Pre-Health Advising: Podiatry Preparation

did you know?
  • A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) diagnoses and treats conditions of the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg.
  • Education takes 7 years to complete, which includes 4 years of podiatric medical school and 3 years of podiatric medicine and surgical residency.
  • Many podiatrists specialize in areas such as surgery, sports medicine, biomechanics, orthopedics, pediatrics, and geriatric care.
  • Podiatry is invaluable as the foot is often the first area to show signs of serious conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diabetic care is a rapidly growing specialization in podiatry.
Podiatry School Application Preparation
  • Completing the prerequisite courses is just one aspect of the process. You must also have a well-rounded application consisting of experience (shadowing, volunteer work, undergraduate research, life experience, etc.), letters of recommendation, MCAT scores, and a strong admissions essay.
  • Most podiatry schools require or strongly recommend students shadow a podiatrist before applying.
  • There are 11 colleges of podiatric medicine in the United States.
  • Applying to podiatry school is a year-long process. Students applying in their final year at UO will have a gap year before starting podiatry school. Students can work, take courses, travel, etc. during the year.
  • Be sure to research individual programs about any COVID-19 related changes (pre-reqs and GRE exceptions, pass/fail policy, etc).
Online Resources:
AACPM Application Service
American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM)
American Podiatric Medical Association
Exploring Health Careers
Sample 4-Year Plan

The chart below illustrates one way a podiatry program’s prerequisitesi can fit into a 4-year plan. Keep in mind a graduation plan is as unique as the student following it. Math placement, major, transfer credits, application timeline, and other factors will help shape your graduation plan and timeline. Pre-Health Advisors are here to help you create a graduation plan that works best for you!

 

Fall

Winter

Spring

 

CH 221: General Chemistry I

CH 222: General Chemistry II 

CH 223: General Chemistry III

YEAR ONE

CH 227: General Chemistry Lab

CH 228: General Chemistry Lab 

CH 229: General Chemistry Lab

 

MATH 112Z: Precalculus II

SOC 204: Intro to Sociology (SS,US)i

SOC 207: Social Inequality (SS, US)i

 

Fall

Winter

Spring

 

CH 331: Organic Chemistry I

CH 335: Organic Chemistry II

CH 336: Organic Chemistry III

YEAR TWO

CH 337: Organic Chemistry Lab

CH 338: Organic Chemistry Lab

BI 214: General Biology - Biochemistry and Genetics

 

BI 211: General Biology - Cells

 

ENG 107: World Literature (AL)

 

Fall

Winter

Spring

 

PHYS 201: General Physics I

PHYS 202: General Physics II

PHYS 203: General Physics III

YEAR THREE

PHYS 204: General Physics Lab

PHYS 205: General Physics Lab

PHYS 206: General Physics Lab

 

 

PSY 201: Mind and Brain (SCI) i

STAT 243Z: Elementary Statistics

 

Fall

Winter

Spring

 

CH 360: Biochemistryi

PSY 304: Biopsychology i

PSY 202: Mind & Society i

YEAR FOUR

   
    

i These courses are helpful for MCAT preparation but may not be required by podiatry schools.

Note: This page lists all the common prerequisites for programs. Please research programs to identify additional courses you may need to include and work with your pre-health advisors for any alternate course options.

Questions? Email pre-health advisors at prehealthadvising@uoregon.edu.