Pre-Health Sciences Pathway
Interested in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary science, physiotherapy, nursing or another health sciences pathway? Saint Mary’s can help you build the academic foundation, experience and support you need to prepare for competitive professional programs.
Our Pre-Health Sciences pathway is designed for students who want to complete a strong undergraduate degree while taking courses commonly required for admission to health-related programs, including biology, chemistry, physics and math. Common admission requirements may also include genetics, cell biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry and physiology.
Why choose Saint Mary’s?
At SMU, you’ll get the benefit of a close-knit university community, strong science programs and hands-on learning opportunities that help you explore where your degree can take you.
You can prepare for health sciences while completing a Bachelor of Science in areas such as Biology, Chemistry, Psychology or other science-related programs, depending on your goals and the requirements of the professional schools you plan to apply to.
Planning for future studies
Students commonly use their undergraduate studies to prepare for programs such as:
Medicine
Dentistry
Pharmacy
Accelerated nursing
Physiotherapy
Veterinary science
Occupational therapy
Optometry
Chiropractic studies
Other graduate or professional health programs
Courses that may support your goals
Requirements vary by school and program, so students should always check admission requirements for each professional program they are considering. Common prerequisite areas may include:
Biology
Chemistry
Organic chemistry
Biochemistry
Physics
Math or statistics
Psychology
English or writing-intensive courses
Cell biology
Genetics
Physiology
Build more than prerequisites
Admission to health sciences programs is competitive. Along with strong grades, many programs look for students who can demonstrate leadership, communication skills, community involvement, research experience, volunteer work and an understanding of the profession they hope to enter.
At Saint Mary’s, students can strengthen their applications through experiential learning, research opportunities, student societies, volunteer work and community engagement.
Plan early
The best time to start planning is in your first year, or as soon as you make plans to pursue a post-graduate program. Every professional program has different requirements; meet with your advisors in the Science Advising Centre to review admission information so you’re ready for your next step in your academic journey.