Pre-Medical Requirements
The minimum educational requirement for admission to medical school is the completion of a bachelor's degree and all course requirements. Students pursuing admission to medical school can major in any undergraduate discipline.
The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) will assess an applicant's knowledge in several areas, including but not limited to the subjects of one-year courses with laboratory in general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and general physics. College studies prior to matriculation in medical school should also include subjects appropriate to a liberal arts education.
Prerequisites vary among medical schools. Students should consult with a pre-health advisor in planning their course of study.
The minimum requirements for Creighton University’s School of Medicine are as follows:
Educational Requirements
All course requirements need to be completed by June 1 of the matriculating year. In addition, all course requirements must be completed at an accredited college or university located within the United States or Canada.
Required Courses
Creighton University School of Medicine has no defined prerequisite course requirements. However, as preparatory to the MCAT and a rigorous medical school curriculum, they recommend the following recent (past 3 years) coursework in an accredited 4-year college/university in the United States or Canada: Strong background in biology including introductory and advanced courses, e.g., physiology, immunology, and genetics. Strong background in chemistry including introductory and advanced courses, e.g., biochemistry. Additionally, coursework in English, humanities and statistics is strongly recommended. Minimum total coursework credits in biology, chemistry, physics, and math should be 40-45 hours.
Recommended Courses
Preference for admission will be given to applicants who complete at least one advanced science course, in addition to the required coursework, that builds a foundation within human or molecular-cellular biology.
Extracurricular Requirements
The Committee on Admissions of Creighton University's School of Medicine, like most other medical schools, requires applicants to have a foundation in the following activities:
• Commitment to service of others through both medical and non-medical volunteer activities
• Physician shadowing experiences
• Patient contact through clinical and/or medical experiences
Scientific research, though not required for admission to Creighton University's School of Medicine, is also highly valued by the Committee on Admissions.
Courses
PMED 300. Pre-Medical Education 1: Discernment, Self-Assessment, and Planning for the Application Cycle. 0 credits. FA
Students will earn how medical admissions committees evaluate discernment and readiness for medical school, and will be provided with tools to assess their own discernment and progress towards a competitive application. Students will be advised on preparing for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and other required application elements. Alternate timelines (e.g. gap year) and pathways to medicine (e.g. osteopathic medicine, podiatry, etc.) will also be explored. P: PHLC 200; CR: Jr stdg.
PMED 310. Pre-Medical Education 2: Preparing a Competitive Application. 0 credits. SP
The focus of this seminar is collecting the elements necessary to submit a competitive medical school application, and as such should be taken by juniors or seniors in the spring semester before they intend to apply to medical schools. The following topics will be covered: Understanding your Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) score, seeking letters of recommendation, writing a personal statement, developing a list of schools for application, and a detailed review of the medical school application services (AMCAS, AACOMAS, TMDSAS). Individual support regarding the timing of a medical school application will be provided by the instructor. P: PMED 300.