Undergraduate Academic Requirements

AP & COMMUNITY COLLEGE COURSEWORK

Medical schools consider students with degrees in any major without preference as long as the medical school requirements are met. Major in a subject that interests you and that you can excel in, although you will need some Chemistry and Biology courses. Many medical schools are accepting high school AP credit and Community College credit. We do not know if students that use AP credit are at a disadvantage compared to those students that have retaken the corresponding course at a University when applying to medical school. The safest option is to retake the courses at Fresno State. If you do not do this, consult the admissions offices of the medical schools to which you are applying. If you have English AP credits, instead of re-taking a lower level English course, you might take an upper division course that enhances your reading comprehension and writing skills.

COURSES REQUIRED BY MOST MEDICAL SCHOOLS:

• 1 year of General Chemistry (i.e. CHEM 1A/AL, 1B/BL)
• 1 year of Organic Chemistry (i.e. 128A, 128B, 129A, and often 129B)
• 1 year of Biology (i.e. BIOL 1A and 1B/BL)
• 1 year of Physics (suggested courses: PHYS 2A, 2B )
• Writing Course (One Year)
  • ENGL 10 & 20
  • ENGL 10 & ENGL 160W
• Behavioral Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Anthropology

OTHER COURSES THAT MAY HELP YOU ON THE MCAT:

• Genetics (BIOL 102), Cell Biology (BIOL 103), Physiology (BIOL 67A & 67B or BIOL 162/162L)
• Introductory Biochemistry (CHEM 150)
• Psychology (PSYCH 10) or Sociology (SOC 1)
• Humanities (any course), Philosophy (any course)