FAQs

Yes. American International College of Arts and Sciences—Antigua (AICASA)* offers a number of premed and other prerequisite coursework applicable to AUA, including but not limited to: Introduction Biology I & II with lab, General Chemistry I & II with lab, Organic Chemistry I & II with lab, General Physics I & II with lab, Cell Biology, Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Genetics and Microbiology. 

Further details are available in the AICASA* homepage.

*Although AUA accepts credits from AICASA under certain circumstances, the two are wholly separated educational institutions.

AUA is committed to maintaining a low student-faculty ratio. Lecture breakout sessions, problem-based learning and classroom-integrated teaching technology allow for a personalized learning experience. Students will not be just another number.

The Basic Sciences component comprises four semesters of classroom curriculum and the application of basic sciences to clinical medicine. The courses employ a variety of teaching methods other than large group didactics, such as small group sessions, clinical case discussions, simulations and hands-on laboratory and patient experience. As part of our hospital-integrated program, first and fourth semester students attend teaching rounds at the general hospital conducted by our faculty. Students are exposed to patients of all age groups. In addition, students practice history taking and physical examinations with patients in our ICM laboratory. Further practice with simulated patients is provided in the Patient Simulation Lab. Third and fourth semester students also attend autopsies at the hospital as part of their pathology course.

The Basic Sciences courses instill the foundational skills students will need to succeed as practicing physicians, and provide students with the necessary knowledge to sit for and pass the USMLE Step I Exam.  Integrated Review of the Basic Science Review (IRBS) distills these studies into a comprehensive curriculum. Students prepare by taking a series of Comp Shelf Examinations, and must achieve a passing score in order to be promoted from Basic Sciences into clinical rotations.