Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program

Students are no longer being admitted to this program. Continuing students should note the requirements below.

The College of Arts & Sciences and the BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine offer a combined curriculum that provides an outstanding medical education while shortening the overall period of study. Qualified applicants include students who are completing four full academic years of secondary education and who are currently high school seniors, or students who have completed high school but have not enrolled in any college-level, degree-granting program. Those accepted are admitted to the College of Arts & Sciences and the Chobanian & Avedisian SOM, subject to the review described under “Program Requirements” below.

The first three years are spent in the College of Arts & Sciences, during which students complete the Medical Science major (composed of specific premedical science courses), a minor, the BU Hub general education program, and additional elective courses in the humanities and social sciences. The second summer of the program is spent taking a required biology course and courses that fulfill either minor requirements or BU Hub requirements outside the major, so that the undergraduate requirements are completed by the end of the third academic year. Following completion of the required premedical courses in the first two years of study, third-year students may enroll in medical school-related courses (modular medical courses) that will enhance the transition to the curriculum at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Students in this program must complete 112 credits of coursework after matriculation into the College of Arts & Sciences and must meet all requirements for the bachelor of arts.

First-year medical studies begin in the fourth year of the program and students complete the medical school curriculum in years four through seven. Students are awarded the bachelor of arts at the completion of the first year at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and the doctor of medicine at the completion of the program.

Acceleration

Acceleration is made possible by the 12-week summer session. Because this program requires only seven semesters of undergraduate work, advanced standing credit may not be used to further decrease the number of credits required for graduation (112 credits). However, advanced standing exam results may be used to fulfill BU Hub requirements, the College of Arts & Sciences language requirement, and minor requirements if approved by the department offering the course.

Scholarship Assistance and Loans

The full range of financial assistance programs is available to students in this program. The awards are based on financial need and academic achievement. Further information may be obtained by contacting the Undergraduate Financial Assistance office and the Boston University Medical Campus Student Financial Services office.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with the BA in Medical Science are expected to demonstrate:

• Mastery of concepts, topics, and methods in the physical and life sciences that are considered foundational for the study of medicine.
• Focused knowledge of an academic discipline or interdisciplinary field of study through the completion of a minor.
• Academic integrity and mature conduct as a member of the University community.
• Mastery of the first year of the preclinical curriculum at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

Requirements

Program Requirements

Students must complete the Medical Science major, a minor, the BU Hub requirements, 112 credits of coursework after matriculation, and all requirements for the bachelor of arts. All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students in the Medical Science major will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Quantitative Reasoning, Communication, Scientific and Social Inquiry, and the Intellectual Toolkit. During the first year of medical school (e.g., the fourth year of the program), students are enrolled in the CAS MS 501/502 sequence, which carries six Hub units (Social Inquiry I, The Individual in Community, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Teamwork/Collaboration, Ethical Reasoning, and Oral and/or Signed Communication). Thus, students in the program will earn these specific Hub units after successfully completing the first year of medical school. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences. Students in the program must demonstrate their capability to master an accelerated program of study and exhibit a high degree of maturity, integrity, and emotional stability in order to be promoted to each undergraduate semester and to the fourth year of the program (MED I). At the end of each semester, or as necessary, the Promotions Committee for Early Assurance Programs reviews students’ progress.

Students are expected to achieve a minimum 3.50 GPA overall and a 3.40 GPA in the sciences by the end of the third year to be eligible for promotion to the medical school. Academic results that raise concerns among the committee that a student will not ultimately meet this expectation may result in appropriate action, including academic probation, disciplinary probation, remedial coursework, suspension, or dismissal from the program. Students who have not achieved a 3.50 GPA cumulatively and a 3.40 GPA in the sciences by the end of the third academic year are ineligible for promotion to the medical school.

At the end of each curricular year, or as necessary, the Promotions Committee requests a report from Judicial Affairs to determine if students have violated University policies, as well as a report from the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s office to determine whether students have engaged in academic misconduct. The content of these reports is considered in all promotions decisions, including the decision on promotion to the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Any student who has violated University policies or engaged in academic misconduct has the opportunity to submit a written explanation to the Promotions Committee.

A student who, for any reason (e.g., academic, motivational, ethical, or emotional), is found to be ill-suited for the program may be transferred without loss of credits into the BA requirements in the College of Arts & Sciences. Such students may still aspire to a medical education either at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine or at another medical school, although it must be by the conventional route. Students may transfer voluntarily out of the program at any point without loss of credit and continue their education at Boston University.

Seven-year medical students entering the program, although admitted to the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) no later than January of the third year in the program. Students must achieve a combined score at or above the 80th percentile on the four numerically scored sections of the MCAT. The results of the MCAT are considered by the Promotions Committee when it makes the final decision as to whether to promote a student to the medical curriculum.

Students may not apply to other medical schools and remain in the program.

Promotion Requirements to Enter the BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Students must complete all requirements of the College of Arts & Sciences and the Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program by the end of the spring semester of the third year to be eligible for promotion to the Chobanian & Avedisian SOM. Students who have not achieved a 3.50 GPA cumulatively and a 3.40 GPA in the sciences or have not met the program’s MCAT requirement by the end of the third academic year are ineligible for promotion to the medical school.

A report is requested from Judicial Affairs to determine if students have violated University policies. A report is also requested from the Dean’s office to determine whether students have engaged in academic misconduct. The content of these reports is considered in promotion decisions. In addition, medical students may, in accordance with federal and state law, or institutional policy, be asked to consent to a criminal background check. For students in the Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program, this may occur at the time of promotion to the Chobanian & Avedisian SOM and/or at other times in the course of the medical school curriculum. The results of this criminal background check will be considered in promotion decisions.

Graduation Requirements for Bachelor’s Degree

Students must complete 112 credits of coursework after matriculation in the College of Arts & Sciences and must satisfy all requirements for the bachelor of arts, including completion of all BU Hub general education requirements. In addition, students are required to complete a minor. Students receive their bachelor’s degree after successful completion of the first year of medical school.

The Curriculum

First Year, CAS I

Semester 1

• CAS CH 109 Advanced General Chemistry with Quantitative Analysis Lab 1 (4 cr)
• CAS PY 241 Principles of General Physics 1 (4 cr)
• First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 120) (4 cr)
• BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)

Semester 2

• CAS CH 110 Advanced General Chemistry with Quantitative Analysis Lab 2 (4 cr)
• CAS PY 242 Principles of General Physics 2 (4 cr)
• BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)
• BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)

Summer I (12 weeks)

• Study Abroad Option

Second Year, CAS II

Semester 1

• CAS BI 281 Fundamentals of Biology 1 (4 cr)
• CAS CH 203 Organic Chemistry 1 (4 cr)
• BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)
• BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)

Semester 2

• CAS BI 282 Fundamentals of Biology 2 (4 cr)
• CAS CH 204 Organic Chemistry 2 (4 cr)
• BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)
• BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (4 cr)

Summer II (12 weeks)

• CAS BI 383S Fundamentals of Biology 3 (4 cr)
• Three BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course (12 cr)

Third Year, CAS III

• BU Hub requirements outside the major; or course for the minor; or elective course
• Modular medical courses
• One course in biochemistry

Fourth Year, MED I

• First-year medical subjects
• Preclinical sciences
• CAS MS 501/CAS MS 502 required for students who need to complete Hub units in one or more of the following areas: Social Inquiry I, The Individual in Community, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Teamwork/Collaboration, Ethical Reasoning, and Oral and/or Signed Communication

Fifth Year, MED II

• Second-year medical subjects

Sixth Year, MED III

• Third-year medical subjects
• Clerkships

Seventh Year, MED IV

• Fourth-year medical subjects
• Programmed electives

Eight-Year Option

Some students may prefer an additional academic year to explore, in depth, a variety of academic interests. A student in good standing may request the opportunity to pursue a fourth undergraduate academic year. This year will replace all summer work except for the third-semester biology course given in Summer II. Students choosing the eight-year option may take additional modular medical courses, complete work on a second major, complete the Hub, or enroll in graduate-level courses.

Courses

See CAS course listings for descriptions of natural science courses.