Health Professions Advising Office
University of Missouri | Honors College | School of Medicine | Contact Us

Academic Requirements

Medicine | Dentistry | Optometry | Pharmacy | Podiatry

Medicine

Medical schools list specific requirements for admission in the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) published annually by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Other professional schools have similar but less elaborate information booklets. These materials are available in the Honors College.

The following courses are the basic requirements and must be completed before matriculation:

  • One year (8 credit hours) of general chemistry with lab
  • One year (8 credit hours) of organic chemistry with lab
  • One year (8 credit hours) of physics with lab
  • One year (8 credit hours) of biological sciences with lab
  • One year (6 credit hours) of English - many schools will accept English 1000 and a Writing Intensive course

    See Medicine Plan of Study (pdf) for MU course numbers.

The list of required courses provides the general minimum requirements for the schools to which MU students usually apply. For details on particular schools, consult the MSAR in the Honors College or your health professions advisor.

Please Note: Medical schools differ on their acceptance of AP credit for science and non-science course work. Check with your advisor and/or the MSAR. Do not make assumptions.

Recommended Additional Courses for Medical School Admission

Biochemistry is required by a few schools and recommended by several. If time allows, you are encouraged to take MU’s Biochemistry I (BIOCHM 4270). As previously noted, individual medical schools have special requirements. Please consult the MSAR or website of your target schools to learn about those special requirements. Some schools expect advanced biology (cell biology, physiology, and/or genetics) and/or advanced math. Washington University, for example, requires Calculus I and II (MATH 1500 and 1700). Most schools, if not all, assume the completion of two courses in English composition. The University of Missouri’s School of Medicine requires two semesters of English composition (ENGLSH 1000 and a Writing Intensive course for MU undergraduates). Other suggested courses include Microbiology (MICROB 3200), Biochemistry II (BIOCHM 4272), Histology (BIO_SC 4990), Elements of Pharmacology (MPP 3204).

Advanced science classes should be selected carefully to develop breadth of course work and to demonstrate academic abilities. If early science grades are not distinguished, then performing at a level of excellence in one or more upper-level or graduate-level science courses reflects well on your candidacy.

Medical schools are searching for broadly-educated individuals with excellent writing and speaking skills, who have developed analytical and synthetic thinking abilities. In addition to selecting a wide array of science courses, you are encouraged to balance your academic program to include history, art, literature, philosophy, social and behavioral sciences and communication skills.

Students are encouraged to consider course work in medical ethics (PHIL 4510) and healthcare policy (HP 4300). Medical schools expect that applicants have made some effort to become knowledgeable about current issues in healthcare delivery, policy, and ethics. These topics are often discussed in the admissions interview.