From foreign language to psychology, there are many undergraduate majors that will help you become a more competitive med school applicant and prepare you to be a doctor.
If you’re interested in a career in the medical field, you’ll typically need a college degree. But there isn’t a specific degree you should earn or any conventional path you need to take. You have plenty of options if you want to become a doctor, nurse, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, dentist, pharmacist, physical therapist, or something else that requires medical training.
Nearly half of undergraduates who become physicians and surgeons study biology in college [1]. But some study other sciences or math, and some even study topics like business, English, or fine arts.
Take a look at these popular medical majors that can prepare you for a career in health care.
Is “pre-med” a major?
Many schools offer a pre-med program designed to prepare you for a medical career. Pre-med is not a major but a track that ensures you’re taking the courses and labs required for entrance to medical school as a part of your undergraduate degree. You can choose your major within the pre-med program. A pre-med track is a good way to prepare for the MCAT exam.
Biology
Biology is one of the most common majors for those who want to pursue a medical career, especially aspiring physicians and surgeons. According to the BLS, 48.7 percent of all physicians and surgeons employed in 2015 chose biology as their undergraduate major [1]. The Association of American Medical Colleges reports that over half of all 2021-2022 medical school applicants majored in biology or biological sciences for their undergraduate degrees [2].
Majoring in biology is one way to ensure you take the prerequisite science courses and labs required by many medical schools. You’ll study topics like human biology, anatomy, physiology, and genetics.
However, if you choose this major, be sure you get a well-rounded education by taking several non-science courses. Every program is different, but some typical courses you’ll take as a biology major include:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Biochemistry
- Biology I
- Biology II
- Biology labs
- Calculus
- Evolutionary biology
- Genetics
- Organic chemistry
Biochemistry
Like a biology major, biochemistry majors study living organisms as well as chemistry and how it affects those living organisms. This is also a common choice for those who want to attend medical school.
As you can imagine, you’ll take many science courses as labs, particularly in biology and chemistry. However, you’ll end up taking more math and physics than a biology major might. An average course load for a biochemistry major may include:
- Organic chemistry
- Inorganic chemistry
- Biology I
- Biology II
- Biology and chemistry labs
- Microbiology
- Calculus
- Physics
- Molecular biology
- Genetics
Biomedical engineering
A major in biomedical engineering includes many science courses while adding a technology aspect to your education. You’ll learn how technology and engineering can help improve medical care.
Many people who choose this major go on to become biomedical engineers who do everything from creating and improving upon devices like heart monitors and diagnostic machines to working toward the creation of artificial organs for transplants. However, this major can also prepare you for medical school and improve your knowledge about the tools you might use as a physician or other medical professional. Your courses might include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Biomolecular engineering
- Medical diagnostics
- Biomechanics
- Bioelectrics
Nursing
Earning an undergraduate degree in nursing can help you become a registered nurse and even lead to you seeking more advanced careers in nursing, such as becoming a nurse practitioner. It can also be a great pathway to medical school.
Many nursing programs include some prerequisite courses for medical school, though you may need to take extra courses. Your nursing degree will also likely require you to complete internships in a hospital or clinical setting, giving you some hands-on experience for the future and helping you develop your bedside manner.
Earning your nursing degree also gives you a backup. Perhaps you decide to take some time off before going to medical school—you can work as a registered nurse during that time. If you choose to advance your medical career, you’ll have clinical experience under your belt. Courses you may encounter as a nursing student include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Anatomy and physiology
- Nursing ethics
- Health assessment
- Clinical theory
- Pharmacology
- Patient care practices
- Sociology
- Psychology
Psychology
Social Science majors like psychology aren’t just great undergraduate degrees for future physicians. They can be an asset and are sometimes even preferred by medical schools.
You can set yourself apart from the biology and chemistry students and add diversity to your graduating class by majoring in psychology. You’ll also gain the workplace skills required to take a humanistic approach to a medical career, like empathy, communication, critical thinking, and resilience. According to the BLS, about 6.6 percent of employed doctors and surgeons have psychology degrees [1].
Many schools will allow you to choose a specialization within their psychology programs, and some even offer a pre-med track that ensures you take the science, math, and English classes you need for medical school. In general, you’ll take courses like:
- General psychology
- Statistics
- Psychiatry
- Developmental psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Neuroscience
- Social psychology
- Cognitive psychology
- Educational psychology
- Psychological disorders
Public health
A public health major focuses more on the health of an entire community or population rather than a specific patient. You’ll focus on preventative measures, health trends and statistics, and promoting good health.
A public health undergraduate degree can prepare you for several diverse careers. Like psychology, many schools may offer a pre-med track, making it an excellent first step before applying for medical school. Some of the courses you might take as a public health major include:
- Epidemiology
- Anatomy and physiology
- Nutrition
- Biostatistics
- Public health practices
- Community health practice
- Occupational health management