Pre-Health
Our Pre-Health programs are dedicated to educating the next generation of practitioners, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and executives for the healthcare marketplace.
- Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biology with a Pre-Health Emphasis
- Biophysics
- Chemistry with a Pre-Health Emphasis
- Psychology (with appropriate pre-requisite courses in chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics)
- Public Health
- Pre-Health Advising | Dr. Beth Bowman, PhD | Director of Undergraduate Research | College of Science and Mathematics
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Christopher Barton | Assistant Professor, Biology Department; Rachel Rigsby | Professor, Chemistry and Physics Department
- Biology with a pre-health emphasis | Jennifer Thomas | Department Chair & Professor, Biology Department
- Biophysics | Krista McBride | Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Physics Department
- Chemistry | Rachel Rigsby | Professor, Chemistry and Physics Department
- Psychology | Linda Jones | Department Chair & Professor, Psychology Department
- Public Health | Christian Williams | Director of BSPH Program & Assistant Professor
- Pre-Pharmacy
- Chemistry with a Pre-Health emphasis | Rachel Rigsby | Professor, Chemistry and Physics Department
- Pharmaceutical Studies | Kimberlee Entsminger | Professor of Chemistry
- Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Occupational Therapy
- Biology with a Pre-Health emphasis | Jennifer Thomas | Department Chair & Professor, Biology Department
- Exercise Science | Patrick Schneider | Department Chair & Professor
- Psychology | Dr. Patrick Morse | Department Chair & Associate Professor of Psychology
- Pre-Optometry
- Biology with a Pre-Health emphasis | Jennifer Thomas | Department Chair & Professor, Biology Department
- Chemistry with a Pre-Health emphasis | Rachel Rigsby | Professor, Chemistry and Physics Department
Belmont has many majors, minors and opportunities to help students achieve their goal of being accepted to medical or dental school. While a majority of students choose majors in the sciences (such as biology), as medical schools increasingly seek well-rounded applicants, it is not uncommon for students to select a major in math, social sciences or even the humanities. Regardless of what major is chosen, all pre-med and pre-dental students have certain pre-requisite courses they need to take in chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics. Additionally, pre-med and pre-dental students will be assigned a pre-health advisor and have the opportunity to join student-led organizations in health, as well as participate in undergraduate research, internships, volunteering and peer-mentoring.
Possible majors include:
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Pre-Pharmacy students will take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, statistics, writing, communication and in the behavioral sciences. Incoming freshmen who choose pre-pharmacy at Belmont University are eligible for Early Assurance to Belmont’s PharmD program by meeting program requirements as outlined here. Pre-Pharmacy students may also take advantage of traveling on medical mission trips, joining student pharmacy organizations, and attending lectures, seminars and other events sponsored by the College of Pharmacy.
Possible majors include:
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Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy schools do not require any particular major so students are encouraged to choose majors that best suit their own academic talents and interests. Courses in chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology, physics, statistics, and social and behavioral sciences are required by most physical therapy schools. Similarly, most Occupational Therapy schools require coursework in subjects such as anatomy and physiology, psychology, sociology, statistics and kinesiology. For both Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy schools, students should check with the PT/OT graduate programs they are interested in for specific requirements.
Possible majors include:
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Student seeking entrance to Optometry Schools should consider taking courses in biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, calculus, statistics, English, and human anatomy and physiology. These courses apply to a majority of optometry schools, but students should check the schools they are interested in for required coursework. Science majors such as biology, microbiology and chemistry are most common for pre-optometry students, but a student can choose any major as long as they complete the pre-requisite curriculum.
Possible majors include:
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Pre-Veterinary
Belmont's Pre-Veterinary programs offer strong science and math courses, along with a well-rounded general education core, hands-on research and numerous volunteer opportunities.
- Pre-Veterinary
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biology with a Pre-Medical Emphasis
- Chemistry with a Pre-Health Emphasis
- Psychology (with appropriate pre-requisite courses in chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics.
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Christopher Barton | Assistant Professor, Biology Department; Rachel Rigsby | Professor, Chemistry and Physics Department
- Biology with a Pre-Allied Health emphasis | Jennifer Thomas | Department Chair & Professor, Biology Department
- Chemistry with a Pre-Health emphasis | Rachel Rigsby | Professor, Chemistry and Physics Department
- Psychology | Dr. Patrick Morse | Department Chair & Associate Professor of Psychology
Veterinary schools seek students with not only a love and compassion for animals but with diverse educational experiences and majors (although a major in sciences is the most common path). Similar to medical school, pre-requisite courses are required for entrance to veterinary school which include classes in biology, organic chemistry, physics, English, statistics, math and genetics.
Possible majors include:
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Pre-Law
Our Pre-Law programs prepare students for advanced education and future legal careers through student organizations, panels, state-of-the-art facilities and more.
- Pre-Law
Law schools accept students from a variety of disciplines. Belmont encourages students to choose majors that best suit their own talents and interests, and are advised to take a variety of classes. Courses that require critical thinking and writing skills will be useful to students in their preparation for law school and the LSAT. While no classes are specifically required or advised, there are numerous courses that are helpful to Pre-Law students including courses in government, sociology, philosophy and literature. Belmont also offers a pre-law student organization, convocations and speaker panels, graduate and law school fairs, and pre-law advising.
The most common majors chosen by Pre-Law students include: