BSU Catalog Home | Pre-Professional Program

Pre-Podiatric Medicine

Advisor: Dr. Kerry Openshaw

1. The pre-podiatric medical student should fulfill all requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree at Bemidji State University. The student should declare an academic major. Pre-Podiatric Medicine is not an academic major. Although the major may be in any field of study, experience indicates that a Biology or Chemistry major will provide the student with an advantage on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The MCAT is taken by early Spring of the Junior year, and application to podiatric medical school is submitted by early September of the Senior year.
   
   
2. Early entrance into podiatric medical school is possible for some students. Most students, however, enter podiatric medical school after completing a baccalaureate degree. In addition, some podiatric medical schools may require more courses than listed below. It is the responsibility of the pre-podiatric medical student to become aware of these additional requirements and plan his or her pre-podiatric medical curriculum accordingly.
   
   
3. The pre-podiatric medical student should work closely with the pre-podiatric medical advisor so all course requirements are fulfilled prior to entrance into podiatric medical school. A delay in meeting with the pre-podiatric medical advisor will likely result in delayed entrance into podiatric medical school.
   
   
4. In addition to a strong background in behavioral sciences, English, and humanities, the following courses are specifically required for entrance into most podiatric medical schools:

BIOL 1211, 1212 (additional biology courses may be required)
CHEM 1211, 1212, 2311, 2312, 2371, 2372 (biochemistry may be required)
ENGL 1101, 1102
PHYS 1101, 1102 (or) 2101, 2102

5. The following courses are strongly recommended to be included in the student’s pre-podiatric medicine curriculum:

BIOL 1300, 2110, 2360, 2375, 3250, 3260, 3580, 3590, 3710, 4220
CHEM 3411, 3412, 3471, 3472
MATH 2471, 2472
PSY 3301

6. Consult your pre-podiatric medical advisor for additional courses, including Liberal Education courses, which will be most beneficial for successful podiatric medical school candidates.
   
   
7. A suggested pre-podiatric medicine academic schedule is listed below; numbers in parentheses are semester credits.

Freshman

BIOL 1211, 1212; F, S; (4,4)
CHEM 1211, 1212; F, S; (4,4)
ENGL 1101, 1102; F, S; (3,3)
MATH 1470; F or S; (5)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Podiatric Medical Advisor

Sophomore

BIOL 1300; F or S; (2)
CHEM 2311, 2312; F, S; (4,4)
PHYS: Consult your Pre-Podiatric Medical Advisor
MATH: Consult your Pre-Podiatric Medical Advisor

Junior

BIOL 3250, 3260; F, S (4,4)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Podiatric Medical Advisor
MCAT—Early Spring

Senior

Consult your Pre-Podiatric Medical Advisor
Podiatric Medical School Application—Early September