Selecting a Major

Your undergraduate major

Pre-Med and Pre-Health students may choose any undergraduate major of study. Graduate schools require that students take certain pre-requisites (for example biology and chemistry courses), but do not require a certain undergraduate major program of study. 

Select a major that reflects your interests and passions. The average age of acceptance to many postgraduate health professions programs is currently in a students late 20's, so it's a good idea to choose a field you would like to work in before medical or health professional school begins.

While many students choose a major in the sciences leading to a Bachelor of Science degree including, but not limited to, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, medical laboratory science, physics or psychology, any major offered at UMass Dartmouth is acceptable.

Some professional programs may also require at least a semester of biochemistry with laboratory, and several semesters of anatomy and physiology with laboratory. Collectively, these courses are often completed within your four years and in addition to those needed to satisfy your major requirements.

The specific prerequisites are dictated by the actual professional school, and these are your best source of guidance. Students will meet with the Pre-Med and Pre-Health advisors to plan your program. Students are encouraged to meet with the Pre-Professional advisor for the Pre-Med and Pre-Health program in the STAR Center as early as the summer prior to starting their first year at UMass Dartmouth. 

Acceptance to graduate or professional school

Acceptance to medical school, or other professional programs, is based in part on a student's overall academic performance, regardless of major, and the completion of the particular program's prerequisite course requirements.

Most programs are very competitive, so students need to maintain a strong GPA. Students should meet with the Pre-Med and Pre-Health advising team early in their academic career to identify schools of interest and review pre-requisites and entrance requirements. Participation in the UMassD Pre-Med and Pre-Health Scholars program is not a guarantee of admission to advanced graduate study.