Pre-Medical
Prepare for Medical School
Start on the path toward becoming a skilled and caring physician.
The Pre-Medical program at Davis & Elkins College prepares students for admission to medical, osteopathic, and other health professional schools by combining rigorous science coursework with the broad liberal arts education that medical school admissions committees value.
The Pre-Medical is housed within the Biology, Environmental Science, and Sustainability Program and the Chemistry Program, both located in Eshleman Science Center. The Center features five teaching laboratories, a prep room, balance rooms, and an instrument room equipped with professional-grade analytical tools, giving pre-medical students the hands-on laboratory experience that medical school admissions committees and the MCAT reward.
Pre-Medical Preparation
Pre-Professional Track
Pre-medical students typically major in biology or chemistry, both of which fulfill the science prerequisites required by most medical schools. The pre-medical track is not a standalone major but a planned sequence of courses completed alongside a bachelor’s degree.
Medical School Admission
Admission to most medical schools is based on academic achievement as indicated by grade point average, MCAT scores, recommendations, and personal interviews. Since medical schools have far more qualified applicants than they can accept, a strong and consistent academic record is essential.
The minimum requirements for admission vary by institution, but typically include English composition, biological sciences with lab, inorganic chemistry with lab, organic chemistry with lab, physics with lab, and social and behavioral sciences. Calculus is strongly recommended. The MCAT should be taken in the spring of the junior year, but only after completing the required courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. D&E faculty advisors will work with you to plan your timeline and prepare for the exam.
Courses
What We Offer
Required Science Prerequisites
(typical medical school requirements)
- English Composition I & II
- Biological Sciences with Lab
- Inorganic Chemistry with Lab
- Organic Chemistry with Lab
- Physics with Lab
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Calculus (recommended)
Recommended Biology Courses
- Principles of Biology I & II
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Developmental Biology
- Vertebrate Physiology
Recommended Chemistry Courses
- General Chemistry I & II
- Organic Chemistry I & II
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Physical Chemistry
Recommended Supporting Courses
- Calculus I
- Statistics
- Physics I & II
- Psychology (Behavioral Sciences requirement)
- Sociology (Behavioral Sciences requirement)
- English Composition I & II
Careers in Medicine
A pre-medical education from D&E, combined with a degree from an accredited medical or professional school, opens the door to one of the most respected, rewarding, and in-demand careers in the world.
Career options for medical graduates include:
Clinical Medicine
- Family Medicine/Primary Care Physician
- Internist
- Pediatrician
- Surgeon (General, Orthopedic, Cardiovascular, Neurosurgery)
- Emergency Medicine Physician
- Psychiatrist
- Obstetrician/Gynecologist
- Radiologist
- Anesthesiologist
- Hospitalist
Osteopathic and Specialty Medicine
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
- Sports Medicine Physician
- Dermatologist
- Ophthalmologist
- Neurologist
- Oncologist
- Pathologist
Research and Public Health
- Medical Researcher/Clinical Investigator
- Epidemiologist
- Public Health Officer
- Global Health Physician
- Military Physician/Medical Officer
Related Health Professions
(with additional graduate study)
- Pharmacist (Pharm.D.) — D&E has an articulation agreement with
- Marshall University School of Pharmacy
- Physical Therapist (D.P.T.)
- Physician Assistant (M.S. or D.M.S.)
- Nurse Practitioner (M.S.N. or D.N.P.)
- Dentist (D.D.S. or D.M.D.)
- Veterinarian (D.V.M.)
D&E / WVSOM Partnership
Davis & Elkins College has a formal partnership with the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) that provides a direct pathway for qualified students to gain expedited admission to WVSOM’s osteopathic medical program. Students begin the process during their sophomore year. Those who maintain a GPA of 3.4 or higher in science and math coursework and complete biology and chemistry prerequisites may apply.
Green Coat Program
This partnership between WVSOM’s Rural Health Initiative and Davis Medical Center in Elkins allows D&E undergraduates to get an early, firsthand glimpse of what it is like to work in a hospital.
What Our Alumni Say
“Davis & Elkins provided me with the resources needed to participate in the research program. Without it, I would not have known it was available or had the knowledge needed to have the ability to dive right in and take full advantage of the opportunity.”
Shelby Collins, Class of 2022
Why Pre-Med at D&E
The supportive community of the Biology and Chemistry programs and a rigorous science curriculum give you the academic foundation, laboratory skills, and critical thinking ability that medical school admissions committees and the MCAT demand. Small class sizes mean faculty know you by name and invest in your success. Dedicated advisors in the Biology and Chemistry programs will help you plan your course sequence, prepare for the MCAT, seek research and shadowing opportunities, and build a competitive application from your very first semester.
D&E’s formal partnership with the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) offers a direct, expedited pathway to medical school for qualified students, with acceptance confirmed before your senior year. The Green Coat Program at Davis Medical Center gives you a firsthand look at hospital medicine early in your undergraduate career. State-of-the-art laboratories give you access to professional-grade instruments and hands-on experience that prepares you for the rigors of medical school lab work. D&E’s broad liberal arts curriculum ensures that you graduate as a compassionate, culturally aware, and effective communicator — exactly the kind of physician that communities, medical schools, and patients need most.