This program is for students currently enrolled in Marshall University who have demonstrated a particular interest in a medical career, and the academic strength to excel in a demanding premedical curriculum. Applicants must:

• Be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident visas
• Apply during the spring semester of their second undergraduate year at Marshall University.
• Have successfully completed two years of full-time study at Marshall University at the time of acceptance into the program, and be currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student.
• Have completed the following MD prerequisites by the end of summer semester of their second undergraduate year at Marshall University: one year each of general biology or zoology, general chemistry and organic chemistry, and all associated labs.
• Have a minimum composite ACT of 24 or composite SAT of 1160. This program does not accept Superscores. Composite score must be from one test date. 
• Have a minimum 3.7 overall Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math (BCPM) GPA and 3.5 overall cumulative undergraduate GPA at the conclusion of the summer semester of their application year.

• Applicants must complete the online application.
• Applicants must provide the names of at least three individuals completing letters of recommendation. These must include at least two college academic letters from professors who have had you in a class that resulted in a grade. Options for the third letter could include someone who has supervised you in a community, volunteer, or work experience.
• Applicants must complete interviews with School of Medicine Admissions Committee members.

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Application Deadline: March 26, 2025
Letters of Recommendation Deadline: April 23, 2025

2025 MD Early Assurance Application

• Participants must achieve an overall cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 and a 3.7 Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math (BCPM) GPA by the end of the undergraduate portion of the program.
• Participants must have completed all required premedical courses and must remain in good academic and institutional standing at Marshall University throughout the program.
• Participants must successfully complete a selection of 30 credit hours of 300-400 level science courses after they are accepted into the MD Early Assurance Program. Courses from the recommended course list that are taken prior to acceptance into the MD Early Assurance Program will not be counted towards the 30 hour requirement for this program. The participants must work with the premed advisor for the MD Early Assurance Program to determine which advanced science courses will fulfill the 30 hour requirement for the program. Courses not included on the recommended list must be approved by the MD Early Assurance Program academic advisor.
• Participants must complete shadowing and volunteering requirements for the program.
• Participants must meet all admissions requirements established by the medical school in accordance with the MD Early Assurance Program.
• Participants will be expected to remain in the undergraduate portion of the MD Early Assurance Program for the two academic years immediately following acceptance into the program in order to complete all advanced required coursework, volunteering , shadowing and professionalism requirements prior to matriculation into medical school.

Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Participants must work with the MD Early Assurance Program academic advisor to ensure timely completion of requirements. Courses not included on the recommended list must be approved by the MD Early Assurance Program academic advisor.

300 level Biology courses

• BSC 302 – Principles of Microbiology (3 CR, Fall/Spring)
• BSC 304 – Microbiology Lab (2 CR, Fall/Spring)
• BSC 322 – Principles of Cell Biology (4 CR, Fall/Spring)
• BSC 324 – Principles of Genetics (4 CR, Fall/Spring)
• BSC 332/332L – Principles of Human Anatomy/Principles of Human Anatomy Lab (4 CR total, Fall/Spring)
• BSC 334/334L – Principles of Human Physiology/Principles of Human Physiology Lab (4 CR total, Fall/Spring)

400 level Biology courses

• BSC 417 – Biostatistics (3 CR, Fall/Spring)
• BSC 422 – Animal Physiology (3 CR Spring)
• BSC 428 – Neuroscience (3 CR, Spring)
• BSC 438 – Emerging Infectious Diseases (3 CR, Fall)
• BSC 443 – Microbial Genetics (3 CR, Spring)
• BSC 448 – Introductory Immunology (3 CR, Spring)
• BSC 450 – Molecular Biology (3 CR, Fall)
• BSC 451 – Molecular Medicine (3 CR, Fall/Spring)
• BSC 456 – Genes and Development (3 CR, Fall)
• BSC 404 -- Cellular Physiology (3 CR, Fall)

300 Level Chemistry courses

• CHM 365 – Introductory Biochemistry (3 CR, Fall/Spring)
• CHM 366 – Introductory Biochemistry Lab (2 CR, Spring)
• CHM 345 – Analytical Chemistry (4 CR, Fall)
• CHM 357 – Physical Chemistry: Quantum (4 CR, Fall)
• CHM 358 – Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics (4 CR, Spring)

400 Level Chemistry courses

• CHM 411 – Modern Instrumental Methods (4 CR, Spring)
• CHM 467 – Intermediate Biochemistry (3 CR, Spring)

Participants must successfully complete a selection of 30 credit hours of 300-400 level science courses after they are accepted into the MD Early Assurance Program. Courses from the recommended course list that are taken prior to acceptance into the MD Early Assurance Program will not be counted towards the 30-hour requirement for this program. The participants must work with the premed advisor for the MD Early Assurance Program to determine which advanced science courses will fulfill the 30-hour requirement for the program. Courses not included on the recommended list must be approved by the MD Early Assurance Program academic advisor.

Acceptance into the MD Early Assurance program does not guarantee acceptance into Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.

For more information, contact the Early Assurance Program at MDEarlyAssurance@marshall.edu.

• MD Early Assurance Program Policy - updated March 4, 2025
• MD Early Assurance Procedural Document - updated March 4, 2025