- 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.
- 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).
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!
Click here to watch the Podiatry School Prerequisite Overview video.
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 IIiii | SOC 204: Intro to Sociology (SS,US)ii | SOC 207: Social Inequality (SS, US)ii |
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 IV - Biochemistry |
BI 211: General Biology - Cells | BI 212: General Biology II - Organisms | 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: Intro to PSY I (SCI) ii | PSY 202: Intro to PSY II (SS) ii |
Fall | Winter | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
CH 360: Biochemistryi & ii | PSY 304: Biopsychology ii |
| |
YEAR FOUR | |||
i Prerequisite vary by school. While some schools require this course, others may not. Research individual programs to determine whether you would like to add this course to your graduation plan.
ii These courses are helpful for MCAT preparation but may not be required by podiatry schools.
iii This is a co-requisite/prerequisite for General Chemistry I.
Note: This page lists all the common prerequisites for programs. Research individual programs to identify additional courses you may need to take by visiting the AACPM Program Directory. Work with your pre-health advisors for any alternate course options.
Questions? Email pre-health advisors at prehealthadvising@uoregon.edu.