Frequently asked questions and answers
Get answers to all of your John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering FAQ, including application requirements, recommended courses, recommended experiences and the admissions process.
MCAT
Yes, you will need a valid MCAT with a minimum of a 504 total score or a pending MCAT with the exam date included in the primary application before a secondary application will be sent.
A valid MCAT with a minimum total score of 504 is required before an invitation to interview will be extended.
There are no minimum subscores for admission.
The highest total MCAT score within the eligibility window will be the primary score used during application review.
There are no exceptions to the required minimum 504 MCAT score.
Yes, applicants must have taken the MCAT within three years of intended matriculation into medical school. To be considered for admission into the entering class of 2026, applicants must have taken the MCAT between January 2023 and September 2025.
Entry
We do not accept transfer students from other medical schools. However, medical students that left their prior medical schools are welcome to apply for entry as an incoming first year medical student through the regular AMCAS application process.
Connection to Arizona, Phoenix or Arizona State University is not a requirement for admission.
Coursework and degrees
The school does not require specific courses or majors for entry. However, there are strongly recommended courses that will help prepare new students for the rigors of a medical and engineering concurrent degree program.
Recommended courses:
Competency | Strongly recommended courses |
|---|---|
Biology | General biology |
Genetics | |
Anatomy and physiology | |
Advanced biology | |
Chemistry | General chemistry |
Organic chemistry | |
Biochemistry | |
Math | Calculus |
Statistics | |
Linear algebra | |
Ordinary differential equations | |
Physics | Introductory physics |
Humanities | English, history, philosophy, foreign languages |
Social science |
The ASU Medical and Engineering School recognizes online coursework taken for credit from regionally accredited institutions within the US or Canada.
We recognize courses from regionally accredited schools within the U.S. and Canada, and as long as they are completed for college credit and will reflect on an official college transcript.
Candidates that earned a degree from nonregionally accredited institutions outside the U.S. or Canada can still be considered with the completion of a postbaccalaureate or graduate degree program from a U.S. or Canadian regionally accredited institution.
Letter of recommendation
We require four letters of recommendation.
We recommend a letter of recommendation from clinical and engineering experiences. While there are no strict requirements regarding who provides a letter of recommendation, it is best to choose people with whom you have a strong professional relationship who can attest to your experiences, contributions, and potential for success in medical and engineering education.
We will accept packet letters of recommendation as long as the total recommendations meet the required four.
Concurrent degree
Yes, there is no required coursework or college major or minor required for admission. However, it is important to note that as a concurrent medical and engineering degree program, there will be complex math and physics as part of the curriculum. See course recommendations for additional guidance.
The program is built to be a concurrent degree program with medicine and engineering areas of focus interwoven throughout the curriculum. Students can apply to an engineering-only program through the ASU Graduate College if they prefer to pursue engineering separately.
The curriculum is built to incorporate both medicine and engineering throughout the whole program. There will be dedicated courses, clerkships, and research opportunities focused on both areas, and program advisors will help map coursework and sequencing.
The program will be four years in length.
Connection opportunities
Candidates offered admission will have an opportunity to see the campus and connect with each other and the ASU medical school community during the Second Look event in spring 2026.
Accepted students will be invited to a group chat to connect with one another and current ASU students.
Application general
The school will not accept routine application updates unless it is a correction to incorrect information on the application. If that is the case, please contact the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering Office of Admissions to communicate the correction.
Yes.
If there are extenuating circumstances that occurred between the FAP application and the present time that impact an ability to cover the secondary fee, candidates may reach out to the Office of Admissions with the request. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Living in AZ/Phoenix
While there are public transportation options in the greater Phoenix area, it may be more convenient for students to attend courses and clinical sites with personal transportation.
There is a downtown Phoenix ASU housing complex for graduate students, and there are many non-ASU apartment complexes around the downtown Phoenix area.
Yes, ASU has a housing website with resources students can access. There are also resources for off-campus options that include listing searches for housing, understanding leases and finding roommates.
Students will also have their admitted student group chat to find potential roommates and housemates.
Yes, ASU medical students will have access to ASU student amenities, including ASU Sun Devil Fitness in downtown Phoenix.