Interested in Studying Medicine?

Offering hope and healing to the world around you.

Students interested in a career in healthcare can choose from a range of pre-professional pathways offered by Gardner-Webb. Whether your interests lie in helping people get back on their feet, providing care and attention to animals, or another area of healthcare, Gardner-Webb provides the first step.

Think about what kind of future appeals to you. Do you like challenges? Are you interested in science and how the body works? Do you care deeply about other people, their problems, and their pain? Are you a good listener? Do you enjoy learning? Are you intrigued by the ways medicine can be used to improve life?

If you answered “Yes” to most of these questions, chances are you have the right personality for a career in medicine. Talk to a career counselor or pre-health advisor to learn more and help determine if this is the right choice for you.

Gardner-Webb University’s Pre-Professional Pre-Med track will guide you through a curriculum selection within your major ideally suited to prepare you for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and the varying requirements of medical schools.

Curriculum

What will I study?

The Pre-Healthcare Pathway is not a major; rather, it is a carefully designed plan intended to prepare you to achieve your unique academic and career goals.

Professional program requirements vary widely, especially with regard to advanced biology courses and English requirements. Be sure to check all graduate programs you are considering applying to early during your undergraduate studies for specific prerequisites needed to apply to that school’s program.

Within Gardner-Webb’s pre-professional employment track, you will want to review the Biology Biomedical Sciences Concentration, Chemistry Pre-Health Professional Concentration, Biochemistry Major, and the Exercise Science Pre-Professional Concentration four-year plan as a guide to preparing for Medical School.

The most common prerequisite courses include:

  • BIOL 111: General Biology
  • BIOL 422: Biochemistry
  • CHEM 111: General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 112: General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 201: Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 202: Organic Chemistry II
  • PHYS 203: General Physics I (or PHYS 111)
  • PHYS 204: General Physics II (or PHYS 112)
  • MATH 105: Statistics
  • MATH 151: Calculus
  • ENGL 101: Composition I
  • ENGL 102: Composition II
  • EXSI 345: Healthcare Ethics
  • COMM 233: Public Speaking
  • PSYC 201: General Psychology
  • SOCI 201: Introduction to Sociology

Additional information, including descriptions of specific courses and their corresponding credit hours, is available in the Academic Catalog.

Next Steps

Medical School Admissions

  1. Review information at aamc.org to learn how best to prepare for medical school, about preparing for and taking the MCAT, and about the medical school application process.
  2. Complete the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) during the calendar year prior to the year you plan to enter medical school.
  3. Register for an American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®) account and submit a primary application (including transcripts, recommendation letters, MCAT® scores, and essays).
  4. Submit additional materials requested by specific medical schools in the secondary application, and complete in-person interviews.

Outcomes

What are potential career opportunities?

Physicians diagnose and care for people of all ages who are ill or have been injured. They take medical histories, perform physical examinations, conduct diagnostic tests, recommend and provide treatment, and advise patients on their overall health and well-being. While there are several different types of physicians, they can usually be divided into three broad categories:

Primary care physicians are the doctors patients usually visit most frequently. They treat a wide range of illnesses and regularly provide preventive care, and they also enjoy long-term relationships with their patients. Pediatricians, family practitioners and general internists are primary care physicians.

Surgeons perform operations to treat diseases and repair injuries.

Specialists have expertise related to specific diseases as well as body parts, organs, and systems. Cardiologists, oncologists, neurologists, and ophthalmologists are examples of specialists. The AAMC’s Careers in Medicine website contains information about various specialties in medicine.

The AAMC’s Careers in Medicine website contains information about various specialties in medicine.

Ready to take the next step?

Apply Now
Selected
Gardner-Webb’s greatest asset is that it is replete with a group of professors and staff who are invested in their students, want to see them excel and go to great lengths to see it happen."
— Dr. Taylor Ferrier, Chemistry '08
Selected
The classes I took as prerequisites for medical school were very important for the building blocks of my medical education. Not only were they important for my entrance exams into medical school, but anatomy, physiology, and microbiology are continued themes."
— Danielle Marshall, Exercise Science '12
Selected
The professors poured their time and energy into our education. They want to teach and interact with students. They didn’t just teach me information for a test, they invested in my life and my personal development."
— Dr. Tyler Beckler, Biology '13

14%

projected growth of healthcare occupations from 2018 to 2028

$68K

median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations