Preparing for a Career in Medicine
There are three types of medical practices. From the links below you can learn more about the unique characteristics of each type of medical doctor.
Wondering whether you should plan a year between graduation and starting your medical program? Learn more about taking a "gap year." Here is another resource regarding "gap or growth years."
Academic Requirements for MD and DO as well as some ND programs
Medical School Prerequisites
NEW UA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE - TUCSON PREREQUISITES (Including detailed UA class lists)
UA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE - PHOENIX PREREQUISITES
| Requirement | General Description | University of Arizona Course Numbers |
| Biology | 8 Semester Hours Biology |
MCB 181R & 181L ECOL 182 R & 182L |
| General (Inorganic) Chemistry | 8 Semester Hours Chemistry |
CHEM 151 or 141/143 CHEM 152 or 142/144 |
| Organic Chemistry | 8 Semester Hours Organic Chemistry |
CHEM 241A & 243A CHEM 241B & 243B |
| Physics | 8 Semester Hours Physics |
PHYS 102&181 & PHYS 103&182 or PHYS 141 & PHYS 241 |
| English | 6 Semester Hours |
English 101& 102 or English 109H & additional English class, usually composition |
| College Level Mathematics | 3-6 Semester Hours | At least Math 112; a few require Calculus |
Additional Requirements or Recommendations
| Discipline | Required/Recommended | General Description | University of Arizona Course Numbers |
| Biostatistics |
Required for some including UACOM-Tucson |
3 semester hours |
Suggested: Biostatistics = Math 263 or BIOS 376 Other stats courses may meet requirement |
| Anatomy/Physiology | Required for U of A COM | 3-8 semester hours |
PSIO 201 or PSIO 380, COM-Phoenix 2 Semesters of Psio/Anatomy for COM-Tucson |
| Psychology | Strongly recommended | 3 semester hours | PSY 150A1 or PSY 101 |
| Biochemistry | Required for some | 3 semester hours |
One of the Following: BIOC 384, 385 (also 462 A or B) **Note: Biochemistry IS on the MCAT
|
*Requirements are subject to change by individual programs and there are some differences among schools. Check with your pre-health advisor.
Application Pathway
The MCAT exam includes four content sections including questions from biochemistry, statistics and research methods as well as the social and behavioral sciences. The four content areas on the MCAT 2015 are:
- Biological Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Verbal Skill
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
Please note that the requirements for The University of Arizona's College of Medicine in Tucson and Phoenix are not the same. Specifics can be found on their respective admissions web sites.
The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) is the centralized application through which you will apply to MD granting institutions (AACOMAS for DO granting institutions) in the United States and Canada. This is also referred to as the "primary application." The AMCAS application is a comprehensive application which requests your:
- Biographical information
- List of the post-secondary (post-high school) institutions you attended
- All of your college-level course work including when and where you took the courses, what grade you received and what type of class it was
- Lists and descriptions of your co-curricular activities
- Your application essay, also referred to as the Personal Statement (5300 characters including spaces)
- Additional optional essays (including extra essays for MD/PhD candidates)
- Letters of Recommendation (to be uploaded or mailed in directly by your letter writers)
- List of schools to which you are applying
The Naturopathic Medical Schools also have a centralized application service (NDCAS), but not all of the ND granting schools participate in it. Go to the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools web site for more information about applying.
Resources
Fee Assistance Program through AMCAS for the application process
AAMC web site with general preparation/application information
Find a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) near you for possible shadowing