Course Requirements for Medical School
The courses required for application to medical school vary some from school to school, but most medical schools usually include the following St. Olaf courses:
- 1 year of General Biology with lab (125 and 126)
- 1 year of General Chemistry with lab (Chem 125 or 121/123 and 126*)
- 1 year of Organic Chemistry with lab (247/253 and 248/254)
- 1 year of General Physics with lab (124 and 125)
- 1 semester of Calculus (Math 120)**
- 2 semesters of English (composition and literature)**"
*Ch-Bi 125, 126, and 127 will replace Bio 125, Chem 125, and Chem 126
**Calculus/Math requirements vary from one year of calculus at research-oriented schools such as Washington University and Harvard to no calculus requirements at most schools
***St. Olaf's General Education courses cover this requirement.
St. Olaf's General Education Requirements cover the required courses in humanities and social science. Students should check the requirements of the medical schools of interest early in theri undergraduate studies. The MSAR, which is available in the Biomedical Studies Resource Area in Hustad Science Library, is a current source of requirements of all U.S. and Canadian medical schools. Medical schools have variable requirements in regards to Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Many medical schools, including the University of Minnesota, do not accept CLEP credits for the required premed courses and a few schools do not accept AP credits. Check the MSAR to acquire specific information.
Listed below are the major requirements for the Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin medical schools for entrance in 2009-2010 as well as some general information about each school:
(NOTE: The MCAT requires one year of general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biology. The listed requirements are specific to the medical school itself.)
Minnesota
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
-AP or CLEP credits cannot be used for the required courses but advanced courses in those areas can be taken at St. Olaf if AP credit exist
-Biology 125
-Chemistry 125 (or 121/123)
-Physics 124 and 125.
-Additional 4 courses from the following: Bio 126, Bio 233, Chem 247/253 and 248/254, Chem 379 (Biochemistry lab not required). Two of these courses must be upper level.
-Humanities and social science: One upper level course with a writing component (WRI).
-Recommended electives: Bio 233, Chem 379, ethics, Psychology 125, statistics, foreign language, social and behavioral courses, independent learning courses
-Class size: 165
-Students may participate in the flexible MD program and finish in 3.5-6 years
University of Minnesota – Duluth
-AP courses may be used for non-lab requirements
-Biology 125 and 126
-Chemistry 125 (or 121/123) and 126
-Chemistry 247/253 and 248/254
-Chemistry 379 (Biochemistry lab is not required)
-Physics 124 and 125
-Math 120 or upper level statistics
-English: 2 courses with a considerable writing component
-Psychology 125 with the additional upper division courses from psychology or sociology.
-Small-town or rural Minnesota applicants preferred. The primary goal of Duluth is to train primary care physicians who will pratice in small towns or Indian Communities (In 2006, 89% were from towns with less than 2000 population) in rural Minnesota.
-Class size: 60
-Apply initially (AMCAS) to the University of Minnesota and after the AMCAS application is processed you will be able to designate Duluth, Twin Cities, or both.
-Biology 125 and 126
-Chemistry 125 (or 121/123) and 126
-Chemistry 247/253 and 248/254
-Chemistry 379 (Biochemistry lab is not required)
-Physics 124 and 125
-Class size: 50
Iowa
-AP or CLEP courses may be used
-Biology 125 and 126
-Advanced Biology (+lab): 1 course (recommended: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, or Microbiology)
-Chemistry 125 (121/123) and 126
-Chemistry 247/253 and 248/254
-Physics 124 and 125
-Math 120 or Stats 212
-English: 2 courses
-Four courses in social and/or behavioral sciences and/or humanities (psychology, foreign language, sociology, etc.)
-Class size: 148
Wisconsin
-AP may be used
-Biology 125 and 126
-Chemistry 125 (121/123) and 126
-Chemistry 247/253 and 248/254
-Physics 124 and 125
-English: 2 courses
-Biochemistry is recommended
-Class size: 212
University of Wisconsin – Madison
-Biology 125
-Advanced Biology (+lab): 1 course
-Chemistry 125 (121/123) and 126
-Chemistry 247/253 and 248/254
-Chemistry 379 (Biochemistry lab is not required)
-Physics 124 and 125
-Statistics
-Recommended courses: English, Psychology, Math 120, Quantitative Analysis in Chemistry (Chem 255)
-Class size: 163
Requirements for the remaining medical schools are listed in the MSAR.
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