What Are the Pre-Med Math Requirements?

If you're interested in a career in the medical field, you will need to complete pre-med requirements before applying to and attending medical school.

Medical schools and pre-med courses require courses in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and biology.

Many students looking to take pre-med courses might not realize that these schools also have math requirements.

Medicine is a highly regulated field of study. For doctors, surgeons, and all other medical workers, their knowledge and skill could be the difference between life and death.

The Association of American Medical Colleges has guidelines to make sure that all pre-med students have the well-rounded education needed to prepare for medical school and a career of live saving work.

According to the guidelines and regulations set out by the Association of American Medical Colleges, pre-med students must have 1 to 2 semesters of math.

What Are the Pre-Med Math Requirements?

Some schools need advanced classes like calculus, but most schools focus on algebra, statistics, and other data centered math courses.

Some medical schools need different math courses.

When registering for pre-med classes, it's important to look at the requirements of your preferred medical school to make sure you take a math class that will be accepted.

How Are Math Requirements for Pre-Med Selected?

Most degree programs are selected by the colleges you are earning a degree from.

The medical field, however, is a bit of a different case.

Medical schools are highly regulated because of the importance of the work that is done.

As a result, pre-med courses must reflect the requirements of the medical school that graduates will be entering.

The Association of American Medical Colleges (The AAMC) is a non-profit organization that serves as an accrediting body for universities.

Founded in the 1870s, the AAMC currently accredits over 170 medical schools across both the United States and Canada.

The AAMC is recognized as the primary medical school accrediting body by the Department of Education.

The AAMC sets standards though the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for schools to follow, and this includes the math requirements for pre-med students.

Why Is Math Required for Pre-Med?

The math requirements for pre-med are selected for practical reasons.

In the medical field, calculating proper dosages, analyzing data related to patients' charts and diagnoses, and other similar tasks are daily occurrences.

Medical workers might not have the skills needed to properly help their patients without a proper background in math and statistics.

Additionally, chemistry, biology, and anatomy, as well as some other classes, all have math components.

Even though they aren't considered math classes, you won't be able to properly complete them without using math.

Unlike some professions, the medical field falls into a group of subjects known as the 'hard sciences'.

Hard sciences are the fields of practically applied science, like engineering, chemistry, and physics.

Any study that falls within the hard sciences will have more math needed than the 'soft sciences', such as sociology, political science, and psychology.

Are There Pre-Med Courses Without Math?

Regardless of school, all accredited colleges and universities include some math requirement for their pre-med students.

Math is too essential to the daily work of a medical professional to disregard math in the required curriculum.

If you're looking for a degree that you can achieve with little to no math, pre-med might not be the right education path.

It's important to remember that pre-med math requirements are usually only one or two semesters, though.

The primary classes of a pre-med curriculum will be focused on anatomy, physiology, biology, and biochemistry.

Even if you don't like math or suffer from math anxiety, math-centered classes will only make up a small portion of your pre-med school experience.

Can I Earn My Pre-Med Degree Online?

Because pre-med classes are generally the pre-requisites to medical school, it is possible to earn your pre-med bachelor's degree online.

However, not all accredited schools offer online options for their pre-med courses, so it's important to do the proper research before selecting a program to enroll in.

Furthermore, even though you can earn your pre-med bachelor's degree online, medical school is almost exclusively offered in person due to the lab and hands-on experience required to properly set people up for success after graduation.

Finding a school that offers an

Finding An Accredited Pre-Med Program That's Right for You

If you're planning to go into the medical field, picking a pre-med program that will transfer to your preferred medical school is important.

Learn.org's database can help you find a pre-med program that fits your needs.

Begin your school search with our online resources today.

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Whether you're pursuing pre-med or any other degree you can think of, we can help you find the best school for your degree.