Pre-Health Professions

Engage in research-focused science programs to lay the groundwork for a fulfilling career in health care.

Pathways for Successful Careers in Health Care

At Susquehanna University, you’ll find multiple paths to advanced careers in the health professions. With guidance from expert faculty and a dedicated advising team, you’ll build an academic plan that fits your interests — whether you’re working toward medical school or another health-related career.

Susquehanna University provides our students with an opportunity to design a personalized experience that prepares them for a wide range of advanced post-graduate careers in medicine. Our knowledgeable faculty and staff work together to help a student coordinate an individualized academic path that will fit their personal and professional goals.

Career trajectories include:

Medical doctor (MD or DO)
Dentistry
Optometry
Veterinary Medicine
Nursing
Pharmacy

Physician Assistant
Physical therapy
Athletic training
Speech therapy
Occupational Therapy
Audiology

Academic Preparation

Susquehanna offers a range of academic majors and minors to help a student prepare for professional school admission. Our programs ensure that each student completes the required courses for graduation but also gains the knowledge base necessary to succeed at a post-graduate level as they navigate their health care journey.

Although most pre-health students pursue science majors such as Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Neuroscience and Psychology, any major can be chosen based upon the individual student’s interests and career goals. Our advisory team will thoughtfully help you design class schedules that secure completion of prerequisite classes for graduation and beyond.

flexible options to meet your goals

Preparing for Pre-Health Professions

Most health professional programs require a year of introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics, plus at least one semester of biochemistry and a math course such as biostatistics. Some graduate programs may require additional coursework. These prerequisites are built into the biomedical sciences major.

But that major isn’t the only path to a health career. If you choose another major, a health care studies minor can help you meet many requirements. Your advising team will help you choose the right major, minor and course plan based on your goals.

Explore Programs

A woman with long hair, wearing a pink top and blue gloves, is seated at a lab bench using a microscope. The lab is well-lit, with various scientific equipment and supplies on the counter. Sticky notes are visible above her.

Hands-On Research

Our STEM faculty provide students with an opportunity to delve into relevant research projects with diverse applications. An individual student can align with a faculty mentor to explore a wide range of topics; each project is intended to underline the importance of research principles and provide the opportunity for hands-on learning techniques.

Time in the laboratory can be a short, focused experience during a single semester or span several semesters depending on student interest. Several of our STEM majors incorporate a research experience — known as a Senior Capstone — within the curriculum, and many students choose summer research options to further engage in their projects.

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Two individuals in a laboratory setting conduct an experiment. One person carefully pours a liquid from a flask into a beaker, while the other observes. Both wear protective goggles and gloves, and a burette is clamped to a stand nearby.

Real-World Patient Care

A critical component to a health care career path is first-hand patient care experience. Whether shadowing a provider in the community, volunteering for a community service group, performing skills during an official internship, or accruing valuable hours working in a medical setting, our students understand the importance of clinical exposure.

Students can design their own experiences by working jointly with our support team of health care advisors and the Career Development Center; opportunities can be arranged locally during the semester and also remotely during vacations and semester breaks.

Career Development

A person wearing glasses and a white medical lab coat stands indoors. The coat has logos from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Artworks are visible on the wall behind them.

Test Prep & Grad School Advising

Standardized test requirements vary across health programs. While some have moved away from testing, others still place strong emphasis on it. Our advising team stays current with application trends and will guide you through what’s required for your specific path.

Tests like the MCAT, DAT, OAT and GRE are still important for many medical, dental, optometry and veterinary programs. Some nursing and physician assistant programs may no longer require the PCAT or PA-CAT. We also help you understand situational judgment tests like Casper and AAMC PREview, which some schools use in admissions.

Several students, including transfer students, sit at desks in a classroom, focused on their laptops and notebooks. Sunlight streams through the windows behind them, and backpacks rest on the floor by their chairs.

Internships and Field studies in Health Care

Susquehanna University offers invaluable hands-on internships, funded by a $50,000 grant, providing students with essential health industry experience and professional development opportunities.

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