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Canadian Medical School Prerequisites Cheat Sheet

 
Canadian Medical School Prerequisites

As this question has been asked multiple times, here are the required prerequisites for Canadian Medical Schools as of 2010. Please consult the admissions site for the most up-to-date information.

Alberta
  • 6 credits of Chemistry
  • 6 credits of Organic Chemistry
  • 6 credits of Biology
  • 6 credits of Physics
  • 6 credits of English
  • 3 credits of Stats
  • 3 credits of Biochemistry
British Columbia
  • 6 credits of English
  • 6 credits of Orgo
  • 6 credits of Biochemistry
Calgary - RECOMMENDED, not required:
  • 6 credits of Biology
  • 6 credits of Chemistry
  • 6 credits of Physics
  • 6 credits of English
  • 3 credits of Psych/Sociology/Anthropology
  • 3 credits of Calculus/Stats
  • 6 credits of Organic chemistry
  • 6 credits of Physiology
Dalhousie - Not specified, looking for broad academic backgrounds.
  • Dalhousie is known for their arts & medicine program so taking lots of arts courses will be beneficial.
McGill
  • 6 credits of Biology (with lab)
  • 6 credits of General Chemistry (with lab)
  • 6 credits of Physics (with labs)
  • 3 credits of Organic Chemistry
  • Courses in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, and Molecular Biology are recommended.
Manitoba
  • 6 credits Biochemistry
  • 18 credits in Humanities/Social Sciences. If you've completed a 4 year Major or Honours program, you may wave up to 12 credits of humanities/social sciences.
McMaster - none

Memorial
  • 6 credits of English
Saskatchewan
  • Out Of Province (OOP) students have the MCAT as only requirement.
  • U of Saskatchewan Students take a look here
Northern Ontario- no prereqs.

Ottawa
  • 6 credits of Biology (with labs)
  • 12 credits of general chemistry (with labs), organic chemistry (with labs), or biochemistry (without labs)
Queens
  • 6 credits of biological sciences
  • 6 credits of physical sciences
  • 6 credits of humanities or social sciences
Toronto
  • 12 credits in any life science
  • 6 units in any of social sciences, humanities, or a language
Western - none. A mix of biological/medical and social sciences/humanities courses is recommended


Since US schools tend to be popular
  • 6 credits of English
  • 6 credits of Biology
  • 6 credits of Chemistry
  • 6 credits of Orgo
  • 6 credits of Physics
Note: 3 credits is usually equal to a semester course (e.g. Bio 1A03). Two 3 credit courses are added up to make-up 6 units (e.g. Chem 1A03 & Chem 1AA3) or you can take a full-year course (e.g. Soc Sci 1A06).

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Old 07-18-2010 at 01:44 PM   #2
RememberTwce
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What kinds of classes would be considered 'English'?
 
Old 07-18-2010 at 01:47 PM   #3
jhan523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RememberTwce View Post
What kinds of classes would be considered 'English'?
Depends on the school, but generally it has to be literature and composition.
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Old 07-18-2010 at 01:48 PM   #4
goodnews.inc
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As well, I think some schools want Physics with a lab so 1L03 does not qualify.
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Old 07-18-2010 at 01:55 PM   #5
lorend
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jhan523 View Post
Depends on the school, but generally it has to be literature and composition.
Wouldn't CSCT courses qualify then? You still read literature (not necessarily classic lit), and write essays.

I'm just curious...and...don't know much about med school stuff.
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Old 07-18-2010 at 02:00 PM   #6
jhan523
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Originally Posted by lorend View Post
Wouldn't CSCT courses qualify then? You still read literature (not necessarily classic lit), and write essays.

I'm just curious...and...don't know much about med school stuff.
Well, a lot of CSCT courses are cross-listed with English courses aren't they? So they should technically qualify since they are the same courses. But obviously it's best to contact the medical schools to confirm. It should never be assumed that a course qualifies for equivalency.
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Old 07-18-2010 at 02:58 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RememberTwce View Post
What kinds of classes would be considered 'English'?
Typically it would be a literature-based course with an essay component. Calgary okayed Comp Lit 1A03 for me, but you'll have to double check with the school. I assume English 1B03 and 1BB3 would be considered acceptable.

edit: Some schools require that the English course is offered by the English department.
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Last edited by Lij : 07-18-2010 at 04:00 PM.

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Old 07-18-2010 at 03:14 PM   #8
lorend
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Originally Posted by jhan523 View Post
Well, a lot of CSCT courses are cross-listed with English courses aren't they? So they should technically qualify since they are the same courses. But obviously it's best to contact the medical schools to confirm. It should never be assumed that a course qualifies for equivalency.
Almost all of the CSCT courses are cross-listed with English (and many with other programs, like Indigenous Studies, or Peace Studies). I think there are only one or two that are CSCT only.

But yes, as Lij mentions, ask the schools you're thinking of applying to what would be considered okay.
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Old 07-18-2010 at 03:16 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lij View Post
Typically it would be a literature-based course with an essay component. Calgary okayed Comp Lit 1A03 for me, but you'll have to double check with the school. I assume English 1B03 and 1BB3 would be considered acceptable.
What's the point of Calgary's recommended courses?
 
Old 07-18-2010 at 03:18 PM   #10
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I forgot McGill! As well as the other French med schools.

McGill requires:
6 credits of Biology (with lab)
6 credits of General Chemistry (with lab)
6 credits of Physics (with labs)
3 credits of Organic Chemistry
Courses in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, and Molecular Biology are recommended.

Can a mod put this on the first post?
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Old 07-18-2010 at 03:20 PM   #11
Lois
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Originally Posted by Fight0 View Post
What's the point of Calgary's recommended courses?
Not 100% sure as I'm not sitting on the AdCom. I didn't take 2 semesters of English but got in. I'm assuming the more you take the better, but if you're missing a couple of courses it shouldn't hurt your chance of admission.
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Old 07-18-2010 at 03:44 PM   #12
jhan523
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Recommended courses are courses that the university thinks would be helpful towards your education in their program.

It's not supposed to be a factor in determining acceptance, but I'm sure it actually is. It shows that you are determined to succeed in their program.
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Old 07-18-2010 at 03:50 PM   #13
lorend
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I'd disagree with you slightly, Jeremy. Part of the reason some schools want you to take English classes is the things you learn from taking them. Not necessarily the content itself, but the skills you have to learn to be successful in those classes.

For example:
  • Abstract reasoning skills
  • Writing skills
  • Research skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Finding multiple viewpoints/explanations
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Old 07-18-2010 at 04:37 PM   #14
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For the "6 credits of Physics (with labs)", will it be sufficient if I take Physics 1L03 (no lab) and Physics 1B03 (with lab) or must I take Physics 1B03 and 1BB3/1BA3?
 
Old 07-18-2010 at 04:44 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vaidawg View Post
For the "6 credits of Physics (with labs)", will it be sufficient if I take Physics 1L03 (no lab) and Physics 1B03 (with lab) or must I take Physics 1B03 and 1BB3/1BA3?
You need to take 1B03 and 1BB3/1BA3
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