Interdisciplinary Education

Increasingly, medical schools recommend that the undergraduate education of medical students be as academically diverse as possible. With its strong tradition in the liberal arts, Davidson College not only applauds this recommendation but also supports it in three ways.

• All Davidson students are required to take classes in diverse academic disciplines.
• Students interested in medical careers may major in the department of their choice.
• Whether they major in the sciences, medical humanities, or humanities or social sciences, students with medical interests are encouraged to take as many courses outside their major as possible.

Sciences

Most medical schools require students to take several introductory sciences classes with laboratories.  At Davidson, the following courses fulfill this requirement:

• Biology 111
• Biology 112
• Chemistry 115
• Chemistry 201
• Chemistry 202
• Chemistry 215
• Physics 120 or 130
• Physics220 or 230

Note 1:  Students who plan to study abroad should begin laboratory science courses as early as possible.  It is particularly important to begin the chemistry sequence as two years are required for completion.

Note 2:  Mathematics is considered a science by medical schools and many require two courses. A few schools require Math 130 (Calculus 1) and Math 135 (Calculus II) but a larger number of schools require two general mathematics courses.

Note 3: Advanced biology and neuroscience courses also enable premedical students to develop vocabulary and concepts which are important to the first year or so of medical school education.

Note 4:  Beyond science courses many medical schools have additional requirements such as English, behavioral, and social sciences.

Note 5:  Advanced placement credit in the laboratories sciences should be taken only after discussing the matter with the Premedical Director.

For requirements and recommendations at medical schools of your interest, see References Related to Requirements and Recommendations

Medical Humanities

Medical Humanities provides premedicine students with interdisciplinary courses in the theory and practice of medicine, including:

• the organization, delivery and financing of health care
• innovations in reproductive and genetic technologies, and bioethics

Studies in these areas and others help students to gain an understanding of controversial issues facing American medicine and to develop skills in articulating their opinions on such issues.

As a minimum it is recommended that students take a course in medical ethics and an internship course in clinical experiences, Center 380 or Center 390.

The medical humanities program offers a concentration upon completion of six courses selected from numerous offerings.  Through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies

Humanities & Social Sciences

The humanities and social sciences provide students with a wide array of study options.  For your convenience, click on the appropriate departments to examine their offerings:

 
Requirements & Recommendations

Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR): Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Osteopathic medical school requirements: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

Podiatric medical school requirements: American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM)

Dental school admission requirements:American Association of Dental Schools

Davidson College Premedical Handbook (Davidson College Students Only)