Pre-Health Pathways
Do your plans include becoming a physician, physical therapist, or maybe a veterinarian? At CMU we offer pre-health pathways to help guide you into graduate health schools. These are NOT majors but pathways.
Common majors
When following one of our pre-health pathways you can choose ANY major, even a non-STEM major, but it may take extra time to complete the admission requirements for graduate health school.
Pre-dentistry
Careers within dentistry are diverse and provide many opportunities for challenging and rewarding service. Most dentists are general practitioners, handling a variety of dental needs.
Overview
You have the option to choose from a wide variety of pre-dentistry undergraduate majors to prepare you for a dental program. Suggested undergraduate majors include Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Neuroscience.
Pre-dentistry at CMU
The amount of time it takes to earn a DDS or DMD is generally 8 years of education beyond high school. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories require licensing. From the time you begin college, you are assembling a complete universal application to apply to dental schools. Dental schools will review your application holistically. At CMU you'll work with your pre-health academic advisor and faculty to submit a competitive application.
Program highlights
Pre-dentistry pathway information
Pre-medicine
Physicians diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses in patients. Physicians examine patients, take medical histories, prescribe medications, and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. Careers within medicine are diverse and provide many opportunities for challenging and rewarding service. Most physicians are general practitioners, handling a variety of health needs. Other physicians practice one of the 26 specialty areas.
Overview
You have the option to choose from a wide variety of pre-med undergraduate majors to prepare you for medical school. Suggested undergraduate majors include Biology, Biochemistry, Psychology, and Neuroscience.
Pre-med at CMU
The common path to practicing as a physician requires 8 years of education beyond high school and 3 to 8 additional years of internship and residency. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories require licensing. From the time you begin college, you are assembling a complete universal application to apply to medical schools, and they will review your application holistically. At CMU you will work with your pre-health academic advisor and faculty to submit a competitive application.
Program highlights
Pre-medicine PATHWAY INFORMATION
Pre-occupational therapy
Occupational therapy assists people of all ages by using their daily activities to promote health and well-being. They focus on adapting the environment and tasks to fit the individual. Occupational therapists work with children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, help people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.
Overview
At CMU, you have the option to choose from a wide variety of pre-occupational therapy undergraduate majors to prepare you for a career in occupational therapy. Common undergraduate majors include Exercise Science, Psychology, Child Development, Recreational Therapy and Rehabilitation, Exercise Science, and Neuroscience.
Pre-OT at CMU
Many OT programs require applicants to have a certain number of volunteer or paid experiences working with patients in an occupational therapy setting. These experiences may be an important factor in the admissions process. At CMU, you will work with your pre-health academic advisor and faculty to plan your course schedule and to assist you in submitting a competitive application.
Program highlights
Pre-optometry
Optometrists perform eye exams to check for vision problems and diseases. They prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses as needed. Careers within optometry are diverse and provide many opportunities for challenging and rewarding service. Most optometrists are general practitioners, handling a variety of vision needs.
Overview
You have the option to choose from a wide variety of pre-optometry undergraduate majors to prepare you for an optometry program. Suggested undergraduate majors include Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Neuroscience.
Pre-optometry at CMU
The Doctor of Optometry degree requires the completion of a 4-year program at an accredited school of optometry. All states require optometrists to be licensed. From the time you begin college, you will be assembling components of your application to optometry school. However, it takes more than a good GPA and OAT score to get into an optometry program. At CMU you will work with your pre-health academic advisor and faculty to plan your course schedule and to assist you in submitting a competitive application.
Program highlights
Pre-optometry pathway information
Pre-pharmacy
Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer advice on their safe use.
Careers within the pharmaceutical field are diverse and provide many opportunities for challenging and rewarding service. There are eight specialty areas including critical care, nutrition support, oncology, pharmacotherapy, and psychiatric.
Overview
At CMU, you have the option to choose from a wide variety of pre-pharmacy undergraduate majors to prepare you for a pharmacy program. Suggested undergraduate majors include Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology,
Psychology, and Neuroscience.
Pre-pharmacy at CMU
Pharmacy programs generally take 4 years to complete. The courses offered are designed to teach you about all aspects of drug therapy. In addition to receiving classroom instruction, you will spend time working with licensed pharmacists in a variety of practice settings. From the time you begin college, you are assembling a complete universal application to apply to pharmacy schools, and they will review your application as a whole. At CMU, you will work with your pre-health academic advisor and faculty to plan your course schedule and to assist you in submitting a competitive application.
Program highlights
Pre-pharmacy pathway information
Pre-physical therapy
Physical therapists help people who have injuries or illnesses improve their movement and manage their pain. They are often an important part of rehabilitation and treatment of patients with chronic conditions or injuries.
Overview
At CMU, you have the option to choose from a wide variety of pre-PT undergraduate majors to prepare you for a DPT program. There are no major requirements so you can choose any major for physical therapy school. Common undergraduate majors include, Biology, Psychology, Child Development, Therapeutic Recreation, Neuroscience, and Exercise Science.
Pre-PT at CMU
Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees (DPT) generally take 3 years to complete Many DPT programs require applicants to have a certain number of volunteer or paid experiences working with patients in a physical therapy clinic. From the time you begin college, you are assembling a complete universal application to apply to physical therapy schools, and they will review your application holistically. At CMU you will work with your pre-health academic advisor and faculty to submit a competitive application.
Program highlights
Pre-physician assistant
Physician assistants, also known as PAs, practice medicine under the direction of physicians and surgeons. They are formally trained to examine patients, diagnose injuries and illnesses, and provide treatment. PA education includes classroom and lab instruction in subjects like biochemistry, pathology, human anatomy, physiology, clinical pharmacology, clinical medicine, physical diagnosis, and medical ethics.
Overview
At CMU, you have the option to choose from a wide variety of pre-PA undergraduate majors to prepare you for a physician assistant program. Possible undergraduate majors include Biology, Child Development, Exercise Science, Neuroscience,
Psychology, Exercise Science, and Therapeutic Recreation.
Pre-PA at CMU
Physician assistant programs usually take 2 years to complete. From the time you begin college, you are assembling a complete universal application to apply to PA schools, and they will review your application thoroughly. At CMU, you will work with your pre-health academic advisor and faculty to plan your course schedule and to assist you in submitting a competitive application.
Program highlights
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Veterinarians care for the health of animals. They diagnose, treat or research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and animals in zoos, racetracks, and laboratories.
Overview
At CMU, you have the option to choose from a variety of pre-vet med undergraduate majors to prepare you for a veterinarian program. Suggested undergraduate majors include Biology, Biochemistry, and Chemistry.
Pre-veterinary medicine at CMU
Prospective veterinarians must graduate with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree from a 4-year program at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. From the time you begin college, you are assembling a complete universal application to apply to veterinary science schools, and they will review your application holistically. At CMU you will work with your pre-health academic advisor and faculty to submit a competitive application.