You don’t need a BS. You just need to have taken a med school’s required list of courses. You should check each med school for their specific list, but most are VERY similar to each other. Here’s Harvard’s list as an example:

General Comments Regarding Course Requirements

The Committee on Admissions considers the level of courses when evaluating academic performance and determining a candidates suitability for medicine. We require a strong preparation in the sciences and mathematics basic to medical school studies. Candidates should take courses that are comparable to courses taken by students majoring in these subjects.

In the final analysis, however, it is not the number of years in college or hours in a course, but the quality of education and the maturity of the student which determine readiness for medical school. At least three years of college work and a baccalaureate degree are required prior to matriculation in medical school.

# Required Course 1. Biology: one year with laboratory experience. Courses taken should deal with the cellular and molecular aspects as well as the structure and function of living organisms. Advanced placement credits cannot be used to satisfy this requirement; upper level courses should be taken if granted advanced placement credits.

# 2. Chemistry: two years with laboratory experience. Full year courses in general (or inorganic) and organic chemistry generally meet this requirement. A one semester course in organic chemistry which covers the relevant material supplemented by a semester course in biochemistry may substitute for the traditional year of organic chemistry. We will consider other options that adequately prepare students for the study of biochemistry and molecular biology in medical school. Advanced placement credits which enable a student to take an upper level course may be used to meet one semester of this requirement.

# 3. Physics: one year. Advanced placement credits which enable a student to take an upper level course may be used to meet one semester of this requirement.

# 4. Mathematics: one year of calculus. Advanced placement credits may satisfy this requirement (Calculus AB – 1 semester, Calculus BC – 2 semesters). A course in statistics does not meet this requirement.

# 5. Expository Writing: one year. Writing skills are important for the study and practice of medicine. This requirement may be met with any non-science courses that involve substantial experience in expository writing. Advanced placement credits cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.

# 6. Additional requirements for the HST Program: Requirements are the same as above except that calculus including differential equations and one year of calculus-based physics in college are required. A course in biochemistry is strongly encouraged before matriculation.

We will consider other course formats or combinations that are sponsored by the undergraduate institution attended and provide equivalent preparation. When advanced placement credits used to satisfy portions of the chemistry, physics, or mathematics requirements noted above, scores from the AP examination must be submitted prior to matriculation. If these credits are not shown on the college transcript, either the scores from the placement examination or a letter from the chairperson of the respective department certifying that the student has met the requirement in question must be submitted. If there is doubt about the suitability of advanced placement credits, you should contact the Faculty Associate Dean for Admissions for approval before final admissions decisions are made in February.

Recommended Courses

We encourage candidates to complete at least 16 hours in literature, languages, the arts, humanities, and the social sciences and become familiar with computers. We also recommend honors courses and independent study or research, as they offer in-depth exploration of an area of knowledge.

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Most people who go to medical school get a B.S. in biology, chemistry, or biochemistry. However you can get in with either a B.A. or a B.S. You can major in anything you want to and go to medical school. Statistics show that your major has very little correlation with whether you get in or not:

http://www.knox.edu/statistics.xml

You do need to take certain courses to get into medical school. Minimum college course requirements to get into most U.S. medical schools include one year of each:

Biology

General (inorganic) chemistry

Organic chemistry

Physics

Related lab work for each science course

In addition, many schools require English and math courses.

This information from : http://www.mommd.com/admissionreq.shtml

Many schools will have arcane special course requirements, so you must research the schools you are interested in to make sure you have the courses they want.

Other links:

http://gradschool.about.com/od/medicalschool/Medical_School_Resources_for_Applications_and_Students.htm

http://www.washington.edu/students/ugrad/advising/gpamcat.pdf

Source:

I am a medical doctor.

A B.A. works too… a little known fact is that you don’t even have to have a bachelor’s degree to apply, only 90 hours of coursework (which basically means you just ended being a junior in college). As long as you have taken the required classes, no matter what you’re degree/major is, you’re fine.

It all depends upon the medical school for which you are applying. Some require it (ie, Univ of IA), but some do not (ie, Univ of AL). In IA, 120 hrs of course work are necessary to obtain a BS and be eligible to apply to medical school at Univ of IA. Medical schools NOT REQUIRING a BS, require as little as 90 credit hours prior to acceptance. It is IMPORTANT to research your schools of choice to insure ALL required courses, MCAT scores, letters of reference, volunteer and shadowing in a clinical environment, etc., are met. Just make sure the courses taken in the bachelor program are among the required prerequisite courses for medical school admittance. It is possible to have a BS and still have to take additional courses to fulfill the prerequisite requirements for medical school. Hope this helps!!!

Any undergraduate degree is fine. You just have to take certain classes like calculus, organic chemistry, etc. along with whatever you’re majoring in.

I would think you would need a B.S.