There is no “pre-health†or “pre-med†major. Health professional schools admit students from a variety of academic backgrounds, as long as they’ve taken the necessary prerequisite coursework. Students can choose their own degree and major pathway based on their individual interests and goals. The Pre-Health Programs office is here to assist you in navigating these decisions.
Though the majority of health professional schools will specify the coursework required for admission, most schools do not identify a preferred undergraduate major. Students who intend to go to a professional school for a health care field can declare any undergraduate major in which they have interest and aptitude. Professional schools will admit students from any major, as long as they satisfy the admission criteria. Schools will look to see that students chose a challenging course of study and excelled in these classes, in addition to completing extensive extracurricular activities such as shadowing and volunteering.
In the College of Arts and Sciences, the most common degrees are usually in the sciences such as Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Physics, and Psychology. In these degree programs, students declare a concentration geared towards their specific interest in health care. The benefit in choosing one of these programs is that the required curriculum often includes many prerequisites for professional schools in health fields.
Undergraduate research experience is a great way to demonstrate thinking and reasoning and science competencies, all of which are desirable attributes for health professional schools. Students can participate in undergraduate research through academic departments or other institutions.
Department of Biological Sciences
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Allows students with a non-science undergraduate degree to prepare for health professional school applications. Please visit the Pre-Health Post-Undergraduate Certificate page to learn more.