Admissions
Course Requirements
The premedical course requirements should be completed by the time of application and must be completed before matriculation. These requirements are a total of 32 semester hours or 48 quarter hours of undergraduate science courses:
- Chemistry: 12 semester/18 quarter hours of inorganic, organic, biochemistry or molecular biology courses in any combination.
- Physics: 4 semester/6 quarter hours.
- Biology: 8 semester/12 quarter hours.
- Other: ("open" science subjects) 8 semester/12 quarter hours in any of the above three categories.
Essential Content of Pre-Med Courses in Molecular Biology/Biochemistry
As part of or in addition to the above courses, the transcripts of applicants must include courses with the following content:
Molecular Biology
- Know the chemical nature of DNA, RNA, genes, and in general how genes are organized in chromosomes.
- Understand the nature of eukaryotic DNA replication.
- Be familiar with transcription of genes and intron splicing.
- Have an overview of the mechanism of protein synthesis.
- Understand principles of recombinant DNA technology (e.g. restriction endonucleases, PCR, southern blots, transformation).
Proteins and Enzymes
- Understand pH, pKa, and buffers.
- Understand how proteins fold and how ligand binding and enzymatic activity depend upon three-dimensional folding.
- Understand principles of enzyme kinetics (Km, Vmax, competitive inhibition, allostery, and regulation by phosphorylation).
Metabolism
- Understand glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and how ATP is produced by oxidative phosphorylation.
- Understand principles of energetics (e.g. free energy change, equilibrium constants, concentration gradients, and redox potentials).
- Be familiar with how fatty acids are oxidized and synthesized.
- Be familiar with patterns of amino acid catabolism and the urea cycle.
- Understand the nature of phospholipids, lipid bilayers and membranes.
- Have an overview of nucleotide biosynthesis.
General
Under exceptional circumstances, certain course requirements may be waived for individuals who present unusual achievements and academic promise. All candidates must demonstrate substantial academic ability in their major field, as well as in the required science courses.
Candidates should be broadly educated and proficient in the use of the English language and mathematics. They are also expected to have an understanding of personal computing and information technologies.
Completion of three years of course work at an accredited college or university is the minimum required for matriculation; however, most recent entrants have held bachelor's degrees. No specific major is advised.
All candidates are urged to discuss undergraduate credentials and curriculum with premedical advisors at their undergraduate institutions.
The Medical College Admission Test
Applicants must submit scores from a 1995 or later Medical College Admission Test (MCAT); older scores are accepted only when authorized by the Dean. The MCAT customarily is given in the spring and autumn of each year, and must be taken by the autumn of the year preceding the proposed date of enrollment.
Contact Us
WWAMI Medical Education Program
Hours: M–F, 8 am–5 pm
Telephone: 509.358.7517
Fax: 509.358.7627
Email: kmhoffman@wsu.edu
UW Admissions
UW School
of Medicine
Office Of Admissions
Box 356340
Seattle, WA 98195-6340
Phone: 206.543.7212
askuwsom@u.washington.edu