Health Careers

The following coursework is required by most medical schools.  These recommendations are based on the scope of knowledge covered in the MCAT Exam. Be sure to discuss all your coursework with your advisor.

• ENG 101** and 102** English Composition 1 & 2  (8 credits)
• MATH 153** PreCalculus I.  This is the minimum, see note below and discuss with advisor (5 credits)
• PHYS 111*, 112, 113 Introductory Physics (15 credits) 
  • OR PHYS 121*, 122, 123 Introductory Physics for Life Sciences (15 credits)
  • OR PHYS 181, 182, 183 General Physics (15 credits)
• BIOL 181, 182, 183  General Biology, with labs (15 credits)
• CHEM 181*, 182, 183 General Chemistry, with labs (15 credits)
• CHEM 361, 362, 363 Organic Chemistry, with labs (13 credits)

 *MATH 153 is a prerequisite  **General Education Course

NOTE: Of the 133 Medical Schools in the US/Puerto Rico, 17 require Calculus (Math 170 Intuitive Calculus OR Calculus I). The only public universities that require it are: Penn State, Texas A&M, and UC-Irvine.

Prerequisites for Medical Schools in Washington State

The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine - Washington State University (WSU) in Spokane, WA

• English or other intensive writing courses (9 quarter hours)
• Mathematics, Preferred focus: Statistics (9 quarter hours)
• Biology with lab, Preferred focus: Genetics, Molecular Biology (12 quarter hours)
• Organic Chemistry with lab (6 quarter hours)
• Physics with lab (6 quarter hours)

University of Washington School of Medicine (UW) in Seattle, WA

The University of Washington requires that pre-med curriculum “must include college level chemistry and biology, biochemistry, molecular genetics, cell biology/cell physiology, although applicants are not required to take courses with these specific titles.”

You should choose your electives after discussion with your advisor.  The list below is NOT intended to be a course of study plan.

• BIOL 213 Introductory Biostatistics (4 credits)
• BIOL 321 Genetics (5 credits)
• BIOL 353 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (6 credits)
• BIOL 354 General Vertebrate Embryology (5 credits)
• BIOL 355 and 356 Human Anatomy and Physiology (10 credits)
• BIOL 430 Cellular Biology (5 credits)
• CHEM 431 Biochemistry (3 credits)
• PSY 421 Human Neuroanatomy (4 credits)
• ANTH 357 Medical Anthropology (4 credits)
• Humanities and Social Sciences electives (25 credits)

Examples of General Education courses in the humanities include:

• PHIL 104 Current Ethical Issues
• PHIL 308 Medical Ethics
• HUM 103 Cultures in Modern Society
• ENG 247 Multicultural Literature
• ENG 347 Global Perspectives in Literature
• Communication courses, such as COM 207 Interpersonal Communication or COM 302 Multicultural Communication

Examples of Social Sciences General Education courses include: 

• SOC 101 Social Problems
• SOC 107 Principles of Sociology
• PSY 101 General Psychology or other courses covering the diversity of people and cultures. 

You’ll want to have taken the recommended introductory level prerequisite courses in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, psychology, and sociology prior to sitting for the MCAT.  You don’t have to take these courses beforehand but doing so will greatly aid you when it comes time to take the test.  Take the test when you feel best prepared.  Many people take the MCAT the same year they are applying to medical schools.  If school applications are due in the Fall, take the test in the previous Spring.

Normally, state-supported medical schools are required by law to give preference to residents of that state. Many schools, both public and private, also indicate some preference of residents of neighboring states, and some schools participate in interest and regional agreements. Your best chances for admission are at medical schools within your own state or at private medical schools.

Letters of recommendation are an important part of the selection process. Admission committees consider academic and character recommendations that applicants obtain from faculty members, physicians, and other persons. Your letters should discuss and critically evaluate your academic ability, strengths and weaknesses, motivation, maturity, the difficulty of coursework you attempted, and any special attributes and assets. Recommendations are usually written between the your third and fourth year of college. It is extremely important that you develop strong working relationships with faculty members to hopefully earn good letters of recommendation.

Although applicants are first screened according to academic performance, the final choice is made after the medical school interview. During the interview, your motivation, maturity, poise, humanitarianism, and ability in expression are examined. A broad background in biological sciences and humanities, a knowledge of and exposure to the needs of individuals and society, and an awareness of health care delivery systems are desirable. Medical schools have repeatedly rejected students who present strong academic records but lack maturity or have only confused motivation for medicine.