Pre-Medical

The pre-medical program at Nazareth University prepares you to apply to medical schools (especially M.D., but also osteopathic, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic, etc.). The American Medical Association recommends that interested students, regardless of major, select courses that emphasize the skills of verbal and written comprehension, a critical understanding of human values, and the creative power of thinking.

Pre-medical students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.4 and perform a minimum of 160 hours of community/pre-medical clinical service.

Additional Information

Plan to apply to medical school through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) and take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), typically during the spring of your university junior year or in the summer after your university junior year.

An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.4/4.0 plus an MCAT score of at least 30/45 is highly desirable.

Study Abroad

Choose to enrich your experience through 70+ study abroad options, including Chile for pre-med.

Program Options

pre-medical program alumni

Alumni Spotlight: Jacob C. Phouthavong-Murphy

"The best part about the pre-med minor is having access to the pre-med committee — a group of faculty from across Nazareth (including sociology, psychology, and more, in addition to science). We had meetings with our pre-med advisor and workshops they put on together, such as writing your essay for med school, or interviewing techniques and practice."

Jacob C. Phouthavong-Murphy majored in biology and completed pre-med, chemistry, and psychology minors. He went on to Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City, toward his goal of becoming a neonatal surgeon. On a visit to Nazareth two years after graduating  to speak to the Pre-Health Professionals Club, he said, "The classes at Naz were very spot on. We've gone more in-depth in med school, but all the concepts I learned here." Read about his experiences >

Example Careers/Outcomes

  • Pediatrician
  • M.D.
  • D.O
  • Podiatrist
  • Chiropractor

Undergraduate Research Topics

  • Comparative study of quadriceps muscle force
  • Physiological response to exercise in athletes vs non-athletes

Graduate Schools/Employers

  • University of Rochester School of Medicine
  • SUNY Upstate Medical University