What major should pre-med/pre-dental students be?

Pre-Med students can major in anything they want! They are strongly advised to major in subjects that most interest them as medical schools look for well-rounded applicants who can think on their own and solve problems. This is why there is not a "Pre-Med Major".

How is choosing to be a STEM major (like Biology) different from choosing to be a non-STEM major (like Business) for a pre-med/pre-dental student?

For a student to apply to medical school, they are required to complete certain courses. Therefore, the difference between majoring in STEM versus non-STEM is that most of the required coursework will alreay be in the degree plan for a STEM major; whereas, a non-STEM major will have to complete their non-STEM degree plan and complete the required coursework for medical school on the side (this can lead to a double major or a minor in a subject like biology or chemistry).

Why should pre-med/pre-dental students choose to attend UH for their Undergraduate Career?

• We are down the street from the world's largest medical center

• A vast range of student clubs and organizations

• We have our own medical school (opening Fall 2020)

• A ton of undergraduate research opportunities on campus and through programs with the medical center

• The UH Honors College houses an Honors Minor in Medicine & Society

Courses required for pre-med/pre-dental students to apply to medical school:

• 14 credit hours of Biology coursework

  • Intro to Biology 1 + lab (4 Credit Hrs)

  • Intro to Biology 2 + lab (4 Credit Hrs)

  • 6 additional credit hours of Biological coursework at the 3000 level or higher

    • Genetics is highly recommended (3 Credit Hrs)

• 8 credit hours of Chemistry coursework

  • Intro to Chemistry 1 + lab (4 Credit Hrs)

  • Intro to Chemistry 2 + lab (4 Credit Hrs)

• 8 credit hours of Organic Chemistry coursework

• • General Organic Chemistry 1 + lab (5 Credit Hrs)

  • General Organic Chemistry 2 + lab (5 Credit Hrs)

• 3 credit hours of Biochemistry coursework

  • Intro to Biochemistry (3 Credit Hrs)

• 8 credit hours of Physics

• • Physics 1 + lab (4 Credit Hrs)

  • Physics 2 + lab (4 Credit Hrs)

• 6 credit hours of English coursework

  • English 1 (3 Credit Hrs)

  • English 2 (3 Credit Hrs)

• 3 credit hours of Statistics coursework

What major should pre-optometry students be?

Pre-Health students, in general, can major in anything they want! They are strongly advised to major in subjects that most interest them as schools look for well-rounded applicants who can think on their own and solve problems.

Courses required for Pre-Health students to apply to medical school:

All Pre-Health students should look at the requirements for the professional schools they wish to apply to after graduating from their undergraduate career. It is the best way to see what exactly they should be doing during their undergraduate career. Requirements vary by profession and by the schools. For example, most pharmacy schools do NOT require students to complete their bachelors degree.

UH College of Medicine

• Currently waiting for its final accreditation before opening applications for its ignaugral class.

• Mission: The UH College of Medicine will be accountable for improving the overall health and healthcare of the population of not only Greater Houston but also other urban and rural areas of Texas that face significant doctor, especially primary care physician, shortages.

• An anonymous donor has donated money to cover the medical school's 1st class of students' entire medical school career tuition.

• Another anonyous donor has donated money to cover the one-third of the medical school's 2nd class of students' entrice medical school career tuition.

• In January 2020, Blue Cross Blue Shield has donated $5 million to the medical school to fund scholarships for its future students.