Academic Requirements
Coursework Requirements
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While it’s important to research and find out exactly what your specific school is looking for, many schools have a common set of courses that are required for entry. Despite what you may have been told, a science degree is not required for entry into most professional schools.
Choose a major you enjoy that will allow you to excel and maintain a great GPA. Below are the standard coursework requirements for applying to medical school. Other professional programs may have different requirements.
| Coursework requirement | Semester credit hours | TWU course/s that meet requirement | Date completed | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 12 lecture + 2 lab |
BIOL1113/BIOL1111 |
||
| General Chemistry | 6 lecture + 2 lab |
CHEM1113/CHEM1111 |
||
| Organic Chemistry | 6 lecture + 2 lab |
CHEM2213/CHEM2211 |
||
| Biochemistry | 3 lecture | CHEM3633 | ||
| Physics | 6 lecture + 2 lab |
PHYS1133/PHYS1131 |
||
| Statistics | 3 lecture | MATH1703 or MATH4013 or PSY2303 |
||
| English | 6 lecture | Any two ENG courses | ||
| Recommended for MCAT preparation: | ||||
| Psychology | 3 lecture | PSY1013 | ||
| Sociology | 3 lecture | SOCI1013 | ||
To be considered for admission to professional school, a total of 90 semester hours of undergraduate work in a fully-accredited college in the United States must be completed prior to enrollment. It is your responsibility to check each school's admissions requirements to ensure that your coursework will fulfill the required pre-requisites. Science courses for non-science majors are not applicable to departmental/major requirements.
View the TMDSAS prescribed course listing for Texas Woman’s University>>
GPAs for Professional School
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Students admitted to professional schools have a strong track record of academic success. A high GPA assures professional programs that you have the knowledge base and academic skills to succeed in fast-paced, graduate-level science courses.
Professional programs calculate your GPA based on all college-level courses you have taken. This includes all TWU courses, and also dual-credit, community college, and other transfer courses. It also includes any courses you have had to retake; professional schools DO NOT replace grades in your GPA. Every course counts!
| Program | Average Overall GPA | Average Science (BCPM) GPA |
|---|---|---|
| MD/DO (Texas) | 3.80 | 3.65 |
| Dental | 3.75 | 3.65 |
| PA | 3.60 | 3.50 |
| Pharmacy | 3.30 | 3.15 |
| Veterinary | 3.60 | 3.50 |
Data from TMDSAS, ADEA, PAEA, AAVM, and AACP annual matriculant reports.
GPA Distribution of TMDSAS Matriculants
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Entrance Exams
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Many health-professions programs require applicants to take a standardized exam as part of their admissions process. The exam is another opportunity for you to demonstrate your content knowledge and academic skills.
An exam like the MCAT, DAT, or GRE is very challenging, and simply completing college courses is not enough to prepare you for the exam. Plan to study for a minimum of four-six months before taking your exam. Be sure you know the exam content and format, and take lots of practice exams to track your progress.
Table A-23: MCAT and GPA Grid for Applicants and Acceptees
Average exam scores for students accepted to professional programs
| Program | Exam | Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| MD/DO (Texas) | MCAT | 511.5 |
| Dental | DAT | AA: 20.7 PA: 20.5 S: 20.4 |
| PA | GRE | Q: 153.1 V: 153.7 A: 4.1 |
| Pharmacy | PCAT | 409 |
| Veterinary | GRE | Q: 156.0 V: 154.0 A: 4.1 |
Data from TMDSAS, ADEA, PAEA, AAVM, and AACP annual matriculant reports.
MCAT Distribution of TMDSAS Matriculants
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Data drawn from the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service website at tmdsas.com.
Page last updated 10:35 AM, February 8, 2023