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Biology

Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Programs

There are no specific pre-medical or pre-dental programs at William and Mary. Students preparing for admission to medical or dental school may choose to concentrate in any department. Although medical and dental schools in general have no preference as to major field of undergraduate study, they do believe that the student should pursue a coherent program with some depth.  Since biology is a field closely related to the health sciences, many pre-medical and pre-dental students at William and Mary choose to major in biology. Surveys taken in 1988 and 1992 indicate that approximately 27 percent of biology alumni are physicians and another four percent are dentists.

All medical schools and most dental schools require four laboratory science courses: introductory biology, inorganic chemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. The William and Mary courses that can be used to meet the minimal science requirements are:

• Bio 203 and Bio 204
• Chemistry 103/151, 206/252, 307/353, and 308/354
• Physics 101 and 102 or Physics 107 and 108 (Chemistry and Physics concentrators take 101/102)

Because these courses are necessary for success on the MCAT, a test best taken by early summer after the junior year, and because medical schools begin to make decisions early in an applicant's senior year, students interested in entering medical school in the fall after graduation should complete the required science courses by the end of junior year.  Additional biology courses can also be helpful on the MCAT exam.

In addition to the required science courses, many medical and dental schools require a year of college math; some require calculus. Suggested courses are Math 111 and Math 112 or Math 131 and Math 132. Some medical schools allow students to use statistics courses, such as Math 106 or Psychology 301, to partially fulfill the premedical math requirements.   Freshman seminars with a "W" designation can be used to fulfill half of the English requirement. The English Department recommends that freshmen and sophomores who do not intend to become English concentrators take English 210; juniors and seniors are encouraged to take English 352, 363, or 364.

In addition to the required premedical courses, many medical schools suggest that students take courses in the social sciences and humanities that address aspects of human behavior. Courses in disciplines such as anthropology, psychology, sociology, history, and literature can deepen a future physician's understanding of his or her patients-to-be.

All premedical students are encouraged to seek academic guidance early in their careers through scheduled consultations with Dr. Beverly Sher, Coordinator for Pre-Medical Advising, in the Office of Academic Advising, and with their concentration advisor.