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Courses Required for Admission to Medical Schools
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The courses listed below will satisfy the basic requirements at most medical schools. However, requirements and policies do differ from school to school, so it is worth checking to see if there are any additional courses required at any schools you are likely to want to apply to—the state schools in your home state, for example. You can find the individual schools’ requirements in the book Medical School Admissions Requirements, available in the Career Services Library, or you can get information directly from the schools’ own admissions web sites. You can link to the schools’ web sites here (or for Osteopathic schools, here).
In planning your courses, you should consult with your academic advisor, and of course you should also feel free to contact a pre-health advisor for help. Here are a few important considerations:
Take requirements before you apply: Usually medical schools expect you to take your required courses before you apply. That means that if you are intending to start medical school in the fall right after your senior year (not something you have to do by any means), you should complete your required courses by the end of spring of your junior year. The exception to this rule is Chem 245, the organic chemistry lab, which may be taken while your application is being reviewed.
Summer courses: It is advisable to take the required courses at Penn and during the regular year. Summer courses are not generally regarded so highly, since medical schools like to see that you can do well in the requirements whilst taking a regular course load. However, if your schedule makes taking summer courses absolutely necessary, they will fulfill requirements.
AP Credit: Many medical schools do not accept AP credit, and those that do usually prefer to see you go on to take additional, often more advanced courses. For advice on what courses to take, see our AP Credit page.
Grades: You should take all required courses for a letter grade. You must get at least a “C” in the course in order to fulfill the requirement.
Non-science majors: It is just fine to apply with any major to medical school; you should choose the subject that most interests you. If you do pick a non-science major, though, it is advisable to take at least one advanced science course, above and beyond the basic requirements.
Engineering majors: We have a page with advice specifically for you here.
THE CORE COURSES:
Some schools also require Biochemistry, which can be fulfilled through Biol 202 (or 402), or Chem 251.
Here are further details for the core courses:
Biology
Bio 101/102 or Bio 121 with Bio 124 (lab only) + a 200-level intermediate Biology lecture or 121/102.
Bio 121 and the 124 lab are more advanced introductory-level courses than Biol 101/102, taking a more molecular approach to teaching introductory biology.
Students with AP credit for Biology (Biol 91) may take Biol 121 and Biol 124 + a 200-level intermediate Biology lecture. Good options include Biol 202 and Biol 215, both useful in MCAT preparation. Some upper-division lab courses, including Biol 399 (Independent Study Research), also fulfill the lab course requirement.
Non-Biology majors with AP credit for Biology (Biol 91) may follow Biol 121 with Biol 102 to complete the requirement, if they choose.
General Chemistry
Chem 001/002 or 101/102, and Chem 53/54 or Chem 55/56.
Organic Chemistry
Chem 241/242 and Chem 245.
The Department of Chemistry requires that students take Chem 245 either in the same semester as Chem 242, or in the semester immediately after completing Chem 242.
Physics
Physics 101/102 or Physics 150/151.
Mathematics
Students should take Math 104, plus one additional mathematics course (calculus or statistics). At this time, Harvard Medical School requires specifically a second semester of calculus. To determine whether Math 114 or 115 is appropriate for you, please visit this Math Department web page. Many medical schools recommend statistics (e.g. Stat 111). Math 103 is an introductory course and does not count toward the Calculus requirement for medical school.
English/Writing
Two semesters of English, Comparative Literature, or Writing Seminar courses. Many medical schools like to see at least one writing course.
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