We will work with you to create a program that meets your specific needs. Your individual schedule will depend on your previous academic background as well as your professional goals. We base the postbacc curriculum requirements upon the general requirements established by most schools of the health professions. Some schools may require additional courses, so you should familiarize yourself early with those schools to which you think you may apply. For students seeking to prepare for PA, PT, DVM and other programs, additional courses beyond the postbacc curriculum are generally required.
In order to fulfill the requirements established by accredited U.S. medical schools, we recommend that students take:
- One to two semesters of mathematics
- Nine semesters of basic sciences with labs
- Two semesters of English or writing
- One to two semesters of social sciences
Your specific schedule and timetable depends on which courses you have already taken and the specific requirements of the schools to which you plan to apply. It takes most students 18 to 24 months to complete the program, and you should plan to take a minimum of 5 of the core science courses while enrolled in our program. After completing your course work, you will be academically prepared to take the spring or summer MCAT and apply to enter medical school in September of the following year.
It is important to note that the weekly in-class time commitment for each course is substantial. For chemistry lectures and lab, you should count on ten scheduled hours each week; for biology lectures and lab, about five and a half hours; for physics lectures and lab, about six hours. Courses are only offered during daytime hours.
Select the appropriate career path below to see what our program might look like for you.
Physician
Physician (MD, DO)
Physicians are involved in every sub-field of the healthcare profession in both clinical and research areas. Students who are interested in the field of medicine should be prepared to work independently, as part of a healthcare team, or as a paid employee under the direction of the administrator of an HMO. The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) has selected a core grouping of courses that all premed students should take: 2 semesters of college writing or English, 1 semester of calculus, 2 semesters of biology, 2 semesters of inorganic (general) chemistry, 2 semesters of organic chemistry, 1 semester of biochemistry, and 2 semesters of physics. The core courses listed below make up NYU’s version of the standard premedical curriculum. In addition, several medical schools may require further courses, which you can select from the optional courses section below.
Core Courses
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
Notes/Pre-requisites |
MATH-UA 9 |
Algebra and Calculus |
4 credits |
IF NEEDED |
MATH-UA 121 |
Calculus I |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: MATH-UA 9, SAT/ACT score, or successful completion of NYU's math placement exam |
CHEM-UA 125 |
General Chemistry I w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: MATH-UA 9, SAT/ACT score, or successful completion of NYU's math placement exam |
CHEM-UA 126 |
General Chemistry II w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 125 |
CHEM-UA 225 |
Organic Chemistry I w/lab |
5 credits | Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 126 |
CHEM-UA 226 |
Organic Chemistry II w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 225 |
BIOL-UA 11 |
Principles of Biology I |
4 credits |
Co-requisite or Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 125 Prerequisite: MATH-UA 9, SAT/ACT score, or successful completion of NYU's math placement exam |
BIOL-UA 12 |
Principles of Biology II |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: BIOL-UA 11 |
BIOL-UA 123 |
Principles of Biology Lab |
1 credit |
Co-requisite: BIOL-UA 12 |
PHYS-UA 11 |
General Physics I w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: MATH-UA 121 |
PHYS-UA 12 |
General Physics II w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: PHYS-UA 11 |
CHEM-UA 881 |
Biochemistry I |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 226 |
ADDITIONAL / OPTIONAL COURSES:
Additionally, some schools may require additional courses, particularly in mathematics, physical science, or the social and behavioral sciences. You should familiarize yourself with the requirements for those schools to which you think you may apply. The best source for this information is the Medical Schools Admissions Requirements (MSAR) which is published by the AAMC.
The MCAT has an interdisciplinary section entitled Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior that will cover topics from the behavioral sciences. Statistical reasoning and critical thinking will be incorporated into all sections of the MCAT. Although medical schools generally do not require these additional/optional courses (see below), exposure is highly recommended for the MCAT. For complete information, please visit the AAMC website.
Optional Courses
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
Notes/Pre-requisites |
PSYCH-UA 1 |
Introduction to Psychology |
4 credits |
|
SOC-UA 1 |
Introduction to Sociology |
4 credits |
|
PSYCH-UA 10 |
Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences |
4 credits |
|
|
Sample Plan: Fall Start
Fall I |
Spring I |
||
General Chemistry I Principles of Biology I |
General Chemistry II Principles of Biology II Principles of Biology Lab Calculus I (if needed) |
||
Summer Session I |
Summer Session II |
||
Organic Chemistry I |
Organic Chemistry II |
||
Fall II |
Spring II |
||
Biochemistry I (or Organic Chem I) & General Physics I |
General Physics II (Organic Chem II) & MCAT exam |
||
Summer II, Fall III and Spring III |
|||
Glide year (Biochemistry I) Continue expanding your knowledge and experience through additional coursework, clinical, and research work. |
Dentist
Dentist (DDS)
The ADEA recommends a core grouping of courses that all predental students should take: 2 semesters of college writing or English, 1 semester of calculus, 2 semesters of biology, 2 semesters of inorganic (general) chemistry, 2 semesters of organic chemistry, and 2 semesters of physics. The core courses listed below make up NYU’s version of the standard predental curriculum. In addition, several dental schools may require further courses, which you can select from the “Optional courses” section below.
Core Courses
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
|
MATH-UA 9 |
Algebra and Calculus |
4 credits |
IF NEEDED |
MATH-UA 121 |
Calculus I |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: MATH-UA 9, SAT/ACT score, or successful completion of NYU's math placement exam |
CHEM-UA 125 |
General Chemistry I w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: MATH-UA 9, SAT/ACT score, or successful completion of NYU's math placement exam |
CHEM-UA 126 |
General Chemistry II w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 125 |
CHEM-UA 225 |
Organic Chemistry I w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 126 |
CHEM-UA 226 |
Organic Chemistry II w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 225 |
BIOL-UA 11 |
Principles of Biology I |
4 credits |
Co-requisite or Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 125 Prerequisite: MATH-UA 9, SAT/ACT score, or successful completion of NYU's math placement exam |
BIOL-UA 12 |
Principles of Biology II |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: BIOL-UA 11 |
BIOL-UA 123 |
Principles of Biology Lab |
1 credit |
Co-requisite: BIOL-UA 12 |
PHYS-UA 11 |
General Physics I w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: MATH-UA 121 |
PHYS-UA 12 |
General Physics II w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: PHYS-UA 11 |
Optional courses: It is highly recommended for students to take Biochemistry (CHEM-UA 881). Some schools may require additional courses, particularly in mathematics and/or biochemistry. You should familiarize yourself with the requirements for those schools to which you think you may apply. The best source for this information is the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).
Optional Courses
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
Notes/Pre-requisites |
CHEM-UA 881 |
Biochemistry I |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 226 |
CHEM-UA 882 |
Biochemistry II |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 881 |
Sample Plan: Fall Start
Fall I |
Spring I |
||
General Chemistry I Principles of Biology I |
General Chemistry II Principles of Biology II Principles of Biology Lab Calculus I (if needed) |
||
Summer I, Session I |
Summer I, Session II |
||
Organic Chemistry I |
Organic Chemistry II |
||
Fall II |
Spring II |
||
General Physics I & Biochemistry I |
General Physics II & DAT prep |
||
Summer II, Fall III and Spring III |
|||
DAT exam Glide year Continue expanding your knowledge and experience through additional coursework, clinical, and research work. |
Veterinarian
Veterinarian (DVM)
The core grouping of courses that all preveterinary students should take is as follows: 2 semesters of college writing or English, 2 semesters of biology, 2 semesters of inorganic (general) chemistry, 2 semesters of organic chemistry, and 2 semesters of physics. The core courses listed below make up NYU’s version of the standard preveterinary curriculum. In addition, several veterinary schools may require further courses, which you can select from the “Optional courses” section below.
Core Courses
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
Notes/Pre-requisites |
CHEM-UA 125 |
General Chemistry I w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: MATH-UA 9, SAT/ACT score, or successful completion of NYU's math placement exam |
CHEM-UA 126 |
General Chemistry II w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 125 |
CHEM-UA 225 |
Organic Chemistry I w/lab |
5 credits | Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 126 |
CHEM-UA 226 |
Organic Chemistry II w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 225 |
BIOL-UA 11 |
Principles of Biology I |
4 credits |
Co-requisite or Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 125 Prerequisite: MATH-UA 9, SAT/ACT score, or successful completion of NYU's math placement exam |
BIOL-UA 12 |
Principles of Biology II |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: BIOL-UA 11 |
BIOL-UA 123 |
Principles of Biology Lab |
1 credit |
Co-requisite: BIOL-UA 12 |
PHYS-UA 11 |
General Physics I w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: MATH-UA 121 |
PHYS-UA 12 |
General Physics II w/lab |
5 credits |
Prerequisite: PHYS-UA 11 |
Optional courses: In addition to the core courses, some programs may also require courses in Biochemistry, Animal Biology, Animal Nutrition, Genetics, Vertebrate Embryology, Cellular Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Zoology, or Systemic Physiology. Mathematics requirements may be nonexistent or include Calculus, Statistics, College Algebra, Trigonometry, or Precalculus. Most schools also have requirements in English, Social Sciences, and Humanities. See below for some of the most common courses as offered at NYU.
Optional Courses
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
Notes/Pre-requisites |
CHEM-UA 881 |
Biochemistry I |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 226 |
CHEM-UA 881 |
Biochemistry II |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: CHEM-UA 881 |
BIOL-UA 21 |
Molecular and Cell Biology I |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: BIOL-UA 11, BIOL-UA 12, CHEM-UA 125, and CHEM-UA 126 |
BIOL-UA 23 |
Vertebrate Anatomy |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: BIOL-UA 21 |
BIOL-UA 25 |
Principles of Animal Physiology |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: BIOL-UA 21 |
BIOL-UA 30 |
Genetics |
4 credits |
Co-requisite: BIOL-UA 21 Prerequisite: BIOL-UA 11 and BIOL-UA 12 |
BIOL-UA 44 |
Microbiology and Microbial Genomics |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: BIOL-UA 21 |
BIOL-UA 50 |
Immunology |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: BIOL-UA 21 |
MCC-UE 1805 |
Public Speaking |
4 credits |
|
MATH-UA 9 |
Algebra and Calculus |
4 credits |
IF NEEDED |
MATH-UA 121 |
Calculus I |
4 credits |
Prerequisite: MATH-UA 9, SAT/ACT score, or successful completion of NYU's math placement exam |
PSYCH-UA 10 |
Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences |
4 credits |
Sample Plan: Fall Start
Fall I |
Spring I |
||
General Chemistry I Principles of Biology I |
General Chemistry II Principles of Biology II Principles of Biology Lab Calculus I (if needed) |
||
Summer Session I |
Summer Session II |
||
Organic Chemistry I |
Organic Chemistry II |
||
Fall II |
Spring II |
||
General Physics I (or Organic Chem I) |
General Physics II (Organic Chem II) & GRE prep |
||
Summer II, Fall III and Spring III |
|||
GRE exam Glide year Continue expanding your knowledge and experience through additional coursework, clinical, and research work. |