Pre-Medicine, BS
Are you passionate about healthcare and preparing for a career as a medical doctor or in a health-related field? The University of Tennessee’s Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Medicine equips you with foundational knowledge of the forces that shape healthcare and medicine, preparing you to excel and hit the ground running in your future medical profession.
Program Overview
The Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Medicine teaches students foundational science knowledge for health-related fields or careers as medical doctors.
As a four-year program, students take courses in areas like chemistry, biology, neuroscience, and even psychology, giving them a solid foundation in medical sciences and social and cultural influences on healthcare.
The pre-professional program in pre-medicine is a great fit for students who, after completing their BS degree, plan to apply to medical school and complete their Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).
Becoming a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
As students come towards the end of their BS degree (typically in their junior/senior year), it is common to begin preparing for and complete the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
Once students complete and pass the test, they may then begin applying to medical schools, such as the College of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center.
Once admitted to a medical school, students complete a four-year program to obtain their MD or DO.
Pre-Health Professions Minor
If you’re interested in pursuing a health-related career, whether that’s dentistry, medicine, a physician’s assistant (PA), a chiropractic career, and so much more, the minor in pre-health professions equips you with all the prerequisite courses needed to apply to professional schools, whether that’s medical, veterinary, dental, or pharmacy school.
You’ll gain foundational knowledge in many of the life and health sciences, including biology, chemistry, nutrition, physics, and you’ll even take interdisciplinary courses in psychology, classics, and religious studies, teaching you social and cultural factors that affect healthcare.
Why Study Pre-Medicine?
The Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Medicine stands out for preparing students with the biological, anatomy, medical knowledge, and prerequisite courses needed to successfully prepare for medical school.
You’ll gain specialized knowledge, take interdisciplinary coursework, and obtain practical, hands-on skills that will prepare you for a career in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
Plus, our program boasts plenty of opportunities for internships, study abroad, and research, giving you the space to thrive and learn about global health issues, practices, and clinical training.
What Can You Do with a BS in Pre-Medicine After Graduation?
The Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Medicine is uniquely positioned to prepare students for medical school and careers as medical doctors or surgeons. Many students go on to become primary care physicians, or specialized medical doctors in fields like cardiology, anesthesiology, neurology, and more.
Those interested in surgery might pursue fellowships or residencies in general surgery, orthopedics, cardiothoracic, or even pediatric surgery, to name a few.
Whether you want to work as a medical doctor, surgeon, or even in medical research and education, our program helps prepare you for a successful career in healthcare, giving you T-shaped skills that make you show up and stand out.
Featured Courses
CHEM 360 In-depth Organic Chemistry
This course covers compounds of carbon and their reactions. Reaction mechanisms, multistep synthesis, spectroscopic, and other physical properties.
CLAS 273 Medical Terminology
Students will gain an extensive introduction to the language of medicine and its Greek and Latin roots. This is an asynchronous online course.
BCMB 461 Cancer Biology
This course covers the fundamental mechanisms of cancer formation and therapy, including cell cycle, cancer epidemiology, cancer pathology, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, DNA repair, and metastasis.
MICR 321 Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phage
In this course, students will learn genetics and molecular biology of bacteria and their associated viruses.
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