Pre-Medicine
Your path to medical school starts here …
Navigating the path to medical school can be complex. We're here to guide you every step of the way.
Plan Your Path to Medical School
Choose an Ideal Destination for Medical School: Understand specific prerequisites to tailor your UIS coursework for your chosen medical school. Learn the differences between allopathic(link is external) and osteopathic(link is external) approaches to make informed decisions for your medical career.
Plan Your Course of Study: Your journey to medical school requires careful planning. From selecting the right prerequisites to aligning your courses with med school requirements, our advisors are here to tailor a plan that suits your goals.
Join our Pre-Health Community: Benefit from transformative support and connections, including mentorship, hands-on experiences, and collaborative projects, all essential for your healthcare journey. Engage with our community of faculty, staff, students, and professional mentors.
Classes
Whether you aspire to be a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), the core curriculum is often remarkably similar. Each medical school sets its own unique requirements, yet there are several standard prerequisites you're likely to encounter. Here's an overview of the commonly required courses.
Typical Medical School Requirements:
General Chemistry - 2 semesters
Organic Chemistry - 2 semesters
Biochemistry - 1 semester
Physics - 2 semesters
Math - 2 semesters
English - 2 semesters Social and Behavioral Sciences - 2 semesters
| What to take at UIS for Pre-Med MLS Majors | What to take at UIS for Pre-Med BIO Majors | What to take at UIS for Pre-Med CHE Majors |
|---|---|---|
| General Chemistry – CHE 141 and CHE 142 | General Chemistry – CHE 141 and CHE 142 | Biology – BIO 142 |
| Organic Chemistry – CHE 267/268 and CHE 269/271 | Organic Chemistry – CHE 267/268 and CHE 269/271 | Chemistry – CHE 485 |
| Biology – BIO 141 and BIO 142 | Biochemistry – CHE 475 (CHE 476 Lab optional) | One BIO Elective - BIO 311 or BIO 381 |
| Physics – Algebra-based Physics (forthcoming) OR ASP 201 and ASP 202 | Physics – Algebra-based Physics (forthcoming) OR ASP 201 and ASP 202 | One MLS Elective – MLS 434, MLS 432, MLS 468, MLS 433, MLS 448, or MLS 477 |
| Math – MAT 115 | Math – MAT 115 and MAT 121 | |
| One BIO Elective – BIO 311, BIO 381, BIO 428, or BIO 429 | English – 2 semesters | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences – Talk to your advisor for the best options (e.g., PSY 101, PSY 221, PSY 251, PSY 311, or PSY 322) |
General Advice
Interested in medical school? Be sure to check out the American Association of Medical Colleges, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Summer Health Professions Education Program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Recommendation
Students interested in Family and Community Medicine or Pediatrics should consider a Psychology Minor, as follows:
Foundation Course: PSY 101 - Principles of Psychology
Psychology Minor Courses
- Required Course: PSY 302 - Research Methods in Psychology
- Suggested Elective Courses: (Choose a total of 12 hours)
- PSY 221 - Lifespan Developmental Psychology
- PSY 322 - Child Development (Pediatrics)
- PSY 323 - Adolescence (Pediatrics)
- PSY 326 - Family Psychology
- PSY 333 - Positive Psychology
- PSY 335 - Health Psychology
- PSY 336 - Psychology of Eating
- PSY 353 - Psychology of Addiction
- PSY 484 - Childhood Trauma: Risk and Resiliency
Students interest in Neurology should consider a Psychology Minor, as follows:
Foundation Course: PSY 101 - Principles of Psychology
Psychology Minor Courses
- Required Course: PSY 302 - Research Methods in Psychology
- Suggested Elective Courses: (Choose a total of 12 hours)
- PSY 311 - Cognitive Psychology
- PSY 314 - Sensation and Perception
- PSY 315 - Psychoactive Drugs
- PSY 412 - Introduction to Biopsychology
- PSY 413 - Psychology of Learning and Memory
Students interested in Psychiatry should consider a Psychology Minor, as follows:
Foundation Course: PSY 101 - Principles of Psychology
Psychology Minor Courses
- Required Course: PSY 302 - Research Methods in Psychology
- Suggested Elective Courses: (Choose a total of 12 hours)
- PSY 221 - Lifespan Developmental Psychology
- PSY 251 - Abnormal Psychology
- PSY 315 - Psychoactive Drugs
- PSY 326 - Family Psychology
- PSY 336 - Psychology of Eating
- PSY 352 - Multicultural Counseling
- PSY 353 - Psychology of Addiction
- PSY 441 - Theories of Personality
- PSY 452 - Introduction to Clinical Psychology
- PSY 453 - Psychological Foundations for Helping
- PSY 454 - Theories of Psychotherapy
- PSY 457 - Applied Behavior Analysis
- PSY 458 - Psychological Testing
- PSY 484 - Childhood Trauma: Risk and Resiliency