Programs

Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Premedical and Health Studies program is specifically designed for students seeking un­dergraduate preparation for physician assistant, physical therapy, optometry, dental, occupational therapy, podiatry, chiropractic, veterinary, allopathic or osteopathic medical school, or who are considering graduate education in health administration, or other health-oriented programs.

Program Highlights

• Full-time, four-year, undergraduate degree
• Focused preparation for professional and graduate schools in health care
• An interdisciplinary curriculum covering all required and most recommended prerequisites for professional schools in the health care field, including medical school; minor concentrations for more in-depth study of various diverse disciplines
• Faculty mentors with years of expertise in both teaching and advising pre-health professions students
• A strong peer support network of pre-health students, including a Premedical Society and Minority Association of Health Professions Students Chapter 
• Committee letter and interview support for students applying to professional school; courses and resources that are custom designed for professional school entrance exams and application preparation
• Research fellowships, clinical internships, volunteer and shadowing opportunities in the Longwood Medical area and Greater Boston
• Option to apply to any professional program of your choice or to follow one of our professional pathways, earning a combined BS from MCPHS and advanced degree from one of our highly respected partner colleges

Advanced Degrees through our Professional Pathways  

Our Professional Pathway programs can provide accelerated progression and/or preferential admission upon reaching specific academic goals, to an advanced degree in one of these specialty professions. Learn more.»

Program Details

The Premedical and Health Studies major appeals to students seeking focused undergraduate preparation for various professional and graduate programs in health care.

This academic major includes many distinctive and helpful features to students aspiring to be health care practitioners:

• An interdisciplinary health studies curriculum that balances the basic and laboratory sciences with a range of liberal arts courses
• A seminar that introduces students to the full spectrum of professional possibilities in health care
• A number of different professional pathways that facilitate entry into specific professional and graduate programs at partner universities around the country

For more information, please see our Premed FAQs.

Professional Pathways

Many students enroll in this program as they begin studies in pursuit of dental, veterinary, and medical careers, or who are considering graduate education in public health, health administration, or other health-oriented fields. We welcome these students as well as those who might be considering one of the following fields where the College has established specific agreements with professional and graduate programs in the United States.

Pathway Options

• Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine (DC) from D'Youville College
• Doctor of Medicine (MD) from The Commonwealth Medical College
• Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Ross University School of Medicine
• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from A.T. Still University or Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Master of Science (MS) in Occupational Therapy from Springfield College
• Doctor of Optometry (OD) from MCPHS-Worcester
• Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) from MCPHS-Boston
• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from MCPHS-Worcester
• Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery from Barry University or Temple University 
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Ross University School of
  Veterinary Medicine
• Doctor of Dental Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Graduate Certificate in Interdepartmental Medical Science from Drexel University
• Graduate Certificate in Medical Science Preparatory from Drexel University
• Master of Science in Anesthesia from Case Western Reserve University 

Q: Can I keep my scholarships after I transition into the professional phase of the Premedical and Health Studies Professional Pathways?

A: Yes, provided the professional phase is taught here at MCPHS and you maintain the minimum GPA requirement of the scholarship.

Q: If I decide not to pursue the Professional Pathways, what can I do with a Bachelor of Science in Premedical & Health Studies?

A: You can go on to do research, clinical work, or pursue graduate studies in a number of areas including public health, science, business, or law. By adding a minor, your B.S. in Premedical & Health Studies becomes a very flexible degree.

Q: Does the College provide research opportunities to Premedical & Health Studies students?

A: MCPHS has a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program (SURF), which affords research opportunities with our own faculty to qualified students. In addition, there are many opportunities in the area hospitals and research facilities, some of which are Harvard Affiliates.

Curriculum

Year I-Fall

Year I-Spring

If LIB 120 is completed in Year I Spring, then you will have the following Year II schedule.

Year II-Fall

Year II-Spring

If LIB 133 is completed in Year I spring, then you will have the following Year II schedule.

Year II-Fall

Year II-Spring

Year III-Fall

*Third year BEH requirement: students take BEH 250 Health Psychology, BEH 405 Mind/Body Medicine, or BEH 260.

**PHY270/272L in the Fall can be replaced by PHY280 with lab (Physics I) by those students seeking more focused preparation for professional school entrance exams such as the MCAT, OAT, or DAT.

Year III-Spring

*Students who chose PHY280 with lab in the fall should take PHY284 (instead of PHY274) with lab to complete this physics sequence.

**The general elective may be LIB 305 Medical College Preparation Course, for 2 s.h.

Year IV-Fall

Year IV-Spring

Total credits to complete degree requirements: 124 (125) s.h.

Accreditation

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is authorized to grant undergraduate and graduate degrees in the health sciences and related fields. MCPHS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Inc. through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. 

Outcomes

At Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), our Premedical and Health Studies program offers a variety of pathways to pursue upon graduation. The professional pathways include:

• Medicine (with The Commonwealth Medical College and Ross University)
• Dental Medicine (with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine) 
• Physician Assistant Studies (MCPHS-Boston)
• Physical Therapy (MCPHS-Worcester)
• Optometry (MCPHS-Worcester)
• Veterinary Medicine (with Ross University)
• Podiatric Medicine (with Barry University or Temple University)
• Osteopathic Medicine (with A.T. Still University or Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine)
• Occupational Therapy (with Springfield College)
• Chiropractic Medicine (with D’Youville College)

Since the program’s inception in 2000, Premedical and Health Studies students have advanced to medical, dental, and veterinary schools with an acceptance rate of 74 percent.

Check out where our MCPHS graduates are now.

Advisory Committee

The Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee exists to support students who are seeking admission to medical school or other health professional schools. When it is determined that a committee letter is warranted, the committee composes an evaluative letter that incorporates the student's reference letters, academic credentials, community service and extracurricular activities, research accomplishments, and other relevant personal data. The Committee may also coordinate mock interviews for students who are completing secondary applications.

The Committee members pursue liaison or working relationships with medical and professional school representatives and admissions committees. They attend national or regional meetings of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) and share pertinent materials and knowledge acquired at these meetings with colleagues and students. The Committee also periodically reviews and updates the Premedical and Health Studies degree program requirements, embedded minor concentrations, and affiliated professional school pathways.

The Committee is composed of the Premedical and Health Studies Program Director, Assistant Director, and faculty program mentors and is chaired by the Program Director or Assistant Director. Faculty program mentors hold office hours for advising, serve as contacts for specific pathways, write letters of recommendation, and participate in pre-health professions events in addition to their teaching, service and research responsibilities.

Graduates of the College have been accepted at a number of medical and dental schools, including Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Boston University, Dartmouth School of Medicine, Duke University, Georgetown University, Howard University, Medical College of Virginia, Michigan State University, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, the State University of New York at Brooklyn, the State University of New York at Buffalo, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Syracuse University, Tulane University, Tufts University, University of Massachusetts, and the University of Vermont.

Recently, Premedical & Health Studies majors have had acceptances to the following programs:

• Masters of Physician Assistant studies program at MCPHS
• M.D./M.P.H. programs at Tufts Univ. School of Medicine and Tulane Univ. School of Medicine
• M.D. programs at Univ. of Vermont, Univ. of Massachusetts, Commonwealth Medical College, Ross Univ. & St. Georges Univ.
• D.P.M. program at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
• D.V.M. program at Tufts University and Colorado State Univ.
• D.M.D. programs at Tufts University and Boston University Schools of Dentistry
• accelerated BSN program at MCPHS, Nurse Practitioner track
• clinical research internships with the National Institutes of Health IRT program and Harvard Medical School
• O.D. degree program at Pennsylvania College of Optometry & accelerated O.D. degree at the New England College of Optometry
• and many others 
  

For Transfers

MCPHS welcomes students from other institutions. Any applicant to MCPHS who has completed at least one semester of college coursework (12 credits or more) is considered to be a transfer applicant. Students who have been out of high school for more than two years are strongly encouraged to take math and science courses at another accredited college or university and then to apply for transfer to MCPHS.

The transfer requirements may be different for different MCPHS programs. To find the requirements for transferring into this program, please click the link below.

Transfer Requirements for Premedical and Health Studies (BS) (Boston)