Podiatric physicians have some of the highest job satisfaction rates among healthcare professions. Read about the path to a DPM degree on the  AACPM's guide to becoming a podiatric physician and watch videos highlighting young podiatric physicians and download the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM) College Information Book.  As you plan your college curriculum, find admissions information for each of the eleven podiatric medical schools to confirm prerequisites needed for application to specific programs. The MCAT is also required for application, with average scores for accepted applicants  in the 494 -500 range.. The application cycle opens August each year for matriculation the following summer/fall.

Note that all science prerequisites should be courses designed for science majors (the same courses recommended for premedical students) and must include a lab. See Premedical Course Recommendations for reference. AP credit for prerequisites will generally not be accepted.

Biology

Required: One year of general biology with lab, fulfilled via ONE of the following options, based on your College/major:

• Principles of Biology 1&2: BIOL 1400 & 1450 
• OR: Exploring Biology 1&2: BCOR 1400 & 1450 (or a single semester, Accelerated Biology: BCOR 1425 for those so placed) 
• OR: Human Cell Biology: BHSC 1340 & Principles of Biology 2: BIOL1450

Recommended: Additional biology coursework is encouraged to strengthen premedical background knowledge. Courses most frequently cited as recommended include:

• Genetics: BCOR 2300
• Molecular & Cell Biology:  BCOR 2500 (with lab) OR BCOR 2505 (without lab)
• Anatomy & Physiology 1&2: ANPS 1190 & 1200
• Microbiology & Infectious Disease: MMG 2010

Chemistry

Required: One year of general (or inorganic) chemistry with lab and one year of organic chemistry with lab.

General (inorganic) Chemistry:

• General Chemistry 1&2: Chem 1400 & CHEM 1450 (this will be the sequence taken by MOST pre-med students)
• OR:  For some Chemistry/Biochemistry majors who take Organic Chemistry for Majors in their first year
• Exploring Chemistry 1&2: CHEM 1410 & CHEM 1460 (two 1 credit general chemistry labs) AND
• ​Intro Physical Chemistry: CHEM 2600 AND
• Inorganic Chemistry: CHEM 2400 OR Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: CHEM 3400 (based on Major requirements)

Organic Chemistry:

• Organic Chemistry 1&2: Chem 2580 & CHEM 2585
• OR:  For some Chemistry/Biochemistry majors:
• Organic Chemistry for Majors 1 & 2: CHEM 1500 & 1550

Biochemistry:

Biochemistry is not required but is recommended by many schools. Fundamentals of Biochemistry (BIOC 3001) is a one-semester course that would provide excellent background for podiatric medical school and good preparation for the MCAT.

Physics

The physics sequence (one year of general physics with lab) will be influenced by your major requirements.

• Elementary Physics (algebra-based): PHYS 1400 & PHYS 1450
• Note: PHYS 1410 & 1460
• OR:  Fundamentals of Physics (calculus-based): PHYS 1600 & PHYS 1650
• OR:  Physics for Engineers: PHYS 1500 & PHYS 1550
• Because PHYS 1550 does not include a lab, those taking this course will want to make sure their curriculum includes a physics-oriented lab in at least one additional course. For BME students, this will be one of the Core Courses.

English & Writing Intensive Courses

Two English courses are required by all podiatric medical schools. All WIL1 options will fulfill one of these requirements.

Other Courses

Some schools specifically suggest (though do not require) the following content:

• Medical Terminology
• Psychology/Behavioral Science
• Statistics