken that satisfies requirements for science majors. All of this science has fundamental importance to the understanding of medical principles.

Prehealth students should avoid taking any classes designated as “for nonscience majors” or “not open to students majoring in [this department].” Students do themselves a disservice by not taking an academically challenging and rigorous science course to prepare for admsisions exams and the experience of laboratory work.

Psychology and mathematics are also requirements in many prehealth programs, though it appears that requirement varies on a school-by-school basis instead of a disciplinary trend.

Many medical schools recommend some additional science courses including, but not limited to, Biochemistry, Genetics, and Physiology.  It is highly recommended that students who are serious about pursuing admission to medical school look into purchasing a copy of the official Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) Book published by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).  It can be found here:

https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/msar/