Stanford Premedical Association<title>   <script src="SpryAssets/SpryCollapsiblePanel.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="SpryAssets/SpryAccordion.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <link href="SpryAssets/SpryCollapsiblePanel.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="SpryAssets/SpryAccordion.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />  <style type="text/css">  </style> <script src="SpryAssets/SpryMenuBar.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <link href="SpryAssets/SpryMenuBarVertical.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> </head> <body class="twoColLiqLtHdr"> <div id="container"> <div id="header"> <h7> </h7> <h1> </h1> </div> <div id="sidebar1"> <h3><font color=#FFF>Navigation</font></h3> <ul id="menu" class="MenuBarVertical" > <li><a href="index.html">Home</a></li> <li> <a class="MenuBarItemSubmenu" href="#">About Us</a> <ul> <li><a href="mission.html">Our Mission</a></li> <li><a href="board.html">Board and Faculty Advisors</a></li> <li><a href="pastevents_index.html">Past Events</a></li> <li><a href="gallery.html">Gallery</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="#" class="MenuBarItemSubmenu">Premedical Curriculum</a> <ul> <li><a href="choosemajor.html">Choosing a Major</a></li> <li><a href="reqs.html">General Requirements</a></li> <li><a href="classes.html">Stanford Classes</a></li> <li><a href="summerschool.html">Summer School</a></li> <li><a href="passfail.html">Pass/Fail Grading</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="#" class="MenuBarItemSubmenu">Clinical Opportunities</a> <ul> <li><a href="volunteering.html">Clinical Volunteering</a></li> <li><a href="healthed.html">Health Education & Community Outreach</a></li> <li><a href="shadowing.html">Physician Shadowing</a></li> </ul>  </li> <li><a href="research.html" class="MenuBarItemSubmenu">Research Opportunities</a> <ul> <li><a href="research.html">Finding Research at Stanford</a></li> <li><a href="funding.html">Obtaining Research Funding</a></li> <li><a href="http://urp.stanford.edu/ResearchListings/index.html" target="_blank"">Undergraduate Research Opportunities Database</a></li> <li><a href="http://ual.stanford.edu/OO/research_opps/ResearchDepartments.html" target="_blank">Departmental Research Programs</a></li> <li><a href="http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/" target="_blank">School of Medicine Faculty Profiles</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="#" class="MenuBarItemSubmenu">Medical School</a> <ul> <li><a href="timeline.html">General Timeline</a></li> <li><a href="mcat.html">MCAT</a></li> <li><a href="amcas.html">AMCAS</a></li> <li><a href="interviewing.html">Interviewing</a></li> <li><a href="chooseschool.html">Choosing a School</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="#" class="MenuBarItemSubmenu">Campus Resources</a> <ul> <li><a href="acadresources.html">Academic Resources</a></li> <li><a href="studentgrps.html">Student Groups</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="webresources.html">Web Resources</a></li> <li><a href="contactus.html">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainContent"> <p align="center"><strong>STANFORD'S PREMEDICAL CURRICULUM</strong></p> <p align="justify">Stanford students usually fulfill the basic medical school requirements by taking specific courses in each of the following areas:</p> <table width="592" height="302" border="1" cellpadding="5"> <tr> <td><strong>REQUIREMENT</strong></td> <td><strong>DESCRIPTION</strong></td> <td><strong>STANFORD COURSES</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>General Chemistry</td> <td align="center">1 yr. with Lab</td> <td><p>Chem 31A&B or 31X <br /> --AND-- <br /> Chem 135 or 171 <br /> --AND-- <br />Chem 181/183*</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Organic Chemistry</td> <td>1 yr. with Lab</td> <td><p>Chem 33, 35, 131<br /> Chem 36, 130 (labs)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Biology</td> <td>1 yr. with Lab</td> <td><p>Bio 41, 42, 43<br /> or Humbio 2A/B, 3A/B, 4A/B</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td>Biology labs, 2 quarters</td> <td><p>Bio 44X & 44Y <br />or Bio 44X & Surg 101</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Physics</td> <td>1 yr. with Lab</td> <td><p>Physics 21/22, 23/24, 25/26 <br /> or Physics 28, 29<br /> or Physics 41, 43/44, 45/46</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td>English</td> <td>1 yr.</td> <td>PWR 1, 2; third quarter may be fulfilled with IHUM, but an English course is highly recommended</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Math</td> <td>2 or 3 quarters</td> <td><p>Math 19, 20, 21 <br />or Math 41, 42 <br /> or Math 51 <br /> or CME 100</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p> </p></td> <td>1 quarter</td> <td>Stats 60 (or any stats course)</p></td> </tr> </table> <p align="justify">*Many schools are now requiring a quarter of biochemistry (Chem 181).</p> <p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify">To learn more about each of the requirements...</p> <div id="Accordion1" class="Accordion" tabindex="0"> <div class="AccordionPanel"> <div class="AccordionPanelTab">English</div> <div class="AccordionPanelContent">In many cases, the English requirement can be fulfilled with PWR (2 quarters) and IHUM (1 quarter). However, some schools like to see an actual English class on a transcript. It is recommended that you call the medical schools you are interested in applying to and ask if they would accept PWR and IHUM.</div> </div> <div class="AccordionPanel"> <div class="AccordionPanelTab">Chemistry</div> <div class="AccordionPanelContent">Because chemistry is a prerequisite for biology, it is probably one of the first premedical requirements that you will want to take. The courses which satisfy the medical schools' requirement for one year of general chemistry with lab and one year of organic chemistry with lab are: Chemistry 31 (X or A+B), 33, 35, 36, 130, 131, and 135 (this will vary for chemistry majors). If you begin chemistry in your freshman year, you will be required to take the chemistry placement test. That score will determine where in the sequence you should begin. AP Chemistry does not meet medical school requirements, but scoring a 4 or 5 on the AP exam will exempt you from the placement test, and you may begin in 31X.</div> </div> <div class="AccordionPanel"> <div class="AccordionPanelTab">Biology or Human Biology</div> <div class="AccordionPanelContent">The core in Human Biology (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B) and the core in Biology (41, 42, 43) are equally acceptable to medical schools, and both are considered excellent preparation for a medical education. You should investigate both options thoroughly before deciding which to take. Talk with students in both sequences and consult with the Biology Department and the Program in Human Biology. Please remember that we have no evidence to indicate that medical schools have a preference; you should have your own reasons for selecting one over the other to satisfy the requirement for a year of biology. AP Biology does not meet medical school requirements.<p>Regardless of which sequence you select, you also will need to take some laboratory courses. Although the amount of lab a medical school requires is usually unspecified, it is generally interpreted to be between 3 and 6 quarter units. Thus, the lab courses in biology (Biology 44X and 44Y) or, if necessary, one quarter of Biology 44 plus an upper-level lab course should be sufficient. Anything less than two quarters might be considered marginal.</p><p>Sophomore year is the earliest that you may take either sequence. Human Biology does not permit freshmen in the core and Biology 41, 42, and 43 have chemistry and calculus prerequisites. When you take one of these sequences will depend on many things, including your interest in it as a possible major, when you would like to take the MCAT, overseas plans, etc.</p><p.>The laboratories, Biology 44X and 44Y, are designed to be taken concurrently with or subsequent to either core. Although you may find that it is easier to take the lab and the complementing courses together, the ability to take the labs at a later time does give you some flexibility. The labs do not contribute significantly to your preparation for the MCAT, and therefore do not have to be completed before you take the exam.</p><p>Many medical schools require one upper division biology course beyond the one-year core sequence. Specific requirements vary from school to school; check with an advisor at the UAR for the schools in which you are interested.</p></div> </div> <div class="AccordionPanel"> <div class="AccordionPanelTab">Physics</div> <div class="AccordionPanelContent">To satisfy the requirement for a year of physics with lab, most students take one of two suggested series of courses. The 20 series (Physics 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) is recommended for most premedical students. If you have a strong interest in physics, you might want to consider taking the 40 series (Physics 41, 43, 44, 45, 46).<p>As with all premedical courses, you will want to plan your schedule individualy. Many students who choose the 20 series find that junior year is the most convenient time to take it. However, it can be taken earlier or later to suit your interests. Some Biology faculty believe a background in physics enhances your understanding of Biology.</p><p>The courses are designed to be taken in sequence, but another possiblity is to consider taking the series out of order. A number of students have done this without significant difficulty, and have found that it gives them quite a bit of flexibility, particularly if they are planning to go overseas. However, do not plan on taking the series out of order without first checking with the department and the instructors for current information.</p><p>As far as medical schools are concerned, Physics 41, 43, 44, 45 and 46 are usually sufficient to satisfy their requirement for a year of physics with laboratory.</p></div> </div> <div class="AccordionPanel"> <div class="AccordionPanelTab">Math</div> <div class="AccordionPanelContent">Most of the medical schools require some mathematics, and about half of these specify calculus. For this reason, and because it is a prerequisite for a number of science courses at Stanford, you should probably include at least 2 quarters of calculus in your curriculum. Most of you will want to do this in your first year.<p>The two most common ways of satisfying the calculus requirement are to take Mathematics 19, 20, 21 or Mathematics 41, 42. Which sequence you choose to take will depend on your mathematics background, aptitude, possible major, and schedule; it also will vary if you have some AP credit. Most medical schools do accept AP credit in Mathematics, though you should check with the specific schools that interest you.</p></div> </div> </div> </script> <script type="text/javascript">  </script>  <p> </p> <h2> </h2>  </div> <br class="clearfloat" /> <div id="footer"> <p align="center"><font size="2">The SPA website serves as a starting point--an introduction to the pre-medical experience at Stanford.<br /> By students, for students.</font></p> <font size="1"><p align="right">Web Design by Jennifer Wang, '10</p></font> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript">  </script> </body> </html>