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Prepare for Careers in
Medicine & Health

The key feature of the Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program at American University is flexibility. Whether you are building the bridge between your undergraduate studies and medical school, or want to make a mid-career shift, we will meet you where you are and provide you with the specific credentials you need to achieve your goals. The curriculum will be tailored to you, allowing you to take the exact classes required to apply to your advanced degree of interest, and skip those that you’ve already taken, or won’t need.

  • Get access to every course required to apply for medical school. And if you have already completed the fundamental classes, we offer a variety of upper-level biology, chemistry, and neuroscience classes to help you demonstrate your academic potential. 
  • It’s not just about med school. The Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program helps students prepare for a variety of careers in medicine, from physician to veterinarian.
  • Get one-on-one help along the way. The premedical advisor will guide you in course selection, provide information on clinical and research opportunities, and work closely with you during the application process. And when the time comes to apply for medical or dental school, an AU faculty member of your choice will write your committee letter to be included in your application.
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Start preparing now for med school

This program may be right for you if you have completed a Bachelors degree with an overall GPA of 3.2, and a science/math GPA of 3.2 if you have completed more than two science or math classes. Please note that neither MCAT nor GRE scores are required. We do not require letters of recommendation, but you may submit one letter if you choose.

Most post-baccalaureate students take two or three courses per semester, for two to five semesters, providing time to engage in clinical and/or research experiences.

The Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program admissions committee operates on a rolling admissions basis. Applications will be reviewed and you will receive a decision via email within a few weeks of completing your application.

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester Enrollment
Apply by July 1
Spring Semester Enrollment
Apply by December 1
Summer Semester Enrollment
Apply by March 1

Leading hospitals and health institutes at your doorstep

American University is at the heart of Washington, DC, and our students use the city as a learning laboratory. Post-baccalaureate students gain valuable clinical experience in a variety of ways, from volunteering at local hospitals to working as medical scribes or medical assistants. 

George Washington University Hospital, Georgetown University Hospital and Sibley Memorial Hospital are all within a few miles of the AU campus, while students interested in pediatrics head over to Children’s National Medical Center. Students interested in Emergency Medicine may volunteer at Bethesda Chevy-Chase Rescue Squad or Wheaton Rescue Squad. Students interested in veterinary medicine routinely intern at Friendship Hospital for Animals. 

Your Network for Success

Post-Baccalaureate students engage with each other in social and career-oriented events through the American University Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Society and the American University premedical chapter of the American Medical Student Association. These groups work with the Premedical Programs and the premedical fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon, to bring medical professionals and AU alumni who are in medical school to campus, and to schedule trips to local medical schools, including Georgetown University and George Washington University Schools of Medicine. While taking classes, post-baccalaureate students may also intern at the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and local hospitals. Post-baccalaureate students also volunteer in the clinics at Mary’s Center, So Others Might Eat, Whitman-Walker, and more.

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Tailor your classes to your goal

Medicine is practiced by a team of professionals, each with different training. The specific courses you are required to take before studying medicine will depend on your desired field. The Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program at American University is designed to provide you with the opportunity to take both the required and recommended courses to prepare you for the specific advanced degree you wish to apply for, while avoiding taking unnecessary classes.

Below are the minimum classes required to complete the MCAT and apply to medical school, as well as recommended additional courses to prepare you for your studies. The majority of applicants to medical school complete more than the minimum requirements. 

Required

  • Bio 110: General Biology I
  • Bio 210: General Biology II
  • Chem 110: General Chemistry I
  • Chem 210: General Chemistry II
  • Chem 310/312: Organic Chemistry I
  • Chem 320/322: Organic Chemistry II
  • Phys 105: General Physics I or Phys 110: Principles of Physics I
  • Phys 205: General Physics II or Phys 210: Principles of Physics II
  • Chem 470: Principles of Biochemistry (lab not required)
  • Math 221: Calculus I (not required by all medical schools)

Highly recommended

  • Bio 320: Cell Biology

Additional courses to consider

  • Bio 356: Genetics
  • Bio 440: Microbiology
  • Bio 434: Vertebrate Anatomy
  • Bio 435: Vertebrate Physiology
  • Bio 541: Cellular Immunology
  • Bio 501: Mechanisms of Pathogenesis

Additional courses are available in the of Biology and Chemistry departments.

Below are the minimum classes required to apply to dental school. The DAT may be taken before the physics classes are completed, but physics is required for application and admission to dental school.

Required

  • Bio 110: General Biology I
  • Bio 210: General Biology II
  • Chem 110: General Chemistry I
  • Chem 210: General Chemistry
  • Chem 310/312: Organic Chemistry I
  • Chem 320/322: Organic Chemistry II
  • Phys 105: General Physics I or Phys 110: Principles of Physics I
  • Phys 205: General Physics II or Phys 210: Principles of Physics II

Some schools also require

  • Bio 301: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • Bio 302: Human Anatomy and Physiology II

Recommended

  • Chem 470: Principles of Biochemistry
  • Bio 320: Cell Biology with lab
  • Arts 100: Art: The Studio Experience

The most commonly required courses for entry into pharmacy programs are listed below. You are encouraged to check the specific programs you are interested in to see if they have additional requirements.

Required

  • Bio 110: General Biology I
  • Bio 210: General Biology II 
  • Chem 110: General Chemistry I
  • Chem 210: General Chemistry II 
  • Chem 310/312: Organic Chemistry I
  • Chem 320/322: Organic Chemistry II 
  • Phys 105: General Physics I or Phys 110: Principles of Physics I
  • Phys 205: General Physics II or Phys 210: Principles of Physics II

Highly recommended

  • Chem 470: Principles of Biochemistry

Graduate programs in physical therapy may vary in their requirements, so please check specific programs that interest you. 

Required

  • Bio 110: General Biology I
  • Bio 210: General Biology II 
  • Chem 110: General Chemistry I
  • Chem 210: General Chemistry II
  • Phys 105: General Physics I or Phys 110: Principles of Physics I
  • Phys 205: General Physics II or Phys 210: Principles of Physics II
  • Bio 301: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • Bio 302: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
  • Stat 202: Basic Statistics, 4 credits
  • PSYC-100: Introduction to Psychology

The majority of Physician Assistant programs require the following courses. You are encouraged to check the specific requirements for the programs in which you are interested.

Requirements

  • Bio 110: General Biology I
  • Bio 210: General Biology II 
  • Chem 110: General Chemistry I
  • Chem 210: General Chemistry II 
  • Chem 310/312: Organic Chemistry I
  • Chem 312/322: Organic Chemistry II
  • Bio 301: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • Bio 302: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
  • Bio 440: Microbiology or HLTH 320: Intro to Infectious Disease
  • Stat 202: Basic Statistics
  • Psychology course(s), may include PSYC-100: Introduction to Psychology and/or Psyc 215: Abnormal Psychology and Society

Post-baccalaureate students interested in nursing must complete prerequisite courses to be able to apply to accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. The majority of accelerated BSN programs require the courses listed below, but may vary with program.

Required

  • Bio 110: General Biology I
  • Bio 210: General Biology II 
  • Chem 110: General Chemistry I
  • Chem 210: General Chemistry II 
  • Bio 301: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • Bio 302: Human Anatomy and Physiology II 
  • Stat 202: Basic Statistics, 4 credits
  • Psychology course(s), may include PSYC-100: Introduction to Psychology and/or Psyc 215: Abnormal Psychology and Society

In addition to the basic requirements listed below, some programs may have additional course prerequisites.

Required

  • Bio 110: General Biology I
  • Bio 210: General Biology II 
  • Chem 110: General Chemistry I
  • Chem 210: General Chemistry II
  • Chem 310/312: Organic Chemistry I
  • Chem 320/322: Organic Chemistry II 
  • Phys 105: General Physics I or Phys 110: Principles of Physics I
  • Phys 205: General Physics II or Phys 210: Principles of Physics II

Some Schools may also require

  • Bio 356: Genetics
  • Bio 442: Behavioral Ecology
  • Chem 470: Principles of Biochemistry

Alumni Spotlight

Zenaida Enchill, Medical Student at Northwestern University

Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Certificate '17

AU’s post-bacc program was perfect for me.

I chose the program for its strategic location in Washington, DC. During my post-bacc year, I was able to intern at the Office of Minority Health at the EPA, as well as begin an internship at a local physician’s office, which led to a full-time medical assistant position. A huge pull of the program was its strong advising. Dr. Arneson was readily available to assist me with questions I had during the application program and assuage any concerns I had along the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the majority of post-baccalaureate students do not complete all of the certificate requirements before they apply to graduate health professional programs.

For financial aid purposes, the Post-Baccalaureate Premedical program is considered to be a fifth-year undergraduate program. Therefore, undergraduate aid in the form of federal loans is available. Unfortunately, no scholarships are available to post-baccalaureate students. However, post-baccalaureate students are eligible to compete for the Robyn Rafferty Matthias Summer Research Fellowship, which provides a stipend and funds for research supplies

No, unfortunately at this time it does not.

Yes, you can. We carefully assess your entire application before making an admissions decision. In addition to your overall GPA we will look for trends in grades and your grades in science and math classes. We encourage you to help us understand your academic record by explaining in your personal statement any extenuating circumstances that might have adversely affected your grades.

Yes! For more information on how your specific VA Education benefits can be applied towards this program, please email veterans@american.edu. 

Please note: Students pursuing certificate programs are not eligible to participate in American University’s Yellow Ribbon program.

Still have questions? Contact premed@american.edu.