Grade Requirements
Many professional schools require a minimum grade point average (GPA) to apply for and gain admission. Completion of the requirements of the pre-medical studies program or the Medical Scholar component does not guarantee acceptance to graduate programs, as it is only one criterion among many that are used in determining admission. As such, the pre-medical studies program has the following minimum GPA requirements:
- Overall grade point average (GPA): 3.000
- Science GPA: 3.000
Even though a student may be in the pre-medical studies program, they must meet the GPA and course requirements upon graduation to have this designation appear on their transcripts with their degree. The pre-medical studies program designation will not appear on transcripts if the GPA and course requirements are not met at graduation, but the student will still graduate with the degree that they originally declared if they meet those degree requirements.
Medical Scholar
Students in the pre-medical studies program may also receive the designation of Medical Scholar if the following additional requirements are met:
- Overall grade point average (GPA): 3.670
- Science GPA: 3.670
- Competitive scores on standardized examinations
- Recommendation of the Pre-Health Professions Committee
The additional requirements are based on the academic profile of the entering class at most medical and dental schools, and of Quinnipiac University student applicants who have been admitted to these professional schools.
Candidates will not achieve their final Medical Scholar designation on their transcripts until graduation requirements are complete. At that time, the awarding of the Medical Scholar designation is made based upon the above requirements and the recommendation of the Pre-Health Professions Committee.
The Pre-Health Professions Committee will make the final award based upon a review of health care and/or research experience, a portfolio, and interviews during the junior and/or senior year.
Course Requirements
All courses listed in this section may count toward both the major (if allowed) and the pre-medical studies program. Students must complete all of the listed required courses, as they are the minimum pre-requisites for admission to most medical schools and form the basis of standardized admission tests (Medical College Admission Test, Dental Admission Test, Optometry Admission Test, and Pharmacy College Admission Test).
Required Courses (all courses required for a minimum of 44 credits):
| Course | Title | Credits |
| Biology 101 and 101L | General Biology I (Lecture and Laboratory) | 4 |
| Biology 102 and 102L | General Biology II (Lecture and Laboratory) | 4 |
| Chemistry 110 and 110L | General Chemistry I (Lecture and Laboratory) | 4 |
| Chemistry 111 and 111L | General Chemistry II (Lecture and Laboratory) | 4 |
| Chemistry 210 and 210L | Organic Chemistry I (Lecture and Laboratory) | 4 |
| Chemistry 211 and 211L | Organic Chemistry II (Lecture and Laboratory) | 4 |
| Physics 110 and 110L | General Physics I (Lecture and Laboratory) | 4 |
| Physics 111 and 111L | General Physics II (Lecture and Laboratory) | 4 |
| English 101 | Elements of Composition I | 3 |
| English 102 | Elements of Composition II | 3 |
| Mathematics 141 | Calculus of a Single Variable I | 3 |
| Additional Mathematics course: | 3 | |
| Mathematics 140 (OR) | ||
| Mathematics 142 (OR) | ||
| A course in applied statistics |
Recommended Elective Coursework
Students are encouraged to check the specific pre-requisite course requirements of any health professions program to which they intend to apply. The selection of additional courses, especially those emphasizing critical reading and writing should be at the discretion of the student in consultation with the student's academic and pre-health professions advisers.
Many professional schools recommend additional elective coursework in preparing for admission. Coursework in the humanities and social sciences provide breadth, and science electives provide a more extensive background for subjects covered by the standardized admissions tests. Students should engage in individual or team research experience as a course or independent study.
The most commonly recommended science courses by medical schools in the area surrounding Quinnipiac University (CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, and PA) based upon the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) publication Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR®) include biochemistry and genetics, while the 5th Comprehensive Review of the Medical College Admission Test (MR5) also notes the importance of cell biology.
Transfer Students
Students who transfer to Quinnipiac University and want to pursue the pre-medical studies program still need to have completed all of the pre-requisite courses. Although Quinnipiac University may transfer the credits for courses taken elsewhere and not the grades, for the pre-medical studies program, grades from required and/or elective courses from other institutions will be used to ensure that a GPA of at least 3.000 based upon all pre-medical studies courses. The Overall GPA for transfer students will be calculated as for all other transfer students (based only on the courses completed at Quinnipiac University).
Advanced Placement Credits
Some health professions schools accept AP credits provided that applicants replace courses for which AP credit has been granted with a course in the same discipline at a higher level. Other schools, including many medical schools, do not accept AP credits as a replacement for pre-requisite science courses. Students are encouraged to check with the specific course requirements of any graduate health profession program to which they intend to apply.