Program Overview

Pre-Medicine Program

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers a Pre-Medicine program designed to provide students with a strong foundation for medical school. The program is highly competitive, and students are advised to work closely with the pre-med advisor to ensure they present the strongest possible application packet.

Overview

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects shortages across healthcare professions, including physicians. To practice medicine, further education and training are required, ranging from 4 to 8 years of additional schooling and training after college. Admission to medical school is a highly competitive process, and students must demonstrate strong academic performance as well as provide evidence of health-related work experiences.

Requirements

Most medical schools consider the following as minimal preparation for admission:

• One year of English
• Mathematics at least through pre-calculus
• Two to two-and-a-half years of chemistry, including inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry
• One year of biology (more is advised)
• One year of physics

For most medical schools, science courses must include laboratory work. Effective 2015, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) added a social/behavioral science component and additional chemistry. To be well-prepared for the MCAT, students are advised to complete PSYCH 101, SOCIOL 101, and PH 101 (as well as other courses selected in consultation with the premed advisor) and CHEM 501.

Science Courses that Satisfy Medical School Admission Requirements

The following courses satisfy medical school admission requirements:

• BIO SCI 150: Foundations of Biological Sciences I (4 credits)
• BIO SCI 152: Foundations of Biological Sciences II (4 credits)
• One advanced course in Biological Sciences with lab (4-5 credits)
• CHEM 102: General Chemistry (5 credits)
• CHEM 104: General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis (5 credits)
• CHEM 343: Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
• CHEM 344: Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2 credits)
• CHEM 345: Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
• CHEM 501: Introduction to Biochemistry (3 credits)
• Math (required at the Medical College of Wisconsin) (4 credits)
• Select one of the following options:
  • Option 1:
    • PHYSICS 120: General Physics I (Non-Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 121: General Physics Laboratory I (Non-Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 122: General Physics II (Non-Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 123: General Physics Laboratory II (Non-Calculus Treatment)
  • Option 2:
    • PHYSICS 209: Physics I (Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 214: Lab Physics I (Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 210: Physics II (Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 215: Lab Physics II (Calculus Treatment)
  • Option 3:
    • PHYSICS 219: Physics I: Calculus-Based, Studio Format
    • PHYSICS 220: Physics II: Calculus-Based, Studio Format
• Statistics: Any statistics course (required at UW-Madison Medical School) (3 credits)

Total credits: 50-51

Additional Information

Although the courses listed above are mandatory for admission to almost all American medical schools, the rest of the program can be whatever the student wishes. Students are not required to major in biology, chemistry, or biochemistry to gain admission to medical school, though many choose to do so. Medical schools do not require any specific major, but students must demonstrate strong academic performance and provide evidence of health-related work experiences.