Academic Prerequisites

Overview 

Each of the MEDEX prerequisite courses must be taken as a “standalone” course, separate from any prior certificate training or professional degree program.  

Courses can be taken at any regionally accredited community college or university for a letter grade or grade on a 4.0 scale. This may include some college courses completed online, but applicants should check the accreditation status of the online institution before registering for courses.  

Each prerequisite course must be completed with a B- (2.7) or better (per course).  

All MEDEX prerequisite coursework must be completed by the application deadline.  

  • Prerequisite courses taken autumn quarter, completed after the application deadlines, will not be considered when evaluating prerequisites.  

  • Coursework planned for spring or summer quarter of the upcoming year will not be accepted.  

  • Overall minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher for the last 2 years (90 quarter or 60 semester credits) of coursework  

  • A baccalaureate degree must be completed at a regionally accredited institution and conferred by December 31stof the year in which an application is submitted.  

  • MEDEX is not requiring GRE scores for the 2023-2024 application cycle. Please provide if available. Scores will not be considered in the application process and will be for internal programmatic data-tracking only. 

  • Advanced Placement courses will not meet MEDEX Science and Statistics prerequisites. MEDEX Science and Statistics prerequisites must be taken at the college level. AP Coursework can be used to meet only the MEDEX English requirements when it appears on a college transcript.  

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) English credits may be applied towards the MEDEX English prerequisites. 

  • Prerequisite science course should ideally be completed within the last five (5) to seven (7) years. There is no timeline for the English and Statistics courses. When considering prerequisites, MEDEX uses the most recent qualifying course with the best grade.    

  • English language proficiency (ELP) is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Please visit the UW Graduate School Policy 3.2: Graduate school English Language Proficiency Requirements for more information. Applicants choosing to demonstrate English proficiency with TOEFL must send their official scores to CASPA by the application deadline using the ETS Code #3709. The minimum score accepted on the TOEFL iBT test is a 92. 

Required: 

Two (2) Human Anatomy & Physiology courses – 10 quarter/6 semester credits  

A competitive Human Anatomy & Physiology course should cover the structure and function of the human body. A comprehensive study will provide an in-depth knowledge of the skeletal, muscular, integumentary, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and nervous systems specific to the human body.  

Common courses that meet MEDEX Human A&P prerequisites:  

  • Human Anatomy & Physiology (combined or taken separately)  

  • Anatomy & Physiology for Health Professions  

  • Gross & Micro Anatomy/Physiology  

Common courses that do not meet MEDEX Human A&P prerequisites:  

  • Mammalian Anatomy & Physiology  

  • Vertebrate Anatomy & Physiology  

  • Comparative Anatomy & Physiology  

  • Animal Anatomy & Physiology  

  • Exercise Anatomy (Kinesiology)  

  • Exercise Physiology  

One (1) General Biology course – 5 quarter/3 semester credits  

A competitive General Biology course should cover cell processes and structure, genetics, molecular biology, metabolism, and energetics. Please note: Human Biology courses will only be considered if the course is not a survey Human Anatomy & Physiology course.  

Common courses that meet MEDEX General Biology prerequisites:  

  • General Biology  

  • Cellular Biology  

  • Molecular Biology  

  • Medical Biology  

  • Biology for Health Sciences  

Common courses that do not meet MEDEX General Biology prerequisites:  

  • Animal, Marine, Plant, or Organismal Biology  

  • Environmental Biology  

  • Nutrition  

  • Genetics  

  • Pathophysiology, Immunology, or Epidemiology  

  • Endocrinology or Hematology  

  • Biochemistry  

  • Anatomy & Physiology  

  • Microbiology  

  • Life Sciences  

  • Behavioral & Social Sciences  

One (1) Microbiology course – 5 quarter/3 semester credits  

A competitive Microbiology course should cover the medical aspects of microbial cell structure and function, including their roles in health and disease. Study of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites should be included. An understanding of transmission, immunity, response, control and prevention will be covered in a comprehensive Microbiology course curriculum.  

Common courses that meet MEDEX Microbiology prerequisites:  

  • General Microbiology  

  • Medical Microbiology  

  • Microbiology for Health Professions  

  • Biology of microorganisms  

Common courses that do not meet MEDEX Microbiology prerequisites:  

  • Bacteriology  

  • Cell/Molecular Biology  

  • Pathophysiology, Immunology, Endocrinology, or Hematology  

  • Life Sciences  

  • Genetics  

One (1) Chemistry course – 5 quarter/3 semester credits  

A competitive Chemistry course should cover chemical reactions, stoichiometry, atomic theory and structure, chemical bonding, equilibrium, and acid/bases. Organic Chemistry courses should cover the structure, nomenclature, and synthesis of organic compounds. Biochemistry courses should cover chemical events in living systems, including proteins, enzymes, DNA, and metabolism.  

Common courses that meet MEDEX Chemistry prerequisites:  

  • General Chemistry  

  • Organic Chemistry  

  • Inorganic Chemistry  

  • Biochemistry  

  • Chemical Concepts  

Common courses that do not meet MEDEX Chemistry prerequisites:  

  • Chemistry of Nutrition  

  • Independent Research in Chemistry  

  • General/Cellular/Molecular Biology  

  • Human Structure and Function  

  • Genetics  

One (1) Statistics course – 5 quarter/3 semester credits  

A competitive Statistics course should cover probability, descriptive methods, sampling, inferences, interpreting data, hypothesis testing, and regression.  

Common courses that meet MEDEX Statistics prerequisites:  

  • Principles of Statistical Reasoning  

  • Biostatistics  

  • Research Methods  

  • Quantitative Methods  

  • Statistics for Psychology  

  • Statistics for the Health Professions  

  • Applied Statistics  

Common courses that do not meet MEDEX Statistics prerequisites:  

  • Calculus  

  • Algebra  

  • General Mathematics  

Two (2) English courses – 10 quarter/6 semester credits  

Must include one composition course. Competitive English courses should focus on the instruction of writing, including critical reading and writing, expository writing, grammar, rhetoric, and analysis of research or literature. Courses should be completed in an English or Writing department. Courses with a large writing component that are not specifically in the instruction of writing or in the English department are unlikely to be considered as meeting MEDEX English prerequisites.  

Common courses that meet MEDEX English prerequisites:  

  • College Writing  

  • Composition  

  • Rhetoric and Grammar  

  • Expository Writing  

  • Essay Writing  

  • Research Writing  

  • Technical Writing  

  • Literature (Not considered Composition)  

  • Advanced Placement (AP) Composition, Language, or Literature  

Courses that may meet MEDEX English prerequisites IF there is significant research, theory, analysis and writing of an extensive paper:  

  • Behavioral and Social Sciences   

  • Humanities  

  • Science Writing   

Common courses that do not meet MEDEX English prerequisites:  

  • English as a Second Language  

  • Medical Terminology  

  • History  

  • Speech/Communication  

  • Film, Theater, or Drama Studies  

Recommended Courses for Competitive Applications  

  • Biochemistry  

  • Genetics  

  • Social Sciences (Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology)  

 

View commonly accepted courses by school

Note: These are NOT the only courses accepted, rather they are examples of courses that will count towards each prerequisite. Please contact us with specific questions. 

University of Washington (Seattle)  

Prerequisite 

Course Name 

Course Name 

Course Name 

Anatomy and Physiology  

BIOL 118 Survey of Physiology 

BIOL 310 Survey of Human Anatomy 

 

Biology 

BIOL 100 Intro Biology 

BIOL 180 Intro Biology 

BIOL 355 Foundations in Molecular Cell Biology 

Chemistry 

CHEM 120 Principles of Chemistry 1 

CHEM 142 General Chemistry 

CHEM 237 Organic Chemistry 

English 

ENGL 101 Writing from Sources 1 

ENGL 102 Critical Reading and Writing 

ENGL 109/110/111 English Composition 

Microbiology 

MICROM 301 General Microbiology 

MICROM 302 Microbiology Lab 

 

Statistics 

STAT 220 Principles of Statistical Reasoning 

BIOST 310 Biostatistics for the Health Sciences 

PSYCH 315 Understanding Statistics in Psychology 

 

University of Washington (Tacoma)  

Prerequisite 

Course Name 

Course Name 

Course Name 

Anatomy and Physiology  

T BIOL 302 Human Physiology 

 

 

Biology 

T BIOL Intro Biology 

T BIOL 110 General Biology 

T BIOL 303 Cellular Biology 

Chemistry 

T CHEM 131 Chemistry and Society 

T CHEM 142 General Chemistry 1 

T CHEM 251 Organic Chemistry 

English 

T WRT 120 Academic Writing I 

T WRT 121 Academic Writing II 

T WRT 211 Argument and Research in Writing 

Microbiology 

T BIOL 301 General Microbiology 

 

 

Statistics 

T MATH 110 Intro Statistics with Applications 

 

 

 

University of Washington (Bothell)  

Prerequisite 

Course Name 

Course Name 

Course Name 

Anatomy and Physiology  

B BIOL 241 Human Anatomy & Physiology for Nursing and Allied Professions 

B BIOL 242 Human Anatomy & Physiology for Nursing and Allied Professions 

 

Biology 

B BIO 180 Introductory Biology 

B BIO 240 Fundamentals of Cellular Biology for Nursing and Allied Health 

B BIO 375 Molecular Biology 

Chemistry 

B CHEM 115 Introductory Chemistry 

B CHEM 143 General Chemistry 1 

B CHEM 2237 Organic Chemistry 

English 

B WRIT 134 Composition 

B WRIT 135 Research Writing 

 

Microbiology 

B BIO 301 Medical Microbiology 

 

 

Statistics 

B MATH/HLTH 215 Statistics for Health Sciences 

 

 

 

Washington Community Colleges  

Prerequisite 

Course Name 

Course Name 

Course Name 

Anatomy and Physiology   

BIOL& 241 Human Anatomy & Physiology I  

BIOL& 242 Human Anatomy & Physiology II  

 

Biology  

BIOL& 160 General Biology  

BIOL& 211 Majors Cellular  

 

Chemistry  

CHEM& 121& Intro to Chemistry  

CHEM& 131 Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry  

CHEM& 161 General Chemistry  

English  

ENGL& 101 English Composition I  

ENGL& 102 English Composition II  

ENGL& 235 Technical Writing  

Microbiology  

BIOL& 260 Microbiology  

 

 

Statistics  

MATH& 146 Intro to Statistics  

 

 

 

Kapi’olani Community College  

Prerequisite  

Course Name  

Course Name  

Course Name  

Anatomy and Physiology   

BIOL 130 Anatomy and Physiology  

PHYL 141 Human Anatomy & Physiology I  

PHYL 142 Human Anatomy & Physiology II  

Biology  

BIOL 171 Intro to Biology I  

BIOL 172 Intro to Biology II  

BIOL 275 Cell and Molecular Biology  

Chemistry  

CHEM 161 General Chemistry I  

CHEM 272 Organic Chemistry I  

BIOC 141 Fundamentals of Biochemistry  

English  

ENG 100 Composition I  

ENG 225 Technical Writing  

ENG 270 Intro to Literature  

Microbiology  

MICR 130 General Microbiology  

 

 

Statistics  

MATH 115 Intro to Statistics and Probabilities  

 

 

 

University of Alaska (Anchorage)  

Prerequisite  

Course Name  

Course Name  

Course Name  

Anatomy and Physiology   

BIOL A111 Human Anatomy & Physiology I  

BIOL A112 Human Anatomy & Physiology II  

 

Biology  

BIOL A102 Introductory Biology  

BIOL A108 Principles and Methods in Biology  

BIOL A242 Fundamentals of Cell Biology  

Chemistry  

CHEM A103 Intro to General Chemistry  

CHEM A105 General Chemistry I  

CHEM A441 Principles of Biochemistry  

English  

WRTG A110 Intro to College Writing  

WRTG A111 Writing Across Contexts  

WRTG A213 Writing and the Sciences  

Microbiology  

BIOL A240 Intro to Microbiology for Health Sciences  

 

 

Statistics  

STAT A200 Elementary Statistics  

 

 

 

 

UW Graduate School  

Do not apply to the UW Graduate School at this time. If accepted to MEDEX, you will then be asked to apply to the UW Graduate School. MEDEX will provide instructions about how and when to apply through Graduate Enrollment Management Services in an official acceptance packet.  

Be sure to review the MEDEX Northwest clinical experience prerequisites that all applicants must complete in addition to the academic prerequisites listed above.