UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Case courses recommended to fulfill premedical requirements
There are a number of ways that premedical requirements can be met at CWRU, depending on your major, your degree (BA vs. BS) and school (Arts and Sciences vs. Engineering). The courses which premedical students generally take are listed below. You are encouraged to discuss alternative plans with me.
Chemistry: To meet the requirement for two years of chemistry plus lab, most CWRU students take CHEM 105, 106 and 113 during the freshman year. Engineering students will take CHEM 111, 113 and ENGR 145. (To be better prepared for Organic Chemistry, for medical school, and for the Medical College Admissions Test, premedical engineering students may want to take or audit CHEM 106 as well.) Most students then take CHEM 223, 224 (or 323, 324) and 233, 234 during the sophomore year. (You can get by with only one semester of organic lab since it is 2 credit hours, but some schools would prefer that you to take both semesters and it will strengthen your record.) A few schools now require biochemistry - e.g. BIOL 205 or BIOC 307 - and many others recommend it.
Physics: To meet the requirement for a year of physics with lab, most CWRU premedical students take PHYS 115, 116 during the junior year. Students who are pursuing an engineering degree or a BS degree in some of the science departments, will take PHYS 121, 122 [& 221] during the freshman and sophomore years.
Biology: To meet the requirement for a year of biology with lab, CWRU students are advised to take at least BIOL 110, 220, and a biology lab (111, 211 or 221 suggested). Most areas of biology are covered at least briefly in 110 or 220; however, it is also recommended that you take BIOL 210 and BIOL 205 if possible. It may be advisable for premedical students to begin biology in the sophomore year to avoid starting out your freshman year with a large number of required premedical courses.
Mathematics: Many medical schools require a year of mathematics, and at CWRU you need calculus in order to take physics. The majority of CWRU premedical students take MATH 125, 126 during the freshman year (or possibly the sophomore year). Those students who are pursuing engineering degrees, or who are obtaining the BS degree in certain science departments, will take MATH 121, 122, [223, and 224] in the freshman and sophomore years.
English: Since many medical schools require a year of English, you should take at least one semester (3 hrs) of English beyond ENGL 150. (At least one school now requires 8 hrs of English!) As a medical student and as a physician, you will spend a considerable amount of time "presenting" and "writing up" cases, so courses which develop and refine your communication skills are especially valuable. An added motivating factor is that the MCAT test includes a "writing sample."
SUGGESTED SCHEDULE OF PREMEDICAL COURSES FOR STUDENTS
IN MOST ARTS AND SCIENCES MAJORS:
Fall |
Spring |
||
Freshman Year |
|||
| English 150 | 3 hrs | Math 126 | 4 hrs |
| Math 125 | 4 hrs | Chemistry 106 | 3 hrs |
| Chemistry 105 | 3 hrs | Chemistry 113 | 2 hrs |
Sophomore Year |
|||
| Chemistry 223 or 323 | 3 hrs | Chemistry 224or324 | 3 hrs |
| Chemistry 233 | 2 hrs | Chemistry 234 | 2 hrs |
| Biology 110 | 3 hrs | Biology 220 | 3 hrs |
| [Biology 111]* | [2 hrs]* | [Biology 221]* | [2 hrs]* |
Junior Year |
|||
| Physics 115 | 4 hrs | Physics 116 | 4 hrs |
| [Biology 210]** | [4 hrs]** | [Biology 205]** | [3 hrs]** |
| [Biology 211]* | [2 hrs]* | English Elective | 3 hrs |
POSSIBLE SCHEDULE OF PREMEDICAL COURSES FOR STUDENTS
IN ENGINEERING AND SOME OTHER B.S. STUDENTS:
Fall |
Spring |
||
Freshman Year |
|||
| English 150 | 3 hrs | Math 122 | 4 hrs |
| Math 121 | 4 hrs | Chemistry 113 | 2 hrs |
| Chemistry 111 | 4 hrs | Engineering 145 | 4 hrs |
| Biology 110 | 3 hrs | [Chemistry 106] | [take or audit]** |
| [Biology 111]* | [2 hrs]* | Physics 121 | 4 hrs |
Sophomore Year |
|||
| [Math 223]*** | [3 hrs]*** | [Math 224]*** | [3 hrs]*** |
| Physics 122 | 4 hrs | [Physics 221]*** | [3 hrs]*** |
| Chemistry 223or323 | 3 hrs | Chemistry 224or324 | 3 hrs |
| Chemistry 233 | 2 hrs | Chemistry 234 | 2 hrs |
Junior Year |
|||
| English Elective | 3 hrs | Biology 220 | 3 hrs |
| [Biology 210]** | [4 hrs]** | [Biology 221]* | [2 hrs]* |
| [Biology 211]* | [2 hrs]* | [Biology 205]** | [3 hrs]** |
*At least one Biol lab required - choose from 111, 211, or 221
**[ suggested, not required]
***[continuations of sequences required for engineering degrees or the BS in a few other fields]
Biochemistry majors pursuing a BA will take PHYS 115, 116 in their sophomore year, and will take BIOL 210, 211 and 326, but not 111 or 205. Students in biomedical engineering take EBME 201-202 instead of Biol. 220 and may substitute EBME 313-314 lab for a biology lab (if the EBME experiments chosen are biological in nature), but most should still take BIOL 110 to be prepared for the MCAT. Students in engineering programs may find it necessary to take some of their premedical requirements in the summer, or else they may need to take an overload.
Additional fall courses that may be of interest to premedical students (see roster or bulletin for prerequisites):
HSTY 265: Comparative History of the Professions in Europe and the United States, MWF 10:30-11:20 A.M. Prof. Kenneth F. Ledford, Mather House Room 208, 368-4144 (kxl15)
ECON 378: Health Care Economics, TR 2:45-4:00 Prof. Avi Dor, 368-0208 (axd9)
ANTH 215: Introduction to Medical Anthropology, MWF 2:30-3:20 Prof. R. Chapman
ANTH 313A Medical Anthropolgy Scholars Seminar, TR 8:30-9:45 Prof. Jill Korbin, 368-2278 (jek7)
ANTH 337: Comparative Medical Systems, TR 1:15-2:30 Prof. Atwood Gaines, 368-2257 (axg10)
ANTH 358: Women's Mental Health, TR 2:45-4:00 Prof. Janis Jenkins, 368-2630 (jhj4)
ANTH 359: Introduction to International Health, MWF 1:30-2:20 Prof. J. Pfeiffer
ANTH 397: Epidemiology and Evolution of Human Disease, TR 10:00-11:15 Prof. J. McGrath, 368-2287 (jwm6)
PSCL 321: Abnormal Psychology Prof Sandra Russ, 368-2814 (swr)
PSCL 333C: Hospitalized Children, first mtg 8/24 4:30-5:30 Mather Memorial 201 Prof Donald Freedheim, 368-2841 (dkf)