BSU Catalog Home | Pre-Professional Program

Pre-Medicine

Dr. Kerry Openshaw (Advisor, Biology)
Dr. Julie Larson (Advisor, Chemistry)

The pre-medical student should fulfill all requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree at Bemidji State University. The student should declare an academic major. Pre-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 in the spring of the junior year.

Early entrance into medical school is possible for some students. Most students, however, enter medical school after completing a baccalaureate degree. In addition, some medical schools may require more courses than listed below. It is the responsibility of the pre-medical student to become aware of these additional requirements and to plan his or her pre-medical curriculum accordingly.

The pre-medical student should work closely with the pre-medicine advisor so all course requirements are filled prior to entrance into medical school. Delay in meeting with the pre-medical advisor will likely result in delayed entrance into medical school.

In addition to a strong background in behavioral sciences, English, and humanities, the following courses are specifically required for entrance into most medical schools:

BIOL 1211, 1212, 2360, 3250, 3260, 3710
CHEM 1211, 1212, 1240, 2311, 2312, 2371, 2372
ENGL 1001, 1002
MATH 1470, 2171, 2172 (or) 2471, 2472
PHYS 1101, 1102 (or) 2101, 2102

The following courses are strongly recommended to be included in the student's pre-medical curriculum:

ACCT 1100
BIOL 3580, 3755, 3920, 4220, 4590
CHEM 3411, 3412
CS 1107
PSY 1100
SOC 1104, 1105
THSP 1100

A suggested pre-medical academic schedule is listed below; numbers in parentheses are semester credits:

Freshman

BIOL 1211, 1212; F, S; (4,4)
CHEM 1211, 1212; F, S; (3,3)
CHEM 1240; S; (2)
ENGL 1001, 1002; F, S; (4,4)
MATH 1470, 2471; F, S; (5,5)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Medicine Advisor

Sophomore

BIOL 2360, 3710; F, S; (4,4)
BIOL 3920; F or S; (1)
CHEM 2311, 2312; F, S; (3,3)
CHEM 2371, 2372; F, S; (1,1)
MATH 2472; F; (5)
PHYS 2101, 2102; F, S; (5,5)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Medicine Advisor

Junior

BIOL 3250, 3260; F, S; (4,4)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Medicine Advisor

Senior

Consult your Pre-Medicine Advisor