Medical Cadet Requirements

Starfleet physicians provide day-to-day medical care to the people aboard ship and treat injuries just like any other doctor, but they are often called upon to practice medicine in the unpredictable environment that comes with space exploration. Medical officers are also called upon to use their extensive biomedical education to conduct research and perform investigative roles on away teams in collaboration with their science officer colleagues.

Educational Pathways

Some medical cadets have already earned their medical degree on their homeworlds and are proficient in the methods of medicine for their own species. Others have completed premedical studies and obtain their doctor of medicine degree from Starfleet Medical Academy after four years of study. Either way, because of their lengthy education, most medical cadets do not enter Starfleet Medical Academy until at least the age of 22. Upon graduation, medical officers complete an internship and then enter the fleet as general medical officers or continue on to further residency training.

Pre-Medical Studies at the Academy

Cadets who wish to earn both their undergraduate degree and their MD from the Academy typically major in one of the science specialities (such as biology or chemistry) or counseling (although any major is acceptable provided that pre-medical coursework is completed) during their undergraduate years. These cadets earn their undergraduate degree like any other cadet in those fields before going on to their medical studies.

The following courses (or their equivalent at another university) are required at the undergraduate level before commencing studies at the Starfleet Medical Academy:

BIO101: Concepts CHEM101: Concepts CHEM201: Organic Chemistry 1 CHEM202: Organic Chemistry 2 PHYS201: General Physics 1 PHYS202: General Physics 2 MATH120: Calculus, Advanced LANG101: Federation Standard

Medical Degree Requirements

To graduate with a doctorate degree in Medicine, a cadet must complete the following 42 credits of course work:

Years 1-2: Basic Sciences

30 credits of course work during the first two years (5 credits per semester):

Year 1

Medicine: Bedside Manner Medicine: Medical Ethics Medicine: Clinical Fundamentals Chemistry: Biochemistry Xenobiology: General Physiology Xenobiology: Physiology, Major Species Xenobiology: Physiology, Minor Species Xenobiology: Genetics, Humanoid 1 Xenobiology: Genetics, Humanoid 2 Xenobiology: Genetics, Non-Humanoid Xenobiology: Microbiology 1 (Bacteria) Xenobiology: Microbiology 2 (Virii) Xenobiology: Immunology Xenobiology: Systems 1, Derm/Respir/Cardio/Hematol Systems Xenobiology: Systems 2, GI/Musc/Renal/Endoc/Reprod

Year 2

Medicine: Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Medicine: Diagnosis, Major Species Medicine: Diagnosis, Minor Species Medicine: Pharmacology 1 Medicine: Pharmacology 2 Medicine: Surgery, Major Humanoid Species Medicine: Surgery, Non-Humanoid Species Engineering: Medical Systems and Equipment Engineering: Life Support Systems Xenobiology: Pathology Xenobiology: Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology Xenobiology: Endocrinology Xenobiology: Reproductive Biology Xenobiology: Hematology Xenobiology: Neuroscience

Years 3-4: Clinical Rotations

12 clinical rotations during the final two years (2 credits per semester, with staggered start dates for each rotation. One rotation is taken during the first half of the semester and the second rotation is taken during the second half of the semester):

Year 3

MED600: Internal Medicine MED610: General Practice MED620: General Surgery MED630: Obstetrics/Gynecology MED640: Pediatrics MED650: Psychiatry & Mental Health

Year 4

MED660: Medical Specialties MED670: Surgical Specialties MED680: Critical Care MED690: Aerospace Medicine MED701: Clinical Elective 1 MED702: Clinical Elective 2