Chemistry (Full Year/3 Quarters)

CHEM 1B (3 units): General Chemistry

CHEM 1C (3 units): General Chemistry

CHEM 2AL (2.5 units): General Chemistry Lab

CHEM 2BL (2.5 units): General Chemistry Lab

Biological Sciences (Full Year/3 Quarters)

MCDB 1A (4 units): Intro. To Biology I

MCDB 1B (3 units): Intro. To Biology II--Physiology

MCDB 1LL (1.5 units): Intro. To Biology I Lab 

EEMB 2 (2 units): Intro. To Biology II—Ecology and Evolution

EEMB 3 (3 units): Intro. To Biology III

EEMB 2LL (1.5 units): Intro. To Biology Lab II

Organic Chemistry (Full Year/3 Quarters)

CHEM 109A (4 units): Organic Chemistry

CHEM 109B (4 units): Organic Chemistry

CHEM 109C (4 units): Organic Chemistry

CHEM 6AL (3 units): Organic Chemistry Lab (Chemistry 109A with a minimum grade of a C-; and Chemistry 109B (may be taken concurrently))

CHEM 6BL (3 units): Organic Chemistry Lab (Chemistry 6AL and 109A with a minimum grade of C-; and Chemistry 109B).  Note: Even though this lab is no longer required for MCDB/EEMB majors, whether or not you choose to take the second lab should be based on the requirements for your major and your own research into the admissions requirements at each medical school you hope to apply to.  If unable to find the information on a particular program's website, email their medical school admissions office for clarification.

Physics (Full Year/3 Quarters)

PHYSICS 6A (3 units) and PHYSICS 6AL (1 units): Introductory Physics w/Lab

PHYSICS 6B (3 units) and PHYSICS 6BL (1 units): Introductory Physics w/Lab

PHYSICS 6C (3 units) and PHYSICS 6CL (1 units): Introductory Physics w/Lab

Note:  Mathematics 2A or 3A or 34A or AP Math AB Exam score of 3 or higher are required for Physics 6A.  Math courses may be taken concurrently with Physics 6A.

Biochemistry (1 - 2 Quarters)

MCDB 108A (4 units). General Biochemistry (UCSB prerqs: MCDB 1A, and EEMB 2 and MCDB 1B; and Chemistry 1A-B-C; and Chemistry 109A-B-C (Chem 109C may be taken concurrently). Completion of all listed prerequisites with a grade of C or better.);

MCDB and Non-MCDB majors may choose to take MCDB 110 (UCSB prerqes: Chem 1A-B-C and 109A-B, with grades of C or better, are prereqs.)
*MCDB 108B Highly Recommended.

Note: Many medical schools may only require a single course in Biochemistry; however, others may equate 2 quarters of Biochemistry to 1 semester of Biochemistry.  Whether or not you choose to take a second Biochemistry course should be based on the requirements for your major and your own research into the admissions requirements at each medical school you hope to apply to.  If unable to find the information on a particular program's website, email their medical school admissions office for clarification.

Math

Please review the “Math Guidelines for Pre-Health Students"

English/Writing (Full Year/3 Quarters)

Note: Each course in the AMCAS application must be classified strictly on the primary content of the course (aamc.org)

(For MD Medical Schools) The AAMC Course Classification Guide categorizes the following course types as English Language & Literature (ENGL): Composition & Rhetoric, Creative Writing, and Literature.

(For DO Medical Schools) The AACOMAS Applicant Guide categorizes the following courses under the English Course Subject type: Basic Composition, Composition, Creative, Writing, English, English as a Second Language, Journalism, Literature, Medical, Terminology, Poetry, Rhetoric, Technical Writing, Writing.

A combination of 3 UCSB courses taken in the Writing, English, or *Comparative Literature departments should fulfill the full year of English requirement for most California medical schools.  Courses that satisfy GE Areas A-1 and A-2 will satisfy the English requirement.  Click here for information on these courses.

*Note: According to the AAMC's Course Classification Guide, Comparative Literature courses are classified under Foreign Language, Linguistics, and Literature (FLAN) and NOT under English (ENGL).  So these courses may not fulfill the full year of English required by some medical schools.

Also, courses that satisfy the GE Special Subject Area Writing requirement should not be considered sufficient to satisfy the full year of English requirement.

Remember, it is your responsibility to check the admissions requirements at each medical school you hope to apply to in order to make sure that the courses you take at UCSB and elsewhere will satisfy each program's specific requirements.

Social/Behavioral Sciences &

Humanities (2 Courses) (Highly Recommended; May be required by some programs.) 

PSY 1 and SOC 1 

Note: Introductory courses in psychology and sociology are highly recommended for MCAT preparation.  Some medical schools, particularly DO, may require these courses, so be sure to review the admissions requirements at each school you plan to apply to.

MCDB 101A - Molec. Genetics I

MCDB 111 - Human Physiology

MCDB 103 - Cell Biology

If you choose not to major in one of the natural sciences, you may wish to include one or two additional science electives in your program of study if your schedule permits.

*Math requirements may vary by school so be sure to research individual prerequisites.