What Can You Do with a Pre-Med Degree?
There are many different pre-health professions and pre-med programs available. Some schools allow these pre-med programs to be paired with any major, while others typically require students in the program to major in a science-related field, such as biology, chemistry, psychology, etc.
The goal of these pre-med programs is to help prepare graduates for one of two routes. Graduates can either go on to pursue graduate, professional, or medical school, or they may begin an entry-level career in the field of their major, such as a career in biology or chemistry. A few examples of careers that a pre-med student may pursue that require graduate or professional school include:
- Physician
- Surgeon
- Pharmacist
- Dentist
- Veterinarian
- Podiatrist
- Optometrist
- Psychologist
Some examples of careers that a pre-med student may pursue with an undergraduate degree include:
- Chemist
- Wildlife biologist
- Zoologist
- Geoscientist
- Forensic science technician
- Environmental scientist or specialist
Pre-Med Careers
As discussed, graduates with pre-med degrees may jump right into entry-level positions, usually as various kinds of scientists, and/or may go on to pursue graduate school in a particular subject or medical school. Here we examine a few of the pre-med career options in more detail.
Physicians and Surgeons
Aspiring physicians or surgeons would need to complete medical school and a residency program in order to obtain state licensure to practice, all after finishing a pre-med program. Physicians and surgeons examine and care for patients with a wide range of illnesses and injuries. Surgeons use surgery to treat these conditions, while physicians usually use medications and other treatment methods. Typically these doctors specialize in a particular area of the medical field, such as pathology, cardiology, dermatology, and more. Specific job duties may include:
- Recording medical histories
- Ordering and interpreting medical tests
- Developing an individualized treatment plan
- Discussing treatment and other questions with patients
Pharmacists
After a pre-med degree, aspiring pharmacists must go on to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and they may need to complete additional training in order to obtain state licensure. Pharmacists fill prescriptions for patients and educate patients on how to properly use the medications. This may require pharmacists to perform duties like:
- Checking for potential reactions between medications
- Answering patients' questions or concerns
- Interacting with insurance companies to get required medications for patients
- Supervising pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy staff
Chemists
Chemists can begin their career with a bachelor's degree, such as one earned after completing a pre-med program, but more advanced research positions may require a master's or doctoral degree. Chemists study materials at the foundational levels, such as the atoms or molecules that make up a substance, and observe how different materials interact with one another. Usually their work is applied to improving some kinds of product or testing current products for quality and safety. Some chemists may specialize in a particular area of chemistry, like organic chemistry, forensic chemistry, or theoretical chemistry. Job duties for chemists may include:
- Designing and conducting research projects
- Overseeing the work of technicians
- Analyzing and testing substances
- Presenting their findings in reports and/or presentations
What is Required for Pre-Medicine Curriculum
Admission to medical school is typically competitive. Therefore, pre-med programs are usually designed to help students prepare for medical school by requiring many of the same courses that are prerequisites to medical school admissions. While some of the best holistic medicine schools and top schools for alternative medicine may have different requirements, most traditional medical schools require prerequisite courses in areas like:
- Biology (with lab)
- Chemistry (with lab)
- Physics (with lab)
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Biostatistics
