Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dentistry

MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY -- 2112 BIOLOGY BUILDING
MURRAY KENTUCKY 42071-3361 -- PHONE: (270) 809-2786 -- FAX: (270) 809-2788

Pre-Medicine

     The Department of Biological Sciences at Murray State University offers a four-year program leading to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in biology with an option in pre-medicine. Students who wish to become physicians can meet the necessary pre-professional required courses through this program. Most medical schools give preference to students who have completed four years with a baccalaureate degree. Most students major in biology and minor in chemistry because of the relationship of the subject matter to medical school curriculum. Pre-meds typically take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) as juniors, and the Department of Biological Sciences' pre-med program is designed with this in mind.

     Medical school requires four years of post-college study leading to the M.D. degree. Then an additional two to seven years of residency are required before the physician can be licensed to practice medicine in a specialty/subspecialty. The physician can concentrate in surgery, family practice, ophthalmology, pediatrics, internal medicine, anesthesiology, etc.

     The criteria for acceptance into medical school is based on academic records, personal interview, recommendation of faculty and very importantly, the MCAT. The MCAT is a standardized test given on the same day throughout the United States and is divided into four categories: biological sciences, physical sciences, verbal reasoning, and a writing section. The biology pre-med curriculum outlined below includes course work in each of these categories.

Pre-Dentistry

      Preparation for admission to dental school must include a minimum of three years of undergraduate work, however, most dental schools recommend four. The pre-dental curriculum parallels very closely the pre-med with a strong emphasis on the natural sciences. Entrance to dental school is competitive, but MSU has a good record in placing students in dental school. Pre-dent students typically are required to take the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) for admission to dental school. Most Kentucky residents matriculate to the dental schools at either the University of Louisville or University of Kentucky.

     The Doctor of Dentistry requires four years after completing the undergraduate B.S. degree. Upon graduation from a college of Dentistry, there are opportunities to specialize in oral surgery, orthodontics, oral pathology, etc. These usually require two or more years additional study. Presently, the opportunity for dental private practice is good in some places, fair to poor in others. Dental graduates should be prepared to go where the opportunities exist.

     General Education Requirements - 51 hrs: includes general psychology, mathematics, general physics I & II. Required Courses - 28 hrs: Freshman Orientation, Cellular Basis of Life, Biological Inquiry and Analysis, General Zoology, General Botany, Cell Biology, Animal Physiology, Genetics, Senior Seminar. Biology Electives - at least 12 hrs: Suggested courses include Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Vertebrate Embryology, Vertebrate Histology, Parasitology, Into. Microbiology, Virology, Cell Physiology. Chemistry Co-Requirements - 19 hrs. Required Minor - 21 hrs (Chemistry minor strongly recommended). Electives - 18 hrs (Writing Composition Course Recommended; remaining hours can be biology course or in other departments). Total Curriculum Requirements - 128 hrs.

For more information contact: Dr. Tom Timmons, Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, 2112 Biology Building, Murray, KY 42071-3361, (270) 809-2786

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Date Modified December, 2007