Premedicine, B.S.

Program Description

This major provides a broad foundation necessary to the understanding of the basic subjects of modern medical studies. The curriculum, which offers a good balance between science and non-science courses, constitutes an excellent preparation for admission to medical school. It also gives students the freedom to tailor the program to meet their individual needs by permitting a generous number of supporting courses. Specific admission requirements or recommendations of a particular medical school, not already in the required courses of the major, may be included among the supporting courses. Many students also use their supporting courses to pursue a minor.

What is Premedicine?

The Premedicine major is designed to enable students to gain a strong science foundation in chemistry, biochemistry, physics, biology, as well as breadth in ethics and social science, that is necessary for advanced study in the field of medicine. The Premedicine major has a life science focus but integrates knowledge and practices across multiple disciplines to prepare students to think deeply and critically.

You Might Like This Program If...

• You like and are interested in studying several areas of science.
• You want to gain in-depth knowledge in core science disciplines.
• You want to use your science expertise to work and make a difference with people.
• You aspire to a clinical career in medicine.

Entrance to Major

In order to be eligible for entrance to the Premedicine major, a student must have:

1. attained at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average; and
2. completed BIOL 110¹, BIOL 230W¹, CHEM 110¹, CHEM 111¹, CHEM 112¹, CHEM 113¹, CHEM 210¹, MATH 140¹, MATH 141¹ and earned a grade of C or better in each of these courses.

Three-Year Alternative

A student may also become eligible for the Bachelor of Science degree in this major upon satisfactory completion of:

1. A total of 96 credits, including General Education credits in Writing/Speaking, Health and Wellness, Arts, Humanities, and Social and Behavioral Sciences; credits in Ethics, Statistics; healthcare internship; BIOL 110¹, BIOL 230W¹, BMB 401¹, BMB 402¹, CHEM 110¹, CHEM 111¹, CHEM 112¹, CHEM 113¹, CHEM 210¹, CHEM 212¹, CHEM 213¹, MATH 140¹, MATH 141¹, PHYS 211¹, PHYS 212¹, PHYS 213¹, and PHYS 214¹.
2. The first year of an accredited medical or dental postgraduate program.

¹

A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44. 

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Premedicine, a minimum of 120 credits is required, with at least 18 credits at the 400 level:

24 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 3 credits of GHW courses; 9 credits of GN courses; 6 credits of GQ courses; 6 credits of GS courses.

Requirements for the Major

To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
HPA 101	Introduction to Health Services Organization	3
PSYCH 100	Introductory Psychology	3
SOC 1	Introductory Sociology	3
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
BIOL 110	Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity	4
BIOL 230W	Biology: Molecules and Cells	4
CHEM 110	Chemical Principles I	3
CHEM 111	Experimental Chemistry I	1
CHEM 112	Chemical Principles II	3
CHEM 113	Experimental Chemistry II	1
CHEM 210	Organic Chemistry I	3
CHEM 212	Organic Chemistry II	3
CHEM 213	Laboratory in Organic Chemistry	2
MATH 140	Calculus With Analytic Geometry I	4
MATH 141	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II	4
NUTR 251	Introductory Principles of Nutrition	3
Additional Courses
STAT 200	Elementary Statistics	3-4
or STAT 250	Introduction to Biostatistics
Select one of the following options for your healthcare internship: 1		1
SC 294	Research Project Courses
or SC 494	Research Project Courses
Select one of the following:		3
CAS 453	Health Communication Theory and Research
NURS 464	Dying and Death
PHIL/BIOET 432	Medical and Health Care Ethics
Select one of the following:		4-5
BIOL 220W	Biology: Populations and Communities
BIOL 240W	Biology: Function and Development of Organisms
MICRB 201 & MICRB 202	Introductory Microbiology and Introductory Microbiology Laboratory
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 8-12 credits from the following:		8-12
PHYS 211 & PHYS 212 & PHYS 213 & PHYS 214	General Physics: Mechanics and General Physics: Electricity and Magnetism and General Physics: Fluids and Thermal Physics and General Physics: Wave Motion and Quantum Physics
PHYS 250 & PHYS 251	Introductory Physics I and Introductory Physics II
Select 4-5 credits from the following:		4-5
BIOL 421	Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates
BIOL 437	Histology
BIOL 472 & BIOL 473	Human Physiology and Laboratory in Mammalian Physiology
MICRB 412 & MICRB 422	Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory
Select 5-6 credits from the following:		5-6
BMB 400	Molecular Biology of the Gene
BMB 401	General Biochemistry
BMB 402	General Biochemistry
CHEM 450 & CHEM 452	Physical Chemistry - Thermodynamics and Physical Chemistry - Quantum Chemistry
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Select 12 credits toward Area of Concentration 2		12
Select 7-15 credits from program list 3		7-15

¹

Healthcare internship must be approved by Director of Science Premedicine Majors.

²

Coursework to be selected in consultation with Premedicine Major Adviser. Can be counted toward minor. 

³

A maximum of 12 credits of Independent Study [296, 496] may be applied toward credits for graduation. Students may apply 6 credits of ROTC.

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Program Learning Objectives

• Science Competency: Graduates will be able to apply scientific concepts from the natural and social sciences most relevant to medicine: biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, psychology, and sociology.
• Scientific Inquiry: Graduates will be able to perform the process of science.
• Critical Thinking & Quantitative Reasoning: Graduates will be able to use quantitative reasoning skills to analyze and interpret scientific data.
• Communication: Graduates will be able to effectively convey information through oral and written communication.
• Ethical Responsibility: Graduates will be able to apply ethical reasoning to problems that present within medical and bio technological scenarios and have facility with key ethical frameworks utilized in healthcare and public health.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Melissa Krajcovic
Director, Science Premedicine Majors
225B Ritenour Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7620
muk519@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Premedicine, B.S. at University Park Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Premedicine, B.S. for 2+2 students starting at a Commonwealth Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

ALEKS Placement into MATH 22: Premedicine, B.S. at University Park Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Career Paths

Penn State students who complete the BS in Premedicine become physicians, medical research scientists, or enter related medical professions including dentistry, optometry, or podiatry.

Careers

Graduates of the Premedicine major typically either move directly into a post-graduate healthcare school – medicine (MD or DO) is most common - or take a gap period to broaden and enrich their relevant non-academic experiences.

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Sometimes students in the Premedicine major desire a meaningful post-graduate research experience before entering a professional curriculum. The balanced science components in this major prepare students well for graduate studies in medically-related fields of research.

Professional Resources

• Association of American Medical Colleges
• American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
• American Dental Education Association
• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
• American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine 

Contact

University Park

PREMEDICINE MAJOR PROGRAM OFFICE
230 Ritenour Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7620
muk519@psu.edu

https://science.psu.edu/interdisciplinary-programs/premedicine