Premedicine BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Pennsylvania State University University Park

Program Overview

Premedicine, B.S. at Penn State provides a broad science-based foundation for students planning to pursue medical school, combining core subjects such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry and physics with coursework in ethics and the social sciences. The program is well suited to students interested in clinical careers who want flexibility to tailor supporting coursework to their interests, including a minor or courses recommended by their intended medical school.

Curriculum Structure:

First Year: Students establish their scientific foundation through courses such as BIOL 110 – Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity, CHEM 110 – Chemical Principles I, and MATH 140 – Calculus with Analytic Geometry I, while also beginning psychology and general education coursework. The year builds essential knowledge in biology, chemistry and mathematics that supports more advanced study later in the degree.

Second Year: Students progress into more specialized science through CHEM 210 – Organic Chemistry I, BIOL 240W – Biology: Function and Development of Organisms, and PHYS 211 – General Physics: Mechanics. They also study health services through HPA 101 – Introduction to Health Services Organization and complete a healthcare internship, connecting classroom learning with healthcare experience.

Third Year: The curriculum moves into advanced biomedical and health-related subjects, including BMB 401 – General Biochemistry, BIOL 472 – Human Physiology, and PHIL/BIOET 432 – Medical and Health Care Ethics. Students deepen their understanding of biochemical processes, human physiology and the ethical dimensions of healthcare while continuing physics and general education requirements.

Fourth Year: In the final year, students complete advanced coursework such as BMB 402 – General Biochemistry, CAS 100 – Effective Speech, and 400-level supporting courses within their chosen area of concentration. This flexible structure allows students to strengthen their academic profile through supporting courses aligned with their interests and future medical-school requirements.

Focus Areas:

Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, Human Physiology, Medical and Health Care Ethics, Health Services, Statistics, Healthcare Experience and Supporting Interdisciplinary Studies.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop a strong foundation in the core sciences, build interdisciplinary knowledge across life sciences and social sciences, develop critical and analytical thinking, and gain exposure to healthcare through an internship while preparing academically for advanced study in medicine.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Premedicine, B.S. is designed as undergraduate preparation for admission to medical school rather than as a professional medical degree itself. Penn State states that students can incorporate specific admission requirements or recommendations of their intended medical school into their supporting coursework, and the program includes a healthcare internship.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

Penn State reports strong employer recognition: in the 2027 QS World University Rankings, the university was tied at No. 92 globally, while its employer reputation ranked No. 92 worldwide and No. 24 in the United States. Penn State also reports a 5-star QS Stars rating for employability, alongside its overall 5-star rating.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Premedicine, B.S. at Penn State gives students practical healthcare exposure alongside their science coursework. A distinctive part of the program is its required healthcare internship, which can involve clinical work, clinical volunteering, physician shadowing, or a healthcare internship; students can receive academic credit through SC 294 or SC 494. Penn State also provides prehealth advising and connects students with research opportunities, clinical opportunities, internships, volunteering, and networking activities.

Students can build practical experience through several program-specific opportunities:

Required Healthcare Internship: Premedicine students must complete at least 1 credit of healthcare internship. Approved experiences can include working as a medical assistant, EMT, patient care technician, CNA, phlebotomist or medical scribe, as well as clinical volunteering and physician shadowing.
Internship for Academic Credit: Students can complete internships through SC 294 for first- or second-year students or SC 494 for third- or fourth-year students. Depending on the hours completed, students can earn 1–3 credits.
Clinical Experience: Penn State's Clinic Intern Program gives undergraduate students interested in medicine an opportunity to work with patients and medical staff in a clinical environment, including activities such as patient intake and assisting clinical staff.
Research Opportunities: Prehealth students can pursue undergraduate research experiences that develop critical thinking, problem-solving and scientific-method skills, while providing opportunities to work with faculty and professionals.
Prehealth Advising: The Science and Prehealth Advising Center at University Park supports students with research opportunities, internships, clinical opportunities, volunteering, networking and preparation for healthcare-profession applications.
Science Internship Program: Eberly College of Science students can gain experience in their field while earning course credit through SC 294 or SC 494.
Health Professions Expo: Students can connect with healthcare employers and professionals through Penn State's health-professions networking opportunities.
Course-Based Laboratory Experience: The curriculum includes laboratory-based options such as MICRB 202 – Introductory Microbiology Laboratory, BIOL 473 – Laboratory in Mammalian Physiology, and MICRB 422 – Medical Microbiology Laboratory, giving students hands-on experience alongside their biomedical coursework.
Independent Study: The program permits students to apply up to 12 credits of Independent Study (296/496) toward graduation, providing an additional route for individualized academic or research experience.

Facilities and student-support resources: The Premedicine, B.S. program at Penn State’s University Park campus gives students access to the academic and research environment of the Eberly College of Science, along with the Science and Prehealth Advising Center, which supports students with clinical experiences, internships, research opportunities, volunteering, networking, and preparation for healthcare-profession applications. Students also benefit from Penn State’s laboratory-based science facilities through courses in areas such as microbiology, mammalian physiology, and medical microbiology, providing opportunities to complement classroom learning with hands-on scientific experience.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Premedicine, B.S. at Penn State is designed primarily as preparation for students who plan to continue into medical school or other health-professional programs. The curriculum combines foundational sciences, healthcare experience, ethics, and clinical exposure, helping students build the academic and practical background needed for their next stage of healthcare education.

Typical career/experience pathways include: Physician, Physician Assistant, Dentist, Medical Researcher.

Students can strengthen their transition from undergraduate study into healthcare careers and further education through these opportunities:

Career and Prehealth Support: Penn State's Science and Prehealth Advising Center provides support with healthcare-profession preparation, clinical opportunities, internships, research, volunteering, networking, and application planning.
Clinical & Internship Experience: The program requires a healthcare internship, allowing students to gain relevant experience through clinical employment, volunteering, physician shadowing, or other approved healthcare experiences.
Employment & Earnings: Penn State publishes career and employment information through its Career Services resources, while salary outcomes can vary substantially by occupation and by the professional degree students pursue after the B.S.; the Premedicine B.S. itself is primarily a pathway toward professional healthcare education rather than a direct clinical-licensure degree.
University–Industry/Healthcare Connections: Students can connect with healthcare organizations and professionals through Penn State's clinical experiences, health-professions networking opportunities, internships, and the Health Professions Expo, which connects students with healthcare employers and organizations.
Long-Term Professional Value: The degree provides a structured undergraduate foundation that can be used to meet prerequisite coursework and build experiences for applications to medical, dental, physician assistant, and other health-professional programs. Penn State notes that students should also consider the specific requirements of the professional school they plan to attend.
Graduation Outcomes: After completing the B.S., students can use their academic preparation, healthcare experience, and prehealth advising to apply to professional programs such as medical school and other healthcare-related graduate or professional programs.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Premedicine, B.S., students can continue into a medical degree (M.D. or D.O.) or other professional healthcare programs such as dentistry, physician assistant studies, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, or other health-professional programs, depending on their career goals and the prerequisite requirements of the institution they apply to.