Prerequisite Courses

UMN Medical School requires medical school applicants to complete seven prerequisite courses at an accredited U.S.-based or Canadian college or university by July 1 of the year they matriculate.

The Office of Admissions does not provide individual transcript evaluations. Academic advisors or pre-health advisors can work with applicants to determine if their coursework satisfies the requirements.

Required Courses

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1. Biology with lab

  • 1 semester or quarter
  • Any level
  • Biological sciences coursework with an emphasis on general principles, cell biology, and/or physiology

2. Chemistry with lab

  • 1 semester or quarter
  • Any level
  • General or organic chemistry

3. Any Level Science

  • 1 semester or quarter
  • Any level
  • Physical or natural science course
  • Examples of acceptable additional science subject areas include (but are not limited to): biology, genetics, zoology, botany, parasitology, biochemistry, chemistry (general or organic, but must be in addition to the general or organic chemistry listed above), pharmacology, and physics

4. Any Level Science

  • 1 semester or quarter
  • Any level
  • Physical or natural science course
  • Examples of acceptable additional science subject areas include (but are not limited to): biology, genetics, zoology, botany, parasitology, biochemistry, chemistry (general or organic, but must be in addition to the general or organic chemistry listed above), pharmacology, and physics

5. Upper Level Science

  • Completed at an accredited four year college or university in the U.S. or Canada
  • 1 semester or quarter
  • Upper level
  • Physical or natural science course
  • Examples of acceptable additional science subject areas include (but are not limited to): biology, genetics, zoology, botany, parasitology, biochemistry, chemistry (general or organic, but must be in addition to the general or organic chemistry listed above), pharmacology, and physics

6. Upper Level Science

  • Completed at an accredited four year college or university in the U.S. or Canada
  • 1 semester or quarter
  • Upper level
  • Physical or natural science course
  • Examples of acceptable additional science subject areas include (but are not limited to): biology, genetics, zoology, botany, parasitology, biochemistry, chemistry (general or organic, but must be in addition to the general or organic chemistry listed above), pharmacology, and physics

7. Humanities or social sciences (upper level)

  • Completed at an accredited four year college or university in the U.S. or Canada
  • 1 semester or quarter
  • Upper level
  • Non-STEM focus
  • Examples of acceptable subject areas include (but are not limited to): english, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, gender studies, cultural appreciation and theatre

Guidelines

  • Prerequisite courses require a letter grade, although there is not a minimum grade requirement.
  • Online courses are accepted for most prerequisites with the exception of any lab courses. Lab courses must be taken in-person.
  • Lower level prerequisites completed at an accredited community college will be accepted. All upper-level courses must be completed at an accredited four year college or university.
  • Upper-level courses are typically those with a course number that begins with a 3 (300/3000) or higher.
  • Prerequisites cannot be fulfilled with Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits.