What’s the “best” pre-med or pre-health major?
There is no official “pre-med” or “pre-health” major at FSU.
- Any major is acceptable if you complete the prerequisites for admission.
- Review the admission requirements for any institution that you would like to attend after completing your bachelor’s degree at FSU so you can incorporate those into your academic planning.
- Choose a major based on your interests, strengths, and career goals.
Most popular science-based pre-med majors by academic college:
Anne’s College (formerly Education, Health and Human Sciences)
Arts and Sciences (foreign language proficiency graduation requirement)
- Biochemistry
- Biological Sciences (Biology)
- Biomathematics
- Chemical Science
- Chemistry
- Neuroscience: Behavioral Neuroscience
- Neuroscience: Cell & Molecular Neuroscience
- Psychology
Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences
Even non-STEM majors like English or Humanities can be great options:
- AMA: How humanities background could make you a better medical student
- AMA: Which undergrad majors are best for med school?
Questions to ask yourself when choosing a “pre-med” major:
How comfortable am I with math?
- Majors like Biological Science, Neuroscience, Exercise Physiology, Clinical Professions, Psychology require math courses up to and in some cases including Calculus I, as well as statistics.
- Biomathematics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering require higher-level math beyond Calculus I.
Which types of sciences courses do I enjoy?
- Most areas of biology with some chemistry → Biological Science
- Most areas in chemistry with some biology → Biochemistry
- Human-focused biology interest → Exercise Physiology
- Sensory and social experience on brain and behavior → Neuroscience
Am I interested in a specific area of medicine or populations?
- Psychiatry: Biological Science, Psychology, Neuroscience
- Pediatrics: Biological Science, Psychology, Human Development
- Populations: Consider majors/minors like:
Do I want structured experiential learning or prefer seeking my own?
- Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) requires service-learning and guarantees experiential hours.
- Other majors: You'll need to seek shadowing, internships, etc., via the Career Center, the department where your major is housed, and your surrounding community.
What are my alternative career plans if I choose not to pursue med school?
- Consult FSU’s Career Center for guidance.
- The majors housed in the IMS program focus on the diversity of career options available in the healthcare field.
- Other common “pre-health” majors offer flexibility to work in or outside of the healthcare field.
Advising Tip:
- At either 3:00 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. today, attend the Pre-Health at FSU Breakout Session in Garnet 3.
- Regardless of major, meet with both your academic advisor and a Pre-Health Advisor at FSU to stay on track with requirements and competitive for med school admissions.
First-Year Orientation