Exploring Pre-Health Professions and Choosing a Major
Getting Started on a Pre-Health Professions Path
If you are interested in a health care field that requires additional education after your bachelor’s degree, you have come to the right place.
Read more about the pre-professional paths offered by UM-Flint below and some majors that work well for each path. You are not limited to the majors listed below.
Natural science majors such as Biology, Human Biology and Chemistry are great options that include pre-professional tracks. There are also other great choices that you may not be as familiar with, including UM-Flint’s bachelor’s in Health Sciences, which takes a human dimensions approach to health with a public health focus.
Pre-Professional Health Care Pathways
Pre-Chiropractic
The following UM-Flint majors have a pre-chiropractic track built in: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry/Green Chemistry, Health Sciences, Human Biology and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology.
Chiropractic doctors diagnose and treat patients whose health problems are associated with the body’s muscular, nervous and skeletal systems.
Most chiropractic schools require a strong background in lab science courses.
Read more about the prerequisites for chiropractic programs from the Association of Chiropractic Colleges.
Learn more about the Chiropractic career and job outlook.
Pre-Dental
The following UM-Flint majors have a pre-dental track built in: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry/Green Chemistry, Health Sciences, Human Biology and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology.
Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth.
Most dental programs are four years long. Admissions requirements vary by school but most dental schools require a bachelor’s degree and a strong background in lab science courses.
Read more about the prerequisites for dental programs from the American Dental Education Association.
Learn more about the Dental career and job outlook.
Pre-Medical
The following UM-Flint majors have a pre-medical track built in: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry/Green Chemistry, Health Sciences, Human Biology and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology.
Doctors and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. There are two types of physicians with similar degrees: Medical Doctor and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.
After completing a bachelor’s degree, prospective doctors attend four years of medical school and complete a residency before becoming fully licensed to practice medicine.
There is no single factor that will determine whether you will be accepted into medical school. Most medical schools will consider your GPA but also MCAT score, research experience, clinical or volunteer experience and extracurricular activities.
Read more about the prerequisites for medical schools from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Learn more about the physicians and surgeons career and job outlook.
Similar careers to consider are a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner.
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists help patients with an injury or disability perform daily activities.
Occupational therapy requires a master’s degree or a doctorate. UM-Flint offers a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy that provides more opportunities in leadership, teaching and research than a master’s program.
UM-Flint’s OTD program requires a bachelor’s degree and has prerequisite courses but doesn’t require as many science courses as some other health professional programs.
Almost any major, including majors in the humanities and social sciences, could be used to prepare you for an occupational therapy program. If you choose a major without a pre-OT track, make sure you review the prerequisite courses for the program you are planning to apply to.
The following UM-Flint majors have a pre-occupational therapy track built in: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry/Green Chemistry, Health Sciences, Human Biology and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology. Exercise Science is also a good option.
UM-Flint also offers an Occupational Therapy Accelerated Pathway. Students can complete both a bachelor’s in health sciences and the OTD program in six years instead of the traditional seven, saving one year of time and tuition.
Learn more about the Occupational Therapy career and job outlook.
Pre-Optometry
The following UM-Flint majors have a pre-optometry therapy track built in: Biology, Health Sciences, Human Biology and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology.
Optometrists diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye.
Most doctor of optometry programs are four years long. Admissions requirements vary by school but most require a bachelor’s degree and a strong background in lab science courses.
Learn more about the Optometry career and job outlook.
Pre-Pharmacy
The following UM-Flint majors have a pre-pharmacy track built in: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry/Green Chemistry, Health Sciences, Human Biology and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology.
Pharmacists dispense prescription medications and provide information to patients.
Admissions for doctor of pharmacy programs vary by school but most require a bachelor’s degree and strong background in lab science courses.
Most of the UM-Flint undergraduate majors listed above offer a pre-pharmacy track.
Learn more about the Pharmacy career and job outlook.
Pre-Physical Therapy
The following UM-Flint majors have a pre-physical therapy track built in: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry/Green Chemistry, Health Sciences, Human Biology and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology. Exercise Science is also a good option.
UM-Flint also offers a Physical Therapy Accelerated Pathway. Students can complete both a bachelor’s in health sciences and the DPT program in six years instead of the traditional seven, saving one year of time and tuition.
Physical therapists diagnose and treat patients with movement disorders. They help patients restore physical mobility, promote wellness, and improve quality of life.
Physical therapy requires a doctorate degree. UM-Flint offers a three-year Doctor of Physical Therapy program ranked #1 in Michigan.
UM-Flint’s DPT program requires a bachelor’s degree and a strong foundation of science courses. See the list of prerequisites for Pre-Physical Therapy.
Learn more about the Physical Therapy career and job outlook.
Pre-Physician Assistant
The following UM-Flint majors have a pre-physician assistant track built in: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry/Green Chemistry, Health Sciences, Human Biology and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology. Exercise Science is also a good option.
Physician assistants examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the supervision of a physician and can choose from many different specialties, similar to doctors. Unlike physicians, PAs can easily move between specialties without additional training.
Working as a physician assistant requires a master’s degree. UM-Flint offers a Physician Assistant program that provides one year of clinical experience in different specialties in respected institutions such as Michigan Medicine.
UM-Flint’s PA program requires a bachelor’s degree, a strong foundation in science courses and 500 hours of patient care experience. See the admissions requirements. Graduates of the bachelor’s in Health Sciences program who have met the requirements are guaranteed an admissions interview.
Learn more about the Physician Assistant career and job outlook.
Pre-Veterinary
The following UM-Flint majors have a pre-veterinary track built in: Biology, Molecular Biology/Biotechnology and Wildlife Biology.
Veterinarians care for the health of animals.
Admissions for veterinarian programs vary by school but most require a bachelor’s degree and strong background in lab science courses.
Learn more about the Veterinary career and job outlook.