How to classify a history of science course on AMCAS?

[CaffeineJunkie]

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[Lannister]

Type it in EXACTLY as it appears on your transcript. If it's labeled "BIOL", it's a biology course, and AMCAS will count it as such.

 

[CaffeineJunkie]

Type it in EXACTLY as it appears on your transcript. If it's labeled "BIOL", it's a biology course, and AMCAS will count it as such.

Thanks dude! What about biology-heavy courses in the psychology department?

 

[md-2020]

Thanks dude! What about biology-heavy courses in the psychology department?

Classify it as whatever benefits you most. In my experience AMCAS will be okay with either.

 

[CaffeineJunkie]

Classify it as whatever benefits you most. In my experience AMCAS will be okay with either.

Hell yea, fam! Getting that BCPM GPA boost. Thanks for the help!

 

[Lannister]

Sorry to rain on everybody 's parade here but the course would be history. As the AMCAS instructions clearly states
https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf

Page 39 (bolded in red in the instructions)
Course Classification
Each course must be assigned a course classification based strictly on the primary content of the course.


Page 85
Course classification is based solely on the primary
content of the course content, rather than course title or
department through which it is offered.
Consult your pre-professional health advisor or registrar to resolve
any questions concerning this classification

Awkward lol in that case I definitely classified some of my courses incorrectly.

 

[CaffeineJunkie]

Sorry to rain on everybody 's parade here but the course would be history. As the AMCAS instructions clearly states
https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf

Page 39 (bolded in red in the instructions)
Course Classification
Each course must be assigned a course classification based strictly on the primary content of the course.


Page 85
Course classification is based solely on the primary
content of the course content, rather than course title or
department through which it is offered.
Consult your pre-professional health advisor or registrar to resolve
any questions concerning this classification

Well, better I find this out now than later! Thank you!

 

[md-2020]

Sorry to rain on everybody 's parade here but the course would be history. As the AMCAS instructions clearly states
https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf

Page 39 (bolded in red in the instructions)
Course Classification
Each course must be assigned a course classification based strictly on the primary content of the course.


Page 85
Course classification is based solely on the primary
content of the course content, rather than course title or
department through which it is offered.
Consult your pre-professional health advisor or registrar to resolve
any questions concerning this classification

Well, better I find this out now than later! Thank you!

I agree that the rulebook is quite clear, but at the end of the day the line between a lot of courses is very iffy. In practice I think there's a fair amount of benefit of the doubt being given by AMCAS reviewers. Obviously, you cannot classify an ethics course as biology, but research methods is Psych, for example, even as a Psych course, does generally make sense as BCPM.

Edit: I honestly do not think AMCAS would even accept OPs original course with a history designation.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Sorry to rain on everybody 's parade here but the course would be history. As the AMCAS instructions clearly states
https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf

Page 39 (bolded in red in the instructions)
Course Classification
Each course must be assigned a course classification based strictly on the primary content of the course.


Page 85
Course classification is based solely on the primary
content of the course content, rather than course title or
department through which it is offered.
Consult your pre-professional health advisor or registrar to resolve
any questions concerning this classification

How exactly is AMCAS going to know the course content is not primarily science based when the dept is BIOSC? The Title BIOSC: Great Issues in Science certainly doesnt give that away at all.

You have far more experience in this than me so feel free to correct me but I've never seen a situation where a course that is under a BIOSC dept get changed to non science by AMCAS if you list it as science.

 

[GrapesofRath]

I have seen some bioethics and history of genetics in course titles get reclassified.

Were these under a BIOSC or other science dept that usually gets classified under BCPM? Or where they under a dept that would under guidelines would be classified as non science(ie psych, nutrition etc)? I think that's what was the deciding factor here.

Regardless I think you said the key issue; OP can try for a few borderline courses and see what happens(from what Ive seen the benefit of the doubt is given on these more than many suspect), just dont do too many and risk re-starting your verification process.

 

[Terror Billy]

@gonnif so are you saying a bioethics class could be classified under BCPM? a course I took did have a lot of hard science aspects, wasn't sure how I would classify it though...

 

[raiderette]

Many of my psych classes were reclassified. My global health class was listed under bio but reclassified.

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[CaffeineJunkie]

Thank you all for such helpful advice! Seems like, if I'm honest and go off the primary content of the course (as told to do so by AMCAS), then I should be able to proceed through verification just fine. Especially if I have less than 10 iffy courses.

I'm going to do the following:
BIOL Great Issues in Science -> BCPM
PSYCH stats course -> BCPM
PSYCH lab in cognitive neuro (EEGs and stuff) -> BCPM
PSYCH lab in behavioral neuro (very endocrinology and dissection heavy) -> BCPM