Best Online Pre-Med Courses To Take Before Your Internship (2025 Guide)

Why Pre-Med Students Should Prepare Before Their Clinical Internship

If you’ve signed up for a pre-med internship, whether at a U.S. hospital or through an international program like Go Elective, you’re already on the right track. Clinical experience is a cornerstone of your medical school application.

But to make the most of your shadowing, rotations, and patient observations, a bit of academic prep can go a long way.

Online pre-med courses can help you:

• Build a foundation in anatomy, medical terminology, or global health
• Improve your confidence in clinical settings
• Enhance your understanding of patient care and diagnoses
• Ask smarter questions during your internship

Here are the best online pre-med courses to take before your internship, including free and paid options that fit your schedule and strengthen your med school profile.

> Explore Go-Elective Pre Med Internships

1. Coursera: Vital Signs—Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us

Offered by: University of Pennsylvania
Cost: Free (with optional paid certificate)
Duration: ~14 hours
> View Course

This course covers one of the most fundamental aspects of clinical care: how to interpret vital signs. You’ll learn about heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and more.

Perfect for: Interns preparing for rotations in emergency medicine or inpatient wards, where vital signs are a daily part of care.

2. edX: AnatomyX – Musculoskeletal Cases

Offered by: Harvard Medical School
Cost: Free (with option to pay for a certificate)
Duration: 6–8 weeks (self-paced)
>  View Course

This course teaches musculoskeletal anatomy through clinical case studies. You’ll follow real patients through diagnosis and treatment, helping you learn to connect structure with function.

Why it’s great: 

If you're nervous about keeping up in surgical or orthopedic departments during your internship, this course will give you a head start

3. FutureLearn: The Role of Medical Interpreters

Offered by: University of Glasgow
Cost: Free access for 4 weeks
Duration: 2 weeks
> View Course

This unique course explores how language, culture, and communication impact healthcare—a must for students traveling abroad.

Recommended for: Interns preparing to work in diverse, multilingual environments like Kenya or Tanzania with Go Elective, where cultural sensitivity is key.

4. Khan Academy MCAT Collection: Biology and Behavior + Critical Thinking

Offered by: Khan Academy
Cost: Free
> Start Learning

While designed for MCAT prep, these sections provide excellent foundational knowledge in:

• Organ systems
• Behavior and mental health
• Critical analysis and reasoning

Ideal for: Students who want to refresh their basic sciences before entering clinical departments.

5. Coursera: Global Health—An Interdisciplinary Overview

Offered by: University of Geneva
Cost: Free (with optional certificate)
Duration: ~11 hours
> View Course

This course introduces major global health challenges, including maternal health, infectious disease, and health systems. You’ll gain a contextual understanding of healthcare outside the U.S., which is incredibly valuable for global internships.

Pairs well with: Go Elective’s global health internships, where you’ll work in resource-limited hospitals and participate in community outreach programs abroad.

6. Stanford Online: Medical Terminology

Offered by: Stanford Center for Health Education
Cost: Paid (approx. $79)
>  View Course

This course is ideal if you want to understand the language of medicine before entering the hospital. Learn how terms are constructed and how to interpret physician notes.

Why it matters: You’ll be reading charts, listening to diagnoses, and hearing acronyms constantly. Knowing basic medical terminology gives you a major confidence boost.

7. Harvard HMX: Immunology, Physiology, or Pharmacology

Offered by: Harvard Medical School (HMX Online)
Cost: ~$995 per course
> View Courses

These professional-level courses dive deep into topics essential for future physicians. While pricey, they provide certificates from Harvard and access to interactive modules, quizzes, and clinical correlates.

Best for: Students taking a gap year or seriously investing in clinical knowledge before med school.

8. Go Elective’s Pre-Trip Training (Included in Internship)

Offered by: Go Elective
Cost: Included in your internship program
Topics: Cross-cultural healthcare, hospital etiquette, clinical safety, Swahili basics (Kenya/Tanzania)

Before departure, Go Elective provides tailored onboarding materials that help you:

• Understand what to expect in your rotations
• Communicate respectfully across cultures
• Prepare mentally and academically for your experience

Insider tip: Take the training seriously. Students who review the materials in advance report feeling more confident and better prepared on Day 1 of their hospital internship.

Final Tips for Choosing the Right Pre-Med Courses

✅ Choose courses aligned with your upcoming rotation (e.g., anatomy before surgery, vital signs before emergency)
✅ Don’t overdo it—focus on 1 to 3 high-yield courses
✅ Look for courses that offer reflection or case-based learning
✅ If you’re traveling for an internship, include global health and communication courses

And remember: These courses don’t just prepare you for the wards. They also make great talking points in interviews and AMCAS applications, where you can show how you took initiative before stepping into clinical settings.

Planning a Global Internship This Year?

Pair your online prep with real-world experience in Kenya or Tanzania:

✓ 100+ hours of clinical shadowing
✓ Physician mentorship across specialties
✓ Safe, structured internships for pre-med students
✓ Full support before, during, and after your trip

> Apply now to get started—and stand out.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Dental Internships,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Jun 26, 2025