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About the Premedicine Major

Premedicine Overview,
Goals, and Requirements

Overview of the Premedicine Major

The Premedicine major, a minimum of 120 credits, constitutes an excellent preparation for admission to medical school by offering a good balance between science and non-science courses and a healthcare internship. This major also gives students the freedom to tailor the program to meet individual needs & interests by permitting a generous number of supporting courses including an area of concentration to allow students to highlight a specific area of interest. 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. Though students may begin at any Penn State campus, this major must be completed at University Park.

 

Program Goals

The 4-year interdisciplinary Premedicine degree provides excellent preparation in the natural sciences and supporting non-science courses, enabling students to be competitive for entry to post-graduate professional schools and careers.

Program Learning Objectives:

  1. 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.
  2. Scientific Inquiry: Graduates will be able to perform the process of science.
  3. Critical Thinking & Quantitative Reasoning: Graduates will be able to use quantitative reasoning skills to analyze and interpret scientific data.
  4. Communication: Graduates will be able to effectively convey information through oral and written communication.
  5. 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.

 

Additional Program Information

View the Premedicine BS Program Requirements and the Suggested Academic Plans in the Undergraduate Bulletin, with the starting campus and math placement considerations

  • Starting at University Park Campus
  • Starting at University Park Campus, with ALEKS placement in MATH 22
  • Starting at Commonwealth Campuses

*Note to students in the Premedicine B.S. major (prior to Summer 2024 semester): Consult with your academic adviser about opting-in to the curricular requirements of the updated Premedicine B.S. major.

Current Requirements for Premedicine BS Program:

Past Requirements by year of entry to Penn State:

Worksheet: Create Your Own Academic Plan.doc\

 

*Note to students in the Premedicine B.S. major (prior to Summer 2024 semester): Consult with your academic adviser about opting-in to the curricular requirements of the updated Premedicine B.S. major.

Students in the Premedicine BS major may pursue a concurrent degree (double major) or sequential degree with programs that are OUTSIDE the Eberly College of Science. Within the Eberly College of Science, students may pursue a concurrent degree (double major) or sequential degree on a case by case basis. Please inquire if interested.

  • Concurrent and sequential degree requests are reviewed and must be approved by each program.
  • Students must meet all entrance and degree requirements for each major.
  • Students should consult with their academic adviser prior to submitting the request for a concurrent or sequential major.

At a Glance: your path to honors completion

Because Premedicine is an interdisciplinary degree program rather than a research department, honors students complete a thesis with any faculty principal investigator (PI) who welcomes them into their research group. Therefore, you have the flexibility to pursue a thesis topic that aligns with your interests. You are responsible for coordinating several pieces of the honors process. Start early and confirm discipline-specific requirements before making commitments.

  • Plan honors coursework with your academic adviser and maintain your annual Schreyer Plan in SRS.

  • Identify and secure a position in a research group with a faculty Thesis Supervisor.

  • Work with your Thesis Supervisor to identify an Area of Honors that matches your thesis field.

  • Confirm eligibility and obtain approval for the Area of Honors from the Primary Honors Adviser in that discipline.

  • Understand the thesis components and evaluation/approval process.

 

1. Plan your honors coursework

Your academic adviser is the best resource for the Premedicine degree requirements and honors course-credit requirements. Meet with your adviser to:

  • Select honors courses that align with your major requirements

  • Review and approve your annual Schreyer Plan through the SRS: https://www.shc.psu.edu/srs/ 

Your assigned academic adviser can be found in LionPATH on the My Advisors page. The honors academic advisers for the Premedicine major are:

  • David Cassiday (dac293@psu.edu) – Academic adviser and Prehealth Adviser

  • Sharon Fong (sxf912@psu.edu) – Academic adviser and Change of Campus Liaison

 

2. Identify a research group and Thesis Supervisor

You are responsible for finding and securing a position within a research group. Begin this process by discussing your research interests with the Premedicine primary honors adviser, Dr. Elizabeth Jolley (eaj19@psu.edu). Dr. Jolley is an Associate Research Professor in the Chemistry Department and has extensive experience mentoring honors students and undergraduate researchers. You should meet with Dr. Jolley every semester to discuss your progress. 
 

Eberly College of Science Departments:

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

  • Biology

  • Chemistry

  • Mathematics

  • Physics

  • Statistics

Other University Park Colleges:

  • Agricultural Sciences

  • Arts and Architecture

  • Smeal College of Business

  • Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

  • Earth and Mineral Sciences

  • Education

  • Engineering

  • Health and Human Development

  • Information Sciences and Technology

  • Liberal Arts

     

A thesis with a faculty member at the College of Medicine in Hershey may also be possible, with permission from the PI.

 

3 & 4. Select and secure an approved Area of Honors

Your Area of Honors is the academic discipline under which your honors thesis will be completed and recognized. The Area of Honors should align with the subject matter and research focus of your thesis.

Work with your Thesis Supervisor to identify the most appropriate Area of Honors for your thesis. Once you have identified a potential area, you must contact the Primary Honors Adviser in that discipline to confirm eligibility and obtain approval. Requirements vary by area. For example, some disciplines require students to be majors or minors in the field, while other disciplines allow students to qualify based on the nature of their thesis and the disciplinary affiliation of their faculty Thesis Supervisor. Some disciplines require you to take specific course(s), while others do not require any courses.

Area of Honors requirements vary by discipline. Before proceeding, you must confirm that you are eligible for your intended Area of Honors and obtain approval (ideally in writing) from its Primary Honors Adviser. You can find adviser contacts on the Schreyer Honors College advising website: https://www.shc.psu.edu/academics/advising/

If you cannot secure an approved Area of Honors, contact the Premedicine Primary Honors Adviser (Dr. Jolley) and together you can reach out to Schreyer Honors College to discuss options.

 

 

5. Understand the thesis components and evaluation/approval process

The honors thesis consists of several components, which are tracked in SRS:

  • Thesis Proposal in the specific Area of Honors you have been approved for

  • Thesis Check-In

  • Thesis Format Review

  • Thesis Final Submission

 

Each of these components are evaluated and approved by two Penn State faculty members: 

 

Thesis Honors Adviser – This is a faculty honors adviser for your approved Area of Honors. This person enforces area-specific policies and requirements in addition to evaluating the thesis. Requirements may include:

  • Eligibility rules for pursuing honors in the disciplinary area

  • Honors coursework

  • Area-specific proposal, thesis, or submission requirements.

 

Thesis Supervisor – This is the faculty PI who oversees your honors project, provides research guidance, and mentors you through completion of the written thesis.

 

If your Thesis Honors Adviser is also serving as your Thesis Supervisor, you must identify a Thesis Faculty Reader to review and approve your thesis. Work with your Thesis Supervisor to identify a reader, then ask if they are willing to be a reader.

 

 

Use the Advising Team

Meet with your academic adviser every semester:

Check LionPATH for your specific adviser assignment – either Dave Cassiday or Sharon Fong

  • Learn about the Premedicine major degree requirements

  • Understand honors course-credit requirements and select appropriate honors courses

  • Review your annual Schreyer Plan in SRS

  • Clarify degree requirements and progress

Meet with the Premedicine Primary Honors Adviser, Dr. Jolley, every semester:

  • Find and join a research group

  • Identify and secure an approved Area of Honors

  • Clarify honors thesis requirements

  • Check in on thesis progress

 

Student Checklist

  • Meet with your academic adviser to plan honors coursework and your Schreyer Plan

  • Meet with Dr. Jolley to discuss your research interests and how to join a research group

  • Contact potential PIs, secure a position in a research group, and confirm the PI’s role as your Thesis Supervisor

  • Choose an Area of Honors that aligns with your thesis; obtain approval from that area’s Primary Honors Adviser

  • Complete honors coursework and thesis research; track submission deadlines in SRS

  • Regularly check in with your advisers

 

Download the Premedicine Schreyer Guide (Link coming soon)

For students looking for Prehealth Advising for ANY major, please visit the Prehealth Advising page to learn more about the services and resources offered by our Prehealth Advising Office. Prehealth Advising serves current students and alumni from any major and any campus of Penn State.

 

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