Pre-Medicine Pathways
Earn your Zaytuna Bachelor’s degree while completing the coursework, research, and clinical experience required for medical school.
See the prerequisitesTalk to an advisor
4 years
to earn your B.A. and complete pre-med preparation
8
core prerequisite areas for medical school
1 advisor
to plan your courses, MCAT, and application
How the Pathway Works
Zaytuna students complete their B.A. in Liberal Arts & Islamic Studies while taking medical school science prerequisites at an accredited partner institution during summers and selected semesters. Writing and mathematics requirements are met through the Zaytuna core.
Plan & build foundations
- Meet with the pre-health advisor to map your four-year plan
- Zaytuna core: writing & rhetoric
- Summer: General Chemistry I & II with lab
- Begin community service or volunteering
Core sciences
- Summer: General Biology I & II with lab
- Organic Chemistry I & II with lab
- Start clinical experience and physician shadowing
Advanced sciences & MCAT
- Physics I & II with lab
- Biochemistry, Psychology, Sociology, Statistics
- Research experience
- Take the MCAT by spring
Apply to medical school
- Submit applications (AMCAS opens in early summer)
- Secondary applications and interviews
- Continue clinical work; graduate with your Zaytuna B.A.
Sample sequence only. Your advisor will tailor the order to your schedule and target schools.
Medical School Prerequisites
The courses below are required or strongly recommended by most U.S. M.D. and D.O. programs. Requirements vary, so always confirm with each school you plan to apply to.
General Biology
2 semesters with lab
General Biology I & II with Lab
General Chemistry
2 semesters with lab
General Chemistry I & II with Lab. Take first: it is the prerequisite for Organic Chemistry.
Organic Chemistry
2 semesters with lab
Organic Chemistry I & II with Lab. Some schools accept one semester plus Biochemistry.
Biochemistry
1 semester
Biochemistry I. Required or recommended by most schools and heavily tested on the MCAT.
Physics
2 semesters with lab
Physics I & II with Lab (algebra- or calculus-based)
English & Writing
2 semesters
Fulfilled by Zaytuna’s writing, rhetoric, and seminar courses
Mathematics
Calculus and/or Statistics
Calculus through the Zaytuna core. Introduction to Statistics taken externally (increasingly required).
Psychology & Sociology
1 semester each (recommended)
General Psychology; Sociology (e.g., Sociology of Health & Medicine). Covered on the MCAT.
Recommended electives: Genetics, Cell & Molecular Biology, Human Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology. Grades: take prerequisites for a letter grade and aim for a B or better in every science course.
Beyond the Classroom
Medical schools look for evidence that you understand medicine and have served others. Start early and keep a log of your hours.
Clinical Experience
Direct patient contact such as medical scribing, EMT, CNA, hospice, or clinic volunteering. Competitive applicants often have several hundred hours.
Physician Shadowing
Observe physicians in primary care and at least one specialty to understand the day-to-day work of a doctor.
Research
A faculty-mentored project or summer research program at a medical or university lab.
Service & Leadership
Sustained non-clinical volunteering and leadership that reflect Zaytuna’s commitment to serving others.
The MCAT
A 7.5-hour exam covering biology, chemistry, physics, psychology/sociology, and critical reasoning. Take it after completing your core sciences.
A Real Path: Dr. Nida Ahmed
Zaytuna alumna Dr. Nida Ahmed layered her medical school preparation onto her Zaytuna education, taking sciences in summers and selected semesters while remaining a full-time Zaytuna student.
Hear from an alumna
Watch her story
Watch Dr. Ahmed share her journey from Zaytuna College to medical school.
Year 1 · 2015–16
Zaytuna writing + service
Fall & Spring: Zaytuna Freshman Seminar and Rhetoric
Service: Volunteered weekly at a homeless clinic
✓ Checked off: English; service
Year 2 · 2016–17
Summer sciences
Summer: Psychology; Organic Chemistry I & II with lab
Spring: Biochemistry; Cell Biology
✓ Checked off: Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Psychology, Biology
Year 3 · 2017–18
Research, MCAT, clinical
Summer: 10-week research internship at a medical institution
Fall–Winter: MCAT preparation and exam
Spring: Emergency department scribe
✓ Checked off: Research; MCAT; clinical experience
Year 4 · 2018–19
Apply & graduate
Summer: Submitted applications; continued scribing
Fall: Medical school interviews
Spring: Chose a medical school; completed Zaytuna’s Experiential Learning requirement
✓ Checked off: Applications; interviews; B.A.
The key lesson is sequencing. Zaytuna coursework remains the academic center, while science courses, research, clinical work, MCAT preparation, and applications are deliberately scheduled around it. Every student’s path will differ; your advisor will help you build yours.
Helpful Resources
Questions?
Our pre-health advising team can help you plan your path. Email [email protected].
Connect with an Admissions Counselor
Call the Admissions office directly (510) 369-5920 or fill out a form to connect with one of our Admissions counselors