JMU’s Pre-Medicine Minor can help you get a jump on the competition.
Expect to shadow a physician and also to take part in paid or volunteer work in clinically related activities during your time at JMU.
Physicians serve on the front line of medicine. They are responsible for examining patients and monitoring their conditions and progress. Physicians order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests. They prescribe or administer treatments, including medication and they counsel patients about diseases, injuries and preventive healthcare. The Pre-Medicine program provides guidance on courses, experiential activities, and competencies for students preparing to be competitive applicants to Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Doctor of Chiropractic, and Doctor of Naturapathic Medicine programs.
Our Pre-Professional Health Advising is here to help with questions about the minor in Pre-Medicine.
Declaring the Minor
Incoming First year and transfer students can declare pre-medicine upon entry to the university. Declaring the minor after initial enrollment can be done in MyMadison. Declaration requests from current students will be reviewed and ultimately approved by PPH Advising.
Progressing in the Minor
Once students have completed 13 hours of biology, chemistry, physics or math (BCPM) coursework, they become subject to twice yearly review of their academic progress. Performance queries will be conducted after summer and fall semester grades are posted. If the review indicates successful progress (meeting the standard of a 3.00 cumulative GPA and BCPM GPA), they will be invited to formal advising activities. Topics include learning about different medical schools and discussing fulfillment of non-academic requirements and recommendations (shadowing, volunteering, research, leadership). Assuming continued progress, students planning for the applicant stage (typically spring of the junior or senior year) are invited to participate in application planning seminars.
Pre-medicine students who fall below the standard of a 3.00 cumulative GPA and BCPM GPA are at high risk of not being admitted to medical school. Targeted advising for these students focuses on strengthening academic skills as well as career exploration. If a student falls below the standard in a subsequent performance review, they will be administratively dropped from the pre-medicine minor. This action will not impede a student from applying to medical school, nor will it have an impact on a student's degree program as the pre-medicine program is not a major.
Students who wish to re-enter the Pre-medicine minor may do so as long as they meet the GPA standards.
Additional Information
Requirements for the pre-medicine minor are based on the MCAT, successful medical applicant profiles and regional scans of medical schools' prerequisites. Students should review individual medical schools' prerequisites to assure completion of all prerequisite course work.
