21
The average class size is 21 students at St. Thomas, so you will have the opportunity to receive individualized attention from all of your professors.
Pre-Medicine
Make an impact on the lives of others. Pre-medicine at the University of St. Thomas will prepare you for a rewarding career in healthcare with a variety of unique opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. Whether you plan to pursue allopathic or osteopathic medicine, you will gain a well-rounded skillset needed for medical school.
Why Pursue a Pre-Medicine Track at St. Thomas?
Since there are no specific majors required for medical school, you have your pick from a diverse array of academic programs at the university. You will have access to the Health Professions Advisory Committee, a group of faculty who work with you throughout your undergraduate career to create the strongest application possible for medical school by providing letters of recommendation, advising and feedback tailored to your intended career path. Along the way, you can collaborate with faculty in any academic program at the university on research as early as first year, use exciting new technology like the Anatomage 3D human anatomy table, study abroad, volunteer in the Twin Cities and so much more.
Impacting the Lives of Others
MD or DO?
Your path depends on your interests and goals. A Medical Doctor (MD) license focuses on treating a patient’s symptoms and diseases. Students also complete a residency program to specialize in a certain area of medicine after completing coursework and a licensure exam. A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) license offers a similar curriculum to MD programs, but places a larger emphasis on treating the whole person and includes additional training focusing on the musculoskeletal system.
Four-Year Plan
Medical schools have varying admission and prerequisite course requirements. You will work with Health Professions Advisory Committee-affiliated faculty and staff individually to create a four-year plan satisfying these required courses through your major, the university’s core curriculum and electives. We also recommend connecting with the committee to discuss what extracurricular opportunities you will want to pursue as well.
Degrees Awarded
Fun fact: you do not have major in the sciences to gain admission to medical school. This means you can pursue any major and minor at St. Thomas as a pre-medicine student. Below is a list of majors that our students commonly pursue, but we recommend connecting with a faculty member to choose a major that best fits your goals and interests.
Collaborative Research
Most students pursuing a pre-medicine track collaborate with faculty on research while attending St. Thomas. No matter what major you choose as a pre-medicine student, you are able to conduct research with professors in any academic program as early as your first year. Students have researched topics ranging from antibiotic-resistant bacteria to the neurobiology of social behavior in birds. In addition to faculty-led research, our location in the Twin Cities means you have access to numerous clinical and shadowing opportunities at local hospitals and clinics.
MD or DO?
MD or DO?
Your path depends on your interests and goals. A Medical Doctor (MD) license focuses on treating a patient’s symptoms and diseases. Students also complete a residency program to specialize in a certain area of medicine after completing coursework and a licensure exam. A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) license offers a similar curriculum to MD programs, but places a larger emphasis on treating the whole person and includes additional training focusing on the musculoskeletal system.
Four-Year Plan
Four-Year Plan
Medical schools have varying admission and prerequisite course requirements. You will work with Health Professions Advisory Committee-affiliated faculty and staff individually to create a four-year plan satisfying these required courses through your major, the university’s core curriculum and electives. We also recommend connecting with the committee to discuss what extracurricular opportunities you will want to pursue as well.
Degrees Awarded
Degrees Awarded
Fun fact: you do not have major in the sciences to gain admission to medical school. This means you can pursue any major and minor at St. Thomas as a pre-medicine student. Below is a list of majors that our students commonly pursue, but we recommend connecting with a faculty member to choose a major that best fits your goals and interests.
Collaborative Research
Collaborative Research
Most students pursuing a pre-medicine track collaborate with faculty on research while attending St. Thomas. No matter what major you choose as a pre-medicine student, you are able to conduct research with professors in any academic program as early as your first year. Students have researched topics ranging from antibiotic-resistant bacteria to the neurobiology of social behavior in birds. In addition to faculty-led research, our location in the Twin Cities means you have access to numerous clinical and shadowing opportunities at local hospitals and clinics.
Prepared for What’s Next
Faculty, alumni and your peers are here to support and challenge you throughout your time at St. Thomas. Our community will prepare you inside and outside of the classroom for long-term success in a fulfilling career.
Henry Larson '20, David Linn '20 and Samuel Gentle '20
Henry, David and Sam were all selected for the Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program, an extremely selective nationwide programs that fully funds students' four years of attending medical school. Twenty-four students are selected annually from more than 2,000 commissioned officers. Larson, Linn and Gentle's medical school applications boasted MCAT scores as high as the 90th percentile among all students nationwide. "When you're surrounded by such a positive and inspiring environment it's hard not to push yourself to give your very best," said Larson.
Charles Watts, MD, PhD '91
After graduating from St. Thomas with his degree in chemistry, Dr. Watts pursued a medical degree at the Creighton University School of Medicine. His residency was in the University of Minnesota hospital system, followed by a fellowship in the surgery and critical care unit. He is a practicing neurosurgeon at Fairview Southdale Hospital and the University of Minnesota Medical Center.
Nasser Lubega '18
"From the friends I met to opportunities to be involved in research at the cutting edge of scientific discovery, my experiences at St. Thomas were nothing short of incredible. I utilized St. Thomas' Health Professions Advisory Committee to gain insight into medical school requirements, application tips, practice interviews and a committee letter of recommendation. These were integral to my success." Nasser is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School on a full-ride scholarship.
Career Paths
The St. Thomas Pre-Medicine track prepares you with the academic knowledge and practical skills for a variety of postgraduate healthcare programs and career paths.
- Biomedical research
- Medical school
- Allopathic medicine – Medical Doctor (MD)
- Osteopathic medicine – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Scholarships
This competition occurs every year during the spring semester for students pursuing a pre-health professions track. Historically, individual awards range between $1,000 to over $6,000.
Established by Dr. Harvey O’Phelan, this scholarship award is available for juniors and seniors pursuing a pre-health professions track at the university.
The Dr. William Heidrick Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a biology major demonstrating financial need each year.
Rising juniors or seniors majoring in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, neuroscience or engineering at St. Thomas are eligible for the Niels and Carol Sorensen Scholarship. Recipients will demonstrate academic excellence by having a minimum cumulative 3.6 GPA.
Eligible recipients for this scholarship will demonstrate academic excellence with a 3.5 GPA or higher and financial need as well.
Eligible students for this award will be a junior or senior either majoring in biology or an interdisciplinary major drawing from biology.
Quick Facts
100%
One-hundred percent of classes are taught by faculty. No matter what class you are taking, you will be learning directly from an expert in that field.
150+
There are no required majors and minors for medical school, which means you can choose from over 150 majors and minors at St. Thomas.
Support Inside and Outside of the Classroom
Four years of individualized attention, mentorship and access to faculty will prepare you for the next chapter in your life after St. Thomas.
Our Community
We offer a broad range of support to students interested in health careers. Whether you are connecting with your peers and faculty in the classroom or participating in impactful research outside the classroom, you will be surrounded by a caring community throughout your time at St. Thomas.
1-on-1 Mentorship
The Health Professions Advisory Committee provides individualized career advising and application support, and can help you determine and navigate your career path based on your personal goals.
Application Support
The Health Professions Advisory Committee is passionate about helping students reach their goals by providing tailored support. The committee writes evaluation letters for students applying to medical school, and also provides students with feedback for improving their applications as they are starting the admissions process.
We have 800+ faculty at St. Thomas eager to be your teachers and mentors. Here are just a few and what they have been up to lately.
Dr. Roxanne Prichard
Dr. Prichard’s expertise is in sleep and circadian rhythms.
Dr. Thomas Marsh
Dr. Marsh's interests include biochemistry and analyzing the assembly of G4-DNA nanostructures.
Dr. Sarah Heimovics
Dr. Heimovics' research focuses on topics like hormones and behavior.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
We encourage you to get out of the classroom and explore the world around you. Whether you stay in the Twin Cities and conduct powerful research, or expand your horizons with a study abroad program, we have the resources you need for success.
See the World
Where do you want to go? St. Thomas is ranked in the top 10 for study abroad in the United States, which means you have a huge variety of options to see another side of the world. Pre-medicine students have multiple options for study abroad depending on their major. Whether you are a neuroscience major examining the cognitive processes in whales and dolphins in Hawai'i or a sociology major exploring how the roles of artists and civic leaders have transformed in a new democracy, you will find a program that matches your interests and goals.
Make an Impact
You have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on impactful research. Here are just a few examples of the diverse array of research projects completed at St. Thomas.
- Geology - "Tephrochronology in Northern Iceland"
- Chemistry - "A Sustainably-Sourced Biodegradable Polymer"
- Political Science - "Motivations to Support a Social Food Business"
- Philosophy - "Legal and Philosophical Tensions within the First Amendment"
Gain Real-World Perspective
Pre-medicine students can gain practical experience through unique opportunities offered through their major. For example, exercise science students conduct site visits to the Minnesota Vikings training facility to get real-world experience and insight into their future careers.
Find Your Path
You will work closely throughout your undergraduate career with Health Professions Advisory Committee-affiliated faculty and staff to build a four-year plan that matches your interests and goals, design a competitive resume and achieve your goal of admittance to medical school.
Prepared for What's Next
No matter what your major is at St. Thomas, a pre-medicine track will prepare you for the next chapter. From small class sizes to research with professors, all the way to opportunities on and off campus, you will leave St. Thomas with the skills and tools needed to be successful in medical school and beyond.
Take the Next Step
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.