Pre-Medicine
Start your journey to becoming a medical professional.
Take Prerequisites Courses.
University of Nebraska Lincoln offers the classes you need to apply for a medical program while earning your bachelor’s degree. See the list below for a brief overview of required prerequisite courses.
Get Experience.
Start building your shadowing and volunteer hours to be a more competitive medical school applicant. Don’t forget to keep track of your hours!
Talk to an Advisor Each Semester.
There’s a lot of coordination and planning that needs to happen to make sure you do everything you need before graduate school. The Explore Center’s advisors are here to help you navigate this journey. Meet with an advisor today to get a personalized 4-year pre-medicine plan!
Your Pre-Medicine Roadmap at UNL
Medical Prerequisite Classes
Whether you want to become a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (OD), your courses are typically identical. Depending on the school you plan to attend, you may need additional prerequisite courses. Meet with an advisor for more information.
Typical Medical School Requirements
General Chemistry - 2 semesters
Organic Chemistry - 2 semesters
Biochemistry - 1 semester
Biology - 2 semesters
Physics - 2 semesters
Math – 1 semesters
English – 1-2 courses
Social and Behavioral Sciences – 4-5 courses
What to Take at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Some classes require prerequisites. Meet with an advisor for help planning your courses.
General Chemistry – CHEM 109A/L & 110A/L or CHEM 113A/L, 114, & 221L
Organic Chemistry – CHEM 251/253 & 252/254 or CHEM 261/263 & 262/264
Biochemistry – BIOC 431 & 432
Biology – LIFE 120/120L & LIFE 121/121L
Physics – PHYS 141 and 142 or 211/221 and 212/222
Math – MATH 104, 106, STAT 218, STAT 380, EDPS 459, PSYC 350, or ECON 215
English – ENGL 150, 151, 254, or 354
Social and Behavioral Sciences – SOCI 101, PSYC 181, & additional humanities/social sciences to total 12-16 hours
The above course recommendations fulfill the requirements for UNMC’s MD program. The above courses are also highly recommended for students interested in Creighton’s program. Students who are considering medical schools outside of Nebraska are encouraged to contact those schools for a list of entrance requirements. For a detailed 4-year plan outlining your UNL courses, please meet with an Explore Center Advisor.
Other Notes:
- AP/IB Credit: AP/IB credit not accepted for prerequisites at UNMC, however, a higher-level course with lab in the same discipline can count instead (see advisor).
- Math Requirement: Some required science courses, like chemistry, require math as a prerequisite. See your pre-health advisor for math placement information. A calculus or statistics course may also be required by the medical school.
- MCAT Content: Not all content on the MCAT is covered by pre-requisite courses. See below list for courses that help prep you for the MCAT that you should incorporate into your course plan.
MCAT Exam Content Courses
In addition to the prerequisite courses listed above, additional coursework is strongly recommended to prepare students for the MCAT exam. Below is a list of the UNL coursework that covers MCAT content. Some courses overlap with the prerequisites listed above. Meet with an Explore Center Advisor to discuss fitting the additional courses listed below into your 4-year plan at UNL.
LIFE 120/120L
LIFE 121/121L
BIOS 213/213L
BIOS 206 or PLAS 215 (prerequisite for BIOC 432)
CHEM 109A/109L & 110A/110L or 113A/113L & 114
CHEM 251 & 252 or 261 & 262
PHYS 141 & 142 or 211 & 212
BIOC 431
BIOC 432
PSYC 181
SOCI 101
Statistical reasoning skills tested on the MCAT may be obtained through science courses or through taking a statistical methods course..
Meet with your Explore Center advisor to develop your MCAT preparation plan.
Suggested Sequencing
Semester 1 | Semester 2
|
Semester 3
| Semester 4 |
Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
**Take the MCAT during Semester 6 or before Semester 7 | |
Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
Extracurricular Involvement and Activities:
Pursuing medical school requires more than just coursework. Your extracurricular activities, employment, and healthcare experiences like shadowing and volunteering will contribute greatly to your success in this field. See your pre-health advisor in the Explore Center to plan extracurricular activities that will prepare you for this program.
Application and Admission
Applications: There are three centralized application services, the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), and the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS). Application for admission to UNMC, Creighton, and most other medical schools is made through AMCAS. Applications to MD and DO programs through application services are available at apps.aamc.org/account (allopathic) or https://aacomas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login (osteopathic). The schools will then contact you to verify your receipt of your application and inform you of any additional materials they require to complete your application, such as secondary applications and letters of recommendation/evaluation.
Entrance exam: The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required. The MCAT is a computer-based exam that is offered on set dates throughout the year. Information about registering for and taking the MCAT can be found online at https://students-residents.aamc.org/takingmcat-exam/taking-mcat-exam
Additional admission requirements: Applications to medical school require a personal statement and letters of recommendation/evaluation. The number of required letters varies by school. UNMC requires recommendations from two instructors with at least one from a science faculty. Creighton University recommends three letters, consisting of two science faculty and one non-science faculty. You should get to know your professors so that they know you well enough to write a thorough letter about your potential to be a successful medical student.