Office of Admissions
Admission Requirements
Successful applicants for admission to the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso (PLFSOM) must have completed an undergraduate curriculum and must have been awarded a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent before matriculation. Ninety semester hours, including all prerequisite courses must have been completed at a U.S. or Canadian accredited college or university.
The Prerequisite Courses Are:
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| Biology | 12 semester hours |
| Biology laboratories | 2 semester hours |
| General chemistry with laboratories | 8 semester hours |
| Organic chemistry with laboratories | 8 semester hours |
| Physics with laboratories | 8 semester hours |
| Calculus or statistics | 3 semester hours |
| English | 6 semester hours |
Grades of C or better are required for all prerequisite courses or AP credit.
Successful applicants also should have pursued a broad educational experience, including topics outside of chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics. Although PLFSOM will have no prescribed course of study beyond the required courses identified above, the Admissions Committee will consider the breadth of the candidate’s educational experience in their determination of admission. Additional recommended courses include the following:
Humanities, Social Sciences, or Behavioral Sciences: 12 semester hours
Coursework in Biochemistry, Biostatistics, and Cellular/Molecular Biology is also encouraged.
Competence in spoken and written English will be necessary. A facility in conversational Spanish will be an advantage for students intending to remain in the Southwest.
Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
The MCAT is also a requirement for admission. The applicant’s best score from the last five years will be considered. Information about the MCAT and registration for the exam can be accessed at http://aamc.org/students/mcat/.