Pre-Medicine and Pre-Health Professions Major

Learning Format

On-Campus

Types

Bachelor's
Pre-Medicine and Pre-Health Professions Major

Blaze a Career in Healthcare

Our program at Framingham State is a great starting point for students interested in advanced schooling to become a healthcare professional, including career pathways in medicine, dentistry, podiatry, nursing, pharmacy, and other healthcare professions.  You’ll gain a strong foundation in the life sciences through classes in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, and neuroscience, among others. Our programming also instills the preparatory skills needed for any health profession including critical reading and thinking, clear writing and speaking, and leadership.

You’ll have the opportunity to work closely with our experienced faculty to do research in topics like cancer and microbiology, or you might complete an off-campus internship. Previous students have worked for doctors' offices, hospitals, and academic research labs to gain the experience and patient care hours needed to apply to graduate programs in the health professions.

FSU offers a variety of health professions-related student clubs and organizations that serve as great professional development and networking resources including Aspiring Health Professionals, Tri-Beta Biology Honors Society, and more.

Our intimate class sizes will allow you to build relationships with faculty and peers who will support you on your journey to success. We look forward to helping you determine your dream career, set goals, and blaze your own path to becoming a healthcare professional. 

Students in front of posters displaying student research

Pre-Medicine and Pre-Health Learning Outcomes

  • Explain how the basic principles of the biological hierarchy (molecular, cellular, organismal, population, communal, ecological, and global) are interconnected.

  • Differentiate diverse organismal characteristics by their causal evolutionary mechanism. 

  • Investigate a hypothesis relevant to their major by using the scientific process.

  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate biological information and deliver it in a form appropriate for the target audience.

  • Use a biological perspective as a foundation for civic engagement in discussion of contemporary policy, including anti-racism, public health, and climate change.

This program is designed for students who plan to attend medical school, dental school, physician assistant graduate programs, physical therapy graduate programs, direct entry (accelerated) nursing programs, occupational/speech therapy graduate programs or graduate school. Though specific programs may have additional or slightly varying requirements, these basic courses are required by the majority of programs. Students are strongly advised to meet with their academic advisor early in their coursework and when choosing electives.

Major Requirements

  • BIOL 125 The Biology Experience
  • BIOL 135/135L Foundations of Biological Science with Lab
  • BIOL 208/208L Genetics with Lab
  • BIOL 230 Professional Communication in Biology
  • BIOL 402 Processes of Organic Evolution
  • CHEM 107/107L Principles of Chemistry with Lab
  • CHEM 108/108L Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis with Lab
  • HEAL 100 Orientation to Health-Related Professions (0.5 Course credit)
  • MATH 180 Precalculus or
    • MATH 219 Calculus I
  • STAT 203 Statistics for the Natural Sciences or
    • ENVS 202 Data Analysis for Scientists or
    • STAA 127 Statistics for the Social Sciences

Biology Major Capstone:

  • BIOL 460 Research Experience in Biology**

    **An original research project is required of all Pre-Medicine/Human Health majors. Prior to enrollment in BIOL 460 Research Experience in Biology, the student should meet with their academic advisor and with other Biology faculty to tailor the research project to the student’s interests and career goals. 

General Studies (uPMG):

Students must take following concentration requirements (9):

  • BIOL 228/228L Microbiology with Lab
  • BIOL 241/241L Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
  • BIOL 242/242L Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
  • CHEM 207/207L Organic Chemistry I with Lab

  One (1) courses from Ecological Systems:

  • BIOL 203 Plants and Society
  • BIOL 233/233L Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy with Lab
  • BIOL 248/248L Principles of Ecology with Lab
  • BIOL 320/320L Animal Behavior with Lab
  • BIOL 321/321L Limnology with Lab
  • BIOL 335/335L Principles of Wildlife Biology with Lab
  • BIOL 344/344L Animal Physiological Ecology with Lab
  • BIOL 381 Theories of Infectious Diseases
  • BIOL 393 Wildlife Management and Conservation Topics     

Three (3) courses from the following list of Restricted Electives:

Note: Choices are limited to those courses not previously taken for this concentration.

  • BIOL 260/260L Cell Biology with Lab
  • BIOL 262/262L Molecular Biology with Lab
  • BIOL 356 Biology of Cancer
  • BIOL 432 Vertebrate Development
  • BIOL 426 Human Immunity
  • CHEM 208/208L Organic Chemistry II with Lab
  • CHEM 300/300L Principles of Biochemistry with Lab
  • CHEM 301/301L Biochemistry I with Lab
  • CHEM 332/332L Biochemistry II with Lab*
  • MATH 219 Calculus I
  • NEUR 225 Biopsychology
  • NEUR 306 Neurophysiology
  • NEUR 380 Neuropharmacology
  • NUTR 110 Fundamentals of Nutrition Science
  • PHIL 222 Bioethics
  • PHYS 201/201L Physics for Earth and Life Sciences with Lab
  • PHYS 211/211L Physics I with Lab
  • PHYS 212/212L Physics II with Lab

* Students who complete CHEM 332/332L Biochemistry II and its prerequisites are eligible for a Biochemistry minor.

 

Career Opportunities

Pre-Medicine and Pre-Health Professions majors will be prepared to pursue advanced education in careers across a wide range of exciting fields, including:

Student in a classroom with a microscope

Physician

Support and manage the health care of people of all ages

Dentist

Diagnose and treat patients' teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth.

Podiatrist

Diagnose and treat foot ailments

Occupational Therapist

Evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to improve their quality of life

Physician's Assistant

Assist physicians in providing primary care to patients

Pharmacist

Preparing, dispensing, and reviewing medications

Meet Your Faculty

Sandra Sanchez

Sandra Sanchez, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Biology Department
ssanchez4@framingham.edu
Jeffrey White

Jeffrey D. White, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Biology Department
508-215-5721
jwhite10@framingham.edu
Hemenway Annex
Aline Davis

Aline Davis, PhD

Professor, Biology Department
508-626-4797
adavis@framingham.edu
Hemenway
Aviva Liebert

Aviva Liebert, Ph.D.

Professor, Biology Department
508-626-4790
aliebert@framingham.edu
Hemenway Hall
View All

Learn More

If the Pre-Medicine and Pre-Health Professions major sounds like a good fit but you would like to learn more, contact Admissions at admissions [at] framigham.edu or 508-626-4500. 

 Apply 

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