Medicine
The decision to pursue a health profession can be a challenging and exciting choice. Your educational preparation as an undergraduate is an important key to your overall success. Many students arrive at the university with the goal to become a physician, dentist, or other health professional, but they have little knowledge of what the profession is really like or what the demands are within the profession. Presently only about one-half of applicants to medical school are successful in gaining admission. Because competition is fierce in medicine and other health professions, you should become as familiar as possible with the career to which you are pursuing.
Medicine Prerequisites & Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
Ideally, your preparation for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and medical school should begin your freshman year. This early work ensures that those classes necessary for a strong performance on the MCAT are completed before or during the spring semester of the year in which you intend to apply. Which classes you take and the sequence in which you approach them are very important in planning your timeline for application to medical school. If you plan to attend medical school the fall following your UT graduation, you should plan to take the MCAT by the late spring of your junior year or the summer following your junior year However, each student’s path will look different and it may provide helpful to apply a year later, in order to have your most competitive application. Your long term academic planning should be discussed with a pre-health advisor who can assist you in individualizing the schedule for your given area of study.
You should review the course description in the undergraduate catalog (catalog.utk.edu) of any course you are considering to determine what prerequisites, if any, exist for the course. Freshmen should be particularly aware that Chemistry 122 has a prerequisite of Math 119 (College Algebra) or an ACT Math score of 25. Physics 221 has a prerequisite of Math 125, 130, 131, 132, 141, 151, or 152. An academic advisor can help you select the math course or sequence that best fits your academic plans.
Academic Course Preparation
Courses with Required Content for MCAT
The following classes contain content that appears on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT.) However, these courses are also typically required (or recommended) for admission to most medical schools. However, the courses required for admission may vary depending on the school and it is your responsibility to research those. Our Choosing Schools Template is a great way to help you organize that research. Please note that many medical schools require a grade of C or better in each pre-requisite course.
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Chem 122 | General Chemistry I |
| Chem 123 | General Chemistry Laboratory |
| Chem 132 | General Chemistry II |
| Chem 133 | General Chemistry II Laboratory |
| BCMB 401* | Biochemistry I |
| Biol 150 | Organismal and Ecological Biology |
| Biol 159 | Skills of Biological Investigation |
| Biol 160 | Cellular and Molecular Biology |
| Chem 260 | Organic Chemistry I |
| Chem 269 | Foundations of Organic Chemistry |
| Chem 360 | In-depth Organic Chemistry |
| Chem 369 | In-depth Organic Chemistry Laboratory |
| Phys 221, 222** | Elements of Physics |
| Psych 110* | General Psychology |
| Sociology 120*** | General Sociology |
In addition to the required courses, Biol 240 (Genetics) is HIGHLY recommended for MCAT preparation.
* BCMB is Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology.
** The physics sequence most appropriate for students pursuing health professions is Physics 221-222; however, Physics 135-136 is also appropriate. Students majoring in Engineering may satisfy this requirement by completing Physics 231-232.
*** MCAT 2015 includes a section entitled Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior, which tests knowledge of important introductory psychology and sociology concepts, as well as the introductory biology concepts that relate to mental processes and behavior.
Additional Courses that May Be Helpful
The following courses will also provide additional readiness for the academic rigor of the medical school curriculum. You may elect to take all, some, or none of the courses listed below.
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| Anthro 480 | Human Osteology |
| Biol 220 | General Microbiology |
| Biol 229 | General Microbiology Lab |
| Micro 330 | Immunology |
| Micro 420 | Microbial Pathogenesis |
| BCMB 230 | Human Physiology OR |
| BCMB 440 | General Physiology |
| BCMB 330 | Mechanisms of Development |
| BCMB 402 | Biochemistry II |
| BCMB 412 | Molecular Biology and Genomics |
| Classics 273 | Medical and Scientific Terminology |
| EEB 240* | Human Anatomy |
These courses can be challenging, but they can also provide you with a firm foundation in your first year of medical school. Additionally, the medical schools to which you apply may request updates on your academic performance during your senior year. Extra consideration may be shown to students who are taking rigorous courses and recording strong grades in them. Remember, you must always work to distinguish yourself from your competition.
Additionally, plan to enroll in rigorous course loads after your freshman year. Medical schools recommend that prospective medical students attempt 16-18 hours per semester. This load recommendation is to assess whether a student will be able to endure the 21+ credit hour course loads that are a part of the medical school experience. These 16-18 hours should contain at least three academically challenging courses. Rigorous course loads which contain challenging courses demonstrate a strong academic aptitude.