Curriculum

In preparation for medical school, post-baccalaureate students complete the required science coursework and share the many resources available at Johns Hopkins. The core requirements for most medical schools include two semesters each of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, all with accompanying labs. To complement the core curriculum, post-baccalaureate students also take Introduction to Clinical Medicine, a class designed for and taught exclusively to them. 

In order to gain clinical and research experience, students enroll in tutorials with faculty members at the School of Medicine. Students may also take advanced level and elective courses, often at the School of Public Health, and may participate in volunteer activities. We also offer an MCAT preparation course tailored to our students' needs.

The flexibility of the program and the vast array of offerings at Johns Hopkins allow us to customize each student’s program of study. In turn, our students acquire the strongest possible preparation for medical school, taking into consideration their interests, completion of required science courses, relevant electives, and medical experience. With this knowledge, the program director maps out a detailed plan of courses for each student to complement his or her background.

A full year of calculus is also required to complete the program. Our Physics Department feels strongly that calculus is the language of physics, thus it is required to complete our physics sequence. Prospective applicants who have not taken Calculus I are strongly encouraged to do so before enrolling in the post-bac program, otherwise it may take extra time to complete the required coursework.

Timetable

Since the curriculum is customized according to each student’s background, there is no set timetable, although most students complete the program within 9 to 14 months. Students wishing to take full advantage of the vast resources at Johns Hopkins, including enrolling in courses at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, may opt to take two lab science courses per semester so that they may avail themselves of the enriching opportunities at the institution. If you majored in a science-related field such as engineering and took some of the required courses with strong grades, you may be accommodated by taking advanced science courses and electives. The individual course of study appropriate for each applicant will be discussed in detail during the interview process.