School of Arts and Sciences
Post-baccalaureate Premedical Program
Post-baccalaureate Premedical Program

Academics

Program of Study

A minimum of eight courses is required to complete the program and tuition covers a maximum of ten courses. Students admitted to the program generally attend Tufts for 18-24 months and usually take two laboratory courses for credit per semester. These courses meet during the day on the Medford/Somerville campus and the courseload is considered "full-time" as students are expected to also grow their clinical experiences during this time.

The actual time enrolled in the program varies from one student to the next. Each student works with an advisor to customize his/her course of study. An offer of admission assumes that you have not taken additional premed science courses since submitting your application. Once accepted, students must take all of their prerequisite courses at Tufts. To remain in the program, students are expected to maintain at least a 3.3 CGPA. 

Primary courses taken to fulfill professional school requirements include:

  • Biology: Cells and Organisms (Bio 13 + Bio 15 lab)
  • Biology: Organisms and Populations (Bio 14)
  • Chemical Fundamentals (Chem 1)
  • Chemical Principles (Chem 2)
  • Organic Chemistry I (Chem 51/53)
  • Biochemistry (Bio 152 or Chem 171)
  • Introductory Physics I and II (Phys 1 and 2)

Please consult the individual department websites for the most up-to-date information regarding course schedules and modalities. Course offerings and timelines are subject to change.

After completing the required courses needed for graduate admission, students may choose to enroll in other advanced science or other related courses. Tufts offers a wide range of biology courses including genetics, cell biology, and physiology, as well as math, psychology, and statistics. All Tufts undergraduate courses that are relevant to preparation for the health professions are available to Post-bacc Premed students. Though our students meet frequently as a cohort, all courses are taken with the Tufts undergraduate population.

  • Students admitted to the program generally attend Tufts for 18-24 months and take two courses per semester. The actual time enrolled in the program varies from one student to the next, depending on academic background and personal circumstances. Occasionally, students need to drop to one course for financial, health, or other reasons. Also occasionally, a student sees that they are capable of doing well in three laboratory science courses in a single semester (usually only after the student has studied at Tufts first and realized the rigor of the courses).

    Here is a typical scenario for premed students completing the program. It will vary for other health professions and for students with some science background.

    Fall 1:

    • Biology 13 + Biology 15 (lab)
    • Chemistry 1

    Spring 1:

    • Biology 14
    • Chemistry 2

    Summer:

    • Physics 1
    • Physics 2

    Fall 2: 

    • Chemistry 51/53 (Organic)
    • Elective

    Spring 2:

    • Biochemistry (Bio 152 or Chem 171)
    • Elective

    This sample premed student could take the MCAT in the second spring and apply for med school at the beginning of June. Of course, this would change if they are trying for Linkage, which would eliminate the glide year. In that case, they would apply in Winter 2, take the MCAT in Spring 2, and start med school in Summer 2 (if accepted).

  • Please Note: These guides should be used as a general reference only. Schools differ in their requirements so you should verify these prerequisites with the school of your choice. Course offerings and timelines are subject to change.

    Biology 1 Cells & Organisms (BIO 13 + BIO 15 Lab) - Offered: Fall
    Prerequisite: Medical, Dental, Veterinary

    Biology 2 Organisms & Population (BIO 14) w/ Lab - Offered: Spring
    Prerequisite: Medical, Dental, Veterinary

    Chemistry 1 Chemical Fundamentals (CHEM 1) w/ Lab - Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: Medical, Dental, Veterinary

    Chemistry 2 Chemical Principles (CHEM 2) w/ Lab- Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: Medical, Dental, Veterinary

    Organic Chemistry 1 Organic Chemistry (CHEM 51) w/ 0.5 credit lab (CHEM 53) - Offered: Fall, Summer
    Prerequisite: Medical, Dental, Veterinary

    Organic Chemistry 2 Organic Chemistry (CHEM 52) w/ 0.5 credit lab (CHEM 54) - Offered: Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: Dental, Veterinary

    Biochemistry Biochemistry & Cellular Metabolism (BIO 152/CHEM 171)
    BIO 152 - Offered: Spring, Summer
    CHEM 171 - Offered: Spring
    Prerequisite: Medical, Dental (required rarely), Veterinary

    Physics 1 Introductory Physics (PHY 1) w/ Lab - Offered: Fall, Summer
    Prerequisite: Medical, Dental, Veterinary

    Physics 2 Introductory Physics (PHY 2) w/ Lab - Offered: Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: Medical, Dental, Veterinary

    Physiology 1 Physiology (OTS 101/BIO 9) w/ Lab - Offered: Fall, Summer
    Prerequisite: None

    Statistics - Offered through Math, Biology, Psychology, Economics departments
    Prerequisite: Medical (strongly suggested)

    Psychology Intro., Developmental, Abnormal, etc.
    Prerequisite: Medical (suggested)

    Nutrition Human Nutrition (NUTR 101) - Offered: Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: None

    Microbiology Microbiology w/ Lab (BIO 106) - Offered: Spring
    Prerequisite: Veterinary (required by some)

    Genetics General Genetics (BIO 41) w/ Lab - Offered: Fall, Summer
    Prerequisite: Veterinary (required by some)

    Calculus 1 Intro. to Calculus (MATH 30) - Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: Medical (rarely required), Dental (rarely required), Veterinary (rarely required)

  • Please Note: These guides should be used as a general reference only. Schools differ in their requirements so you should verify these prerequisites with the school of your choice. Course offerings and timelines are subject to change.

    Prerequisites below use the following abbreviations:

    • PT stands for "Physical Therapist"
    • OT stands for "Occupational Therapist"
    • PA stands for "Physician Assistant"
    • NP stands for "Nurse Practitioner"

    Biology 1 Cells & Organisms (BIO 13 + BIO 15 lab) - Offered: Fall
    Prerequisite: PT*, OT*, PA*, NP*

    Biology 2 Organisms & Population (BIO 14) w/ Lab - Offered: Spring
    Prerequisite: PT*, OT*, PA*, NP*

    Chemistry 1 Chemical Fundamentals (CHEM 1) w/ Lab - Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: PT*, OT*, PA*, NP*

    Chemistry 2 Chemical Principles (CHEM 2) w/ Lab - Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: PT*, OT*, PA*, NP*

    Organic Chemistry 1 Organic Chemistry (CHEM 51) w/ 0.5 credit lab (CHEM 53) - Offered: Fall, Summer
    Prerequisite: PT* (some), OT* (some), PA* (some)

    Organic Chemistry 2 Organic Chemistry (CHEM 52) w/ 0.5 credit lab (CHEM 54) - Offered: Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: PT* (some), OT* (some), PA* (some)

    Biochemistry Biochemistry & Cellular Metabolism (BIO 152/CHEM 171)
    BIO 152 - Offered: Spring, Summer
    CHEM 171 - Offered: Spring
    Prerequisite: None

    Physics 1 Introductory Physics (PHY 1) w/ Lab - Offered: Fall, Summer
    Prerequisite: PT*, PA*

    Physics 2 Introductory Physics (PHY 2) w/ Lab - Offered: Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: PT*, PA*

    Physiology 1 Physiology (OTS 101/BIO 9) w/ Lab - Offered: Fall, Summer
    Prerequisite: PT*, OT*, PA*, NP*

    Statistics - Offered through Math, Biology, Psychology, Economics departments
    Prerequisite: PT*, OT*, NP*

    Psychology Intro., Developmental, Abnormal, etc.
    Prerequisite: PT*, OT*, NP*

    Nutrition Human Nutrition (NUTR 101) - Offered: Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: NP*

    Microbiology Microbiology w/ Lab (BIO 106) - Offered: Spring
    Prerequisite: NP*

    Genetics General Genetics (BIO 41) w/ Lab - Offered: Fall, Summer
    Prerequisite: None

    Calculus 1 Intro. to Calculus (MATH 30) - Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
    Prerequisite: None

Office of Graduate Admissions

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