Medical schools are seeking students who are much more than narrowly trained technicians. They are looking for service-minded individuals of integrity, who are well developed as whole persons and well informed about the world at large. They want to recruit students that are able to think critically and systematically, who have human relational skills and are well prepared in the foundational aspects of the biological and physical sciences. Covenant’s emphases on theological and spiritual development, on the liberal arts and on challenging coursework make Covenant an ideal environment for pre-medical education.
Although a science major is not a pre-medical requirement, most pre-medical students major in a scientific discipline. Covenant offers rigorous majors in each of the disciplines in which medical schools specify course prerequisites in the sciences. The faculty members in the sciences have extensive research and teaching experience in their disciplines. They do not see scientific study as an impediment to the faith or as a substitute for faith or as an area of human activity isolated from faith, but they are theologically committed to the principle that scientific study emerges naturally from our commitment to the Creator/Redeemer Lord and our faith in Him should be integral to our work in the sciences.
Those considering pre-medical studies should be aware that due to the challenging nature of medical school prerequisite courses students with combined new SAT scores of less than 1270 (sum of the reading and writing, and math section scores) or ACT composite scores of less than 27 have typically struggled to complete the program. Although admission to medical schools is highly competitive, a majority of Covenant students (85%) who completed the pre-medical program have been accepted at medical schools across the country and are now engaged in medical studies or have become practicing physicians.
Students considering pre-medical studies should contact Professor Tim Morris at Tim.Morris@covenant.edu with any questions and also should see more information in the Biology section.
Although there is some variation among medical schools, the following is a typical medical school prerequisite list.
- General Biology (with lab) 2 semesters
- Inorganic Chemistry (with lab) 2 semesters
- Organic Chemistry (with lab) 2 semesters
- Physics (with lab) 2 semesters
- English 1 or 2 semesters
- Mathematics (when required) 1 or 2 semesters
- General Psychology 1 semester
- Principles of Sociology 1 semester
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