Pre-Medical Advising: Majors, Minors,
and Sample 4-year Plans

Majors

The term “pre-medical” refers to a curriculum of classes and a subset of extra-curricular activities designed to prepare you for medical school.  It is not, however, a major.  Pre-med students will still choose a major and complete the courses for that major along with all general education requirements for that degree.  So, what major should pre-med students choose?

While the “typical” pre-health student traditionally chose a major from the hard sciences, such as chemistry, physics, or biology, many students have shifted their primary focus to a major in the liberal arts.  Medical schools are seeking individuals with a breadth of knowledge that spans the disciplines.  While it is crucial for pre-health students to have a strong background in the hard sciences, it is equally important for them to have a strong foundation in the social sciences and humanities.  Simply put, medical schools have realized that in diagnosing and treating patients, logic, critical thinking and imagination are powerful additions to scientific training, and flexibility of perspective is often key.  “Flexibility of perspective” means that someone from a social sciences or humanities background may look at a patient differently that someone with just scientific training, even though they both ultimately receive identical professional training. 

Students should choose a major they genuinely love because they likely will perform better in their courses and will have a back-up plan if they change their mind about a career in healthcare.  Popular pre-health majors in the College of Arts and Sciences include chemistry, psychology, communication studies, sociology, philosophy, and Spanish.  The latest undergraduate catalog shows the majors and degrees offered within the College of Arts and Sciences.

Students interested in completing a degree with a major in biology should contact the School of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Programs Office at 816-235-2580 for advising.

Minors

Though minors are not required within the College, many students complete a minor when wishing to learn more about a specific subject outside of their major.  Pre-med students are encouraged to complete the minor in Healing and Humanities due to the applicability of the courses with their future profession.  The latest undergraduate catalog shows the minors offered within the College of Arts and Sciences.

Sample 4-year plans

The pre-med curriculum can be combined with a variety of majors and minors.  Sample 4-year plans for the most common pre-med majors in the College of Arts and Sciences are shown below.  Make an appointment with a pre-health advisor to learn how to develop a plan incorporating your major with the requirements for medical school.

        BA Chem, Pre-Med

        BA Chem, Minor in Healing and Humanities, Pre-Med

        BA Psych, Pre-Med

        BA Psych, Minor in Healing and Humanities, Pre-Med

        BA Spanish, Pre-Med

        BA Spanish, Minor in Healing and Humanities, Pre-Med