At the University of Rhode Island, students preparing for careers in the health professions such as medical, dental, physician assistant, physical therapy, or others, can major in any field that interests and motivates them (yes, really!). Many admissions committees would prefer students to share why they are passionate about a specific area or topic, rather than choosing what they thought they “had to pick” to be successful.
Health professional programs do not require students to choose a science major. Instead, students are encouraged to select a major that aligns with their strengths, passions, and academic goals.
That said, many students that are planning on pursuing a career in a health profession do choose majors that naturally align with common professional school prerequisites. Popular choices include:
- Biological Sciences
- Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB)
- Medicinal Neuroscience
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Nutrition
- Kinesiology
These majors offer coursework that overlaps with foundational requirements like biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology, making it easier to build a competitive academic portfolio.
However, successful applicants also come from a wide range of other academic backgrounds. Some students major in Chemistry, Psychology, Public Health, or Biomedical Engineering. Others pursue non-STEM majors such as Gender and Women’s Studies, Communication Studies, Spanish, Sociology, or Political Science.
Double majoring and minoring in another topic area is another way to gain skills and knowledge from that field, but is not a requirement.