UNC School of Medicine
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Academic Requirements
Welcome to the University of North Carolina's School of Medicine Academic Requirements page. We thank you for your interest in our program.
Our goal of the School of Medicine is to produce outstanding physicians who are well prepared for meeting society's health care needs in the 21st Century. This section of the web site is designed to help you understand our admissions process, including our policies, procedures, requirements and admissions criteria. Our Admissions Committee seeks students that will thrive in the educational setting at UNC's Medical School and who demonstrate evidence of altruism, integrity, leadership, community service, motivation, and the ability to communicate effectively with others.
Academic Requirements for Admission
Barring extraordinary circumstances a Bachelor's degree is required for admission and, in fact, all students in recent years have had degrees. Students are encouraged to pursue one or more scholarly interest in depth during the undergraduate years but course work must demonstrate proficiency in the natural sciences. A student who earns a degree in less than four years may apply, but should recognize that understanding the human condition and developing good judgment require experience. Without unusual qualifications, questions about breadth of education, maturity, experience, and motivation may put such an applicant at a disadvantage.
Academic preparation should include these prerequisite courses:
| Prerequisite Courses | Minimum Semester Hours |
| Biology, including at least one course with lab). It is strongly suggested that students take at least one course in Cell and Molecular Biology or Genetics. | 7 |
| General and Organic Chemistry (with labs). One semester of Biochemistry may be substituted for one semester of Organic Chemistry. | 16 |
| General Physics with labs | 8 |
| English* | 6 |
*If you satisfy your undergraduate institution's English or Literature requirement for your degree program you will also satisfy ours.
If your degree is from an educational institution not located in the United States or Canada, AMCAS, the degree verification service, will not certify your credentials.
Therefore, our prerequisites must be met from an accredited college or university within the United States or Canada to allow eligibility for verification by AMCAS.
Once your pre-requisites are met, and AMCAS has verified your credentials, and sends UNC SOM your application, we will take into consideration all of your educational degrees.
Beyond the fixed requirements a variety of undergraduate educational experiences are appropriate to medicine. The school values a pattern of preparation for medicine that shows serious and mature use of the undergraduate years. Course work in the humanities and social sciences as well as advanced work in the sciences and mathematics is preferred. Proficiency in English is essential.
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required. Scores from tests older than five (5) years from the year of matriculation are not considered. Applicants must take the test no later than September before they wish to enter medical school.