Students usually must take at least one year of biology with accompanying laboratory work. Courses that fulfill this requirement include introduction to biology and microbiology. Two courses in chemistry are usually required: general chemistry and organic chemistry, in that order. These courses are normally two semesters each and are taken in consecutive years. Both chemistry courses have accompanying labs. Students are also required to take one year of physics with lab work. These courses give students the foundational knowledge necessary for the more advanced science courses that are taught in medical school.
Medical schools typically require at least one course in calculus prior to admission. In addition, some schools require a course in statistics. Knowledge of statistics is important to the interpretation of scientific research data, which is a skill that doctors must have. Math skills are important for learning the dosage of medications and for calculating health-related fractions and percentages.
Medical schools usually require at least one English course. Strong writing and comprehension skills are vital in the medical field, in both clinical care and research. Doctors must be able to communicate effectively with patients, insurance companies and health care providers.
There are several elective courses that may be required or suggested by particular medical programs. These include psychology, anatomy and physiology, and sociology. Many medical record systems are now electronic, so computer courses may also be required. In addition, training in a foreign language is important as patients in the United States come from a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.