What Are the Math Requirements for Med School?

Medical school requires many different courses, but what are the med school math requirements? We've got what you need to know about med school prerequisites and curriculums.

Medical school is a grueling four years focused on learning everything you need to know to properly care for patients and treat diseases.

There are many requirements, but what are the math requirements for med school?

In most cases, med school math requirements include a few prerequisites but do not include math within the curriculum.

Keep reading as we break it all down below.

What Are the Med School Math Requirements?

Students do not typically need to take a math course while in medical school, but many medical schools require applicants to have taken math as a prerequisite.

A prerequisite course is a course that you must have completed before beginning your program of study.

There are often several prerequisites required for medical school.

The specific math prerequisite courses required will depend on the medical school you apply to, but statistics or biostatistics is a common prerequisite.

Calculus is another common choice.

The amount of math required also varies, but one or two courses is average.

These math courses help build the foundations for critical thinking and analysis necessary for being a doctor.

If you're in your undergraduate program, it helps to look ahead at the math courses required by the medical schools you're interested in so that you can be prepared when it's time to apply.

Other Med School Prerequisite Requirements

In addition to a couple of math courses, there are also other prerequisite courses you will need to take before medical school.

Common subjects required include:

Additionally, medical school applicants will need to take the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT.

This is a standardized exam used in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and some Caribbean Islands.

The MCAT is divided into four sections:

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

Once you've taken the test, the scores are reported to the medical school of your choice.

If you aren't happy with your score, you're allowed to retake the exam.

Other Med School Requirements

Every medical school has its curriculum, but generally, medical school is structured so that you spend the first one to two years in classroom instruction and the last two to three years in clinical rotations.

The classroom courses typically cover things like foundations of medicine, patient care, and medical practice.

Topics often include:

Once you've completed your coursework, you'll move on to clinical rotations.

During this time, you'll spend several weeks at a time within a specific department of medicine.

While the required clinical rotations may vary, standard clinical rotations are in departments like:

Emergency Medicine
Family Medicine
Neurology
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Pediatrics
Psychology
Surgery

Many medical schools have specific clinical rotation requirements but also allow students to choose a portion of their clinical rotations so they get a chance to rotate through the departments that interest them most.

Requirements to Become a Medical Doctor

Once you've earned your medical degree, you still aren't ready to obtain your medical license.

There are a few more requirements you must meet before becoming a medical doctor.

First, you'll need to complete all three steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

All states require students to pass this exam before they can earn their medical license.

The first two parts of the USMLE can be completed while you're still in medical school.

The first part covers foundational medical science and the second covers clinical medicine.

The third part of the USMLE can't be taken until you've earned your medical degree, and it's recommended you wait to take it until you've completed at least one year of postgraduate experience.

This section covers how well you can apply your medical knowledge to clinical care.

You'll also need to complete a residency program.

During your residency, you receive additional medical training that focuses on the specific specialty of medicine that you want to practice, such as oncology or pediatrics.

Like medical school, residency includes both classroom learning and clinical experiences.

The length of a residency depends on the specialty, but two to four years is typical.

Once you've passed all three steps of the USMLE and completed your residency, you'll likely be able to obtain your medical license from your state.

However, state requirements may vary, so always check what your state requires.

If you're interested in pursuing a sub-specialty, you'll also complete a fellowship program that focuses on that subspecialty.

During this time, you're working as a licensed doctor and receiving a salary from the medical facility you work at.

Find a Medical School Today

Most medical schools do not include math courses, but most have math prerequisites.

For more information on medical school requirements or for help finding the right medical school for you, reach out to Learn.org today!