Unc Premed

Prerequisite, BIOL 202. Fundamentals of cell structure and activity in relation to special functions, metabolism, reproduction, embryogenesis, with an introduction to the experimental analysis of cell physiology and development.

Premed/Health Science Courses

ONLINE. Open to all undergraduates. Prerequisite to most higher courses in Biology. An introduction to the fundamental principles of biology, including cell structure, chemistry and function, genetics, evolution, adaptation, and ecology

BIOL 101L Introductory Biology Laboratory (1)

ONLINE. Prerequisite or co-requisite, BIOL 101. An examination of the fundamental concepts in biology with emphasis on scientific inquiry. Biological systems are analyzed through experimentation, dissection, and observation.

BIOL 201 Ecology and Evolution (4)

Prerequisites, grade of C or better in BIOL 101 and CHEM 101 or CHEM 102. Principles governing the ecology and evolution of populations, communities, and ecosystems, including speciation, population genetics, population regulation, and community and ecosystem structure and dynamics.

BIOL 202 Molecular Biology and Genetics (4)

ONLINE. Prerequisites, grade of C or better in BIOL 101 and CHEM 101 or CHEM 102. Structure and function of nucleic acids, principles of inheritance, gene expression, and genetic engineering.

BIOL 205 Cellular and Developmental Biology (4)

Prerequisite, BIOL 202. Fundamentals of cell structure and activity in relation to special functions, metabolism, reproduction, embryogenesis, with an introduction to the experimental analysis of cell physiology and development.

BIOL 252 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology (3)

Prerequisites, BIOL 101 and 101L. One Biology course over 200 recommended. An introductory course emphasizing the relationship between and function of the body’s organ systems.

BIOL 252L Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory (1)

Prerequisite, BIOL 101 and 101L; co-requisite, BIOL 252. Permission of the instructor for students lacking the pre- or co-requisite. Organ level human structure and function.
CHEM 101 General Descriptive Chemistry I (3)
Prerequisite, MATH 110. The first course in a two-semester sequenceSee also CHEM 102. Atomic and molecular structure, stoichiometry and conservation of mass, thermochemical changes, and conservation of energy.

CHEM 101 General Descriptive Chemistry I (3)

Prerequisite, MATH 110. The first course in a two-semester sequenceSee also CHEM 102. Atomic and molecular structure, stoichiometry and conservation of mass, thermochemical changes, and conservation of energy.

CHEM 101L Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I (1)

Pre- or co-requisite, CHEM 101. Computerized data collection, scientific measurement, sensors, thermochemistry, spectroscopy, and conductometric titration. Laptop computer required.

CHEM 241 Modern Analytical Methods for Separation and Characterization (2)

Analytical separations, chromatographic methods, spectrophotometry, acid-base equilibria and titrations, fundamentals of electrochemistry.

CHEM 241L Laboratory in Separations and Analytical Characterization of Organic and Biological Compounds (1)

Prerequisites, CHEM 102L; pre- or corequisite, CHEM 241 or 241H. Applications of separation and spectrophotometric techniques to organic compounds, including some of biological interest. Students may not receive credit for both CHEM 241L and CHEM 245L.

CHEM 261 Introduction to Organic Chemistry I (3)

Prerequisite, CHEM 102 or 102H. C- or better required in prerequisite. Molecular structure and its determination by modern physical methods, correlation between structure and reactivity and the theoretical basis for these relationships, classification of reaction types exhibited by organic molecules using as examples molecules of biological importance.

CHEM 262 Introduction to Organic Chemistry II (3)

Prerequisite, CHEM 261 or 261H. C- or better required in prerequisite. Continuation of CHEM 261, with particular emphasis on the chemical properties of organic molecules of biological importance.

CHEM 262L Laboratory in Organic Chemistry (1)

Prerequisites, CHEM 102L, and CHEM 241L or 245L; pre- or corequisite, CHEM 262 or 262H. Continuation of CHEM 241L or 245L with particular emphasis on organic chemistry synthesis protocols, separation techniques, and compound characterization using modern spectroscopic instrumentation. This course serves as an organic chemistry laboratory for premedical and predental students. Students may not receive credit for both CHEM 262L and CHEM 263L.

Second Session, 2022

BIOL 101 Principles of Biology (3)

ONLINE. Open to all undergraduates. Prerequisite to most higher courses in Biology. An introduction to the fundamental principles of biology, including cell structure, chemistry and function, genetics, evolution, adaptation, and ecology.

BIOL 101L Introductory Biology Laboratory (1)

Prerequisite or co-requisite, BIOL 101. An examination of the fundamental concepts in Biology with emphasis on scientific inquiry. Biological systems are analyzed through experimentation, dissection, and observation.

BIOL 201 Ecology and Evolution (4)

ONLINE. Prerequisites, grade of C or better in BIOL 101 and CHEM 101 or CHEM 102. Principles governing the ecology and evolution of populations, communities, and ecosystems, including speciation, population genetics, population regulation, and community and ecosystem structure and dynamics.

BIOL 202 Molecular Biology and Genetics (4)

Prerequisites, grade of C or better in BIOL 101 and CHEM 101 or CHEM 102. Structure and function of nucleic acids, principles of inheritance, gene expression, and genetic engineering.

BIOL 205 Cellular and Developmental Biology (4)

Prerequisite, BIOL 202. Fundamentals of cell structure and activity in relation to special functions, metabolism, reproduction, embryogenesis, with an introduction to the experimental analysis of cell physiology and development.

BIOL 252 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology (3)

Prerequisites, BIOL 101 and 101L. One Biology course over 200 recommended. An introductory course emphasizing the relationship between and function of the body’s organ systems.

BIOL 252L Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory (1)

Prerequisites, BIOL 101 and 101L; co-requisite, BIOL 252. Permission of the instructor for students lacking the pre- or co-requisite. Organ level human structure and function.

BIOL 253 Advanced Anatomy and Physiology (3)

Prerequisites, BIOL 252 and 252L; co-requisite, BIOL 253L. In-depth study of physiological mechanisms at molecular, cellular, and system levels of organization. Students will develop analytical and problem solving skills.

BIOL 253L Advanced Anatomy and Physiology Lab (1)

Prerequisites, BIOL 252 and 252L; co-requisite, BIOL 253. In-depth study of physiological mechanisms by hands-on experimentation. Students gain experience in collecting, analyzing, and presenting human physiological data.

CHEM 102 General Descriptive Chemistry II (3)

Prerequisites, CHEM 101 and 101L. C- or better required in CHEM 101. The course is the second in a two-semester sequence. See also CHEM 101. Gases, intermolecular forces, solutions, reaction rates, chemical equilibria including acid-base chemistry, thermochemistry, electrochemistry.

CHEM 102L Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II (1)

Prerequisite, CHEM 101L. Pre- or co-requisite, CHEM 102 or 102H. Computerized data collection, gas laws, intermolecular forces, redox reactions, chemical kinetics, and acid-base titrations. Laptop computer required.

CHEM 262 Introduction to Organic Chemistry II (3)

Prerequisite, CHEM 261 or 261H. C- or better required in prerequisite. Continuation of CHEM 261, with particular emphasis on the chemical properties of organic molecules of biological importance.

CHEM 262L Laboratory in Organic Chemistry (1)

Prerequisites, CHEM 102L, and CHEM 241L or 245L; pre- or corequisite, CHEM 262 or 262H. Continuation of CHEM 241L or 245L with particular emphasis on organic chemistry synthesis protocols, separation techniques, and compound characterization using modern spectroscopic instrumentation. This course serves as an organic chemistry laboratory for premedical and predental students. Students may not receive credit for both CHEM 262L and CHEM 263L.

Resources

Summer School
134 E. Franklin Street
CB# 3340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3340

Phone: (919) 966-4364
Fax: (919) 962-2752

How to Succeed as a UNC Premed

Everything you need to know about premed at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, including UNC premed requirements and the best premed extracurriculars

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: UNC premed requirements

Part 3: UNC premed extracurriculars

Part 4: Getting into medical school from UNC

Part 1: Introduction

Students flock to the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill due to its beautiful campus, great basketball team, and, of course, stellar academic reputation.

Many of those students enter UNC with the eventual goal of going to medical school to become physicians. Due to its strong academic coursework, connection with the nationally ranked UNC Medical Center, and bounty of opportunities for healthcare-based extracurricular activities, UNC was rated by College Magazine as one of the top-10 universities for premed students.

UNC–Chapel Hill is also one of the top colleges in the country for producing premeds. With 500–600 students applying to medical school annually, at the beginning of your first year you probably feel like everyone else at UNC is a premed, too.

There are a number of challenges facing UNC premeds: the course requirements can be challenging to navigate, the required premed science classes are tough and often feel like “weed out” classes, and there are so many different extracurricular and community service activities that it can be hard to know which ones to choose.

Plus, college is a time to have fun! With so many clubs to try out, non-premed classes to take, and, of course, basketball games to attend, it can feel overwhelming to balance premed life with everything else. Unfortunately, not everyone can handle these stressors, and many aspiring premeds end up giving up on their goal of becoming a doctor.

We want to help you stand out among the crowd of UNC premeds and make it to the finish line: enrolling in medical school. That’s why we created this guide in which we discuss everything you need to know as a UNC premed: what premed classes to take, when to take the MCAT, how to get involved in extracurricular activities that will help you stand out on your med school applications, and how to apply to med school as a UNC premed, including information on in-state medical schools.

Part 2: UNC premed requirements

First up: let’s talk about what classes you need to take as a UNC premed.

UNC Health Professions Advising has a helpful website that provides information for pre-health students. They give an explanation of which classes are required for medical schools and which UNC courses fulfill each category. Although different medical schools may have slightly different requirements, these guidelines should cover the overwhelming majority of U.S. allopathic (MD) medical schools, as well as prepare you for the MCAT.

One unique aspect of UNC premed is that Organic Chemistry I (Chem 261) does not have a lab component. So, in order to fulfill the medical school requirement of two semesters of organic chemistry lab, UNC students must take Analytical Chemistry and its required lab (Chem 241/L). The Analytical Chemistry lab is a prerequisite for Organic Chemistry II Lab (Chem 262L).

Sample UNC premed two-year course plan

As a UNC premed, there are a number of ways that you can complete your premed requirements. Below, we will provide a sample course plan for a typical UNC premed, but remember that there are many things that may make your specific path unique.

For example, many students enter their first year at UNC with credits already earned from AP courses or community college courses prior to enrollment. Although many medical schools will not accept AP credits for admissions requirements, by having credit for entry-level chemistry or biology classes, you can take upper-level courses earlier in your college career.

You may have noticed that UNC has two course series which cover the physics requirements. Physics 114 and 115 (General Physics I and II: For Students of the Life Sciences) are targeted towards biology majors or pre-health students not majoring in chemistry, physics, or math. Physics 118 and 119 are calculus-based physics courses which, fittingly, require calculus (Math 231/232) as prerequisites and are generally targeted to students majoring in physics, chemistry, or math.

Be sure to talk to academic advisors to create a personalized academic plan. In addition, here’s some general advice on want to think about when mapping out your individual courses:

• Graduation requirements. General education requirements for UNC–Chapel Hill include Foundations, Approaches, Connections, as well as your major requirements. The UNC Academic Advising website provides information on these general education requirements.
• Requirements for your major. Some of your premed courses may also complete major requirements, but you’ll need to check with your specific department to ensure that you meet your major graduation requirements. The Advising Office in the College of Arts and Sciences has helpful worksheets for each major to help you plan your courses. If you plan to apply into a major that requires prerequisites (like Gillings School of Public Health majors or business majors within Kenan Flagler), you’ll also need to coordinate your prerequisites for those applications prior to your sophomore year.
• When you plan to take the MCAT. You will want to finish all your prerequisite courses (including biochemistry!) before sitting for the MCAT.
• What you plan to do with your summer terms. Summer can be a great time to pursue internships or get experience shadowing. Other students use that time to focus on challenging courses. You’ll want to think about how you may use your summer terms when you’re picking your class schedule.

As a template, here is one way that you might distribute your premed requirements during your first two years, assuming you’re applying to med school straight out of UNC and will take the MCAT by your junior year fall:

How to maintain a high GPA as a UNC premed

Doing well in your premed courses will help bolster your medical school application and prepare you for the academic challenges of medical school and studying for the MCAT. However, UNC is known for its difficult academics, and many of the entry-level science courses that are required for medical school are graded on a strict curve and are infamously “weed out classes” that can ruin premed students’ GPAs.

We don’t need to tell you that maintaining a high GPA is very important for medical school. A low GPA (below 3.5, generally speaking) is one of the most common reasons for students to fail to be accepted to medical school or give up before even applying.

It can be especially challenging to jump into science courses as a first year since you’re also adjusting to college and the new study habits required to succeed academically at the university level.

Here is some advice to prepare you for academic success as a UNC premed:

• Don’t bite off more than you can chew! Especially when you’re first starting college, try to give yourself some breathing room in your coursework. Don’t sign up for an unnecessarily difficult course load just to impress adcoms. Give yourself some time to adjust to college and know your extracurricular commitments.
• Know you’ll need to study a lot! Even if schoolwork came pretty easily to you in high school, you may need to adjust your study habits in order to succeed as a UNC premed.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. UNC has several formal advising resources for premed students including Health Professions Advising and general academic advising. You can also reach out to older students and other premeds to get information on classes and professors. Try to be proactive in reaching out for help instead of waiting until the last possible minute.
• Research your classes before enrolling. At such a big school, different sections of the same course can make for a very different experience depending on the professor and TAs. UNC’s Reddit community and Rate My Professor are good resources to research specific courses and professors.
• Take advantage of office hours, TA sessions, and peer tutoring. All of the large premed required courses have formal office hours and TA review sessions incorporated. There are also designated peer tutors for all the main science classes. These are students who recently took the class (and did well!) who can help you learn what’s important in the material and how best to study for your exams. Be sure to take advantage of these resources to learn the material (and get to know your professors, so you can build relationships that will help you with letters of recommendation).
• Plan which courses you’ll take which semester in advance. Try to space out the most challenging classes. See above for advice on organizing your premed courses.

What’s the best premed major at UNC?

Because of the heavy science course requirements for medical school, many premeds think that they need to have a science major in order to be prepared for medical school. In actuality, though, there’s no consistent best major for premeds. The best premed major for you is one that allows you to complete your premed coursework while still studying something you’re interested in.

While no major provides a clear advantage in medical school admissions, science majors such as biology, chemistry, or biochemistry can provide a good foundation for studying for and succeeding on the MCAT.

At UNC, the most popular majors overall are biology, media and journalism, psychology, business administration, computer science, and exercise and sports science. Similarly, the biological sciences are the most popular majors for premeds across the country.

UNC premeds, like premeds nationally, are most likely to major in biological or physical sciences. However, UNC premeds can also major in English, geography, public health, history, Spanish, and other non-science disciplines.

To choose the right premed major, ask yourself these three main questions:

• Does it interest you?
• Will you be able to maintain a high GPA?
• Will you be able to complete your premed courses alongside your major courses?

When should you take the MCAT?

The short answer is: the best time to take the MCAT is as soon as you are well-prepared and have mastered your prerequisite courses. The longer answer depends on several factors, including when you are planning to apply to medical school and when you have time to devote to studying for this notoriously difficult test.

If you’re planning to go straight to medical school after graduating from undergrad (meaning you’re not interested in taking a gap year), the best time to take the MCAT is in the fall of your junior year. This allows you time to take all the necessary prerequisite courses and devote time over the summer beforehand to studying. As an insurance policy, it also gives you enough time that you can retake the exam if you don’t score in your target range.

Even though there are a number of study resources and tutoring options available to prepare for the MCAT, nothing can replace a solid foundation in the subject matter. For this reason, it is critical that you take the MCAT after you have already completed the following essential courses at UNC:

• Biology 101, 252/L or 474/L, and 202
• Chemistry 101, 102, 241, 261, 262, and 430
• Physics 114 and 115 (or Physics 118 and 119)

Many students want to take biochemistry (Chemistry 430) after their MCAT since it can be difficult to schedule prior to junior year without taking summer classes. We definitely recommend against that, as biochemistry material can be very challenging—especially to self-teach—and it makes up about 25 percent of the C/P and B/B sections.

We also generally recommend taking the introductory Psychology 101 and Sociology 101 courses prior to taking the MCAT, as the material is included. These courses, however, can be self-taught , so with a good period of dedicated study, you may be able to take the MCAT without them. Be sure to do multiple practice tests prior to exam day to know your level of preparation.