Clarkson offers a range of pre-health science programs preparing you for medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, occupational therapy, physical therapy school or a physician assistant program.

All of these healthcare careers are among the Top 20 Best Healthcare Jobs according to U.S. News and World Report 2020. At Clarkson, we strive to prepare our students to successfully reach their career goals and aspirations. This is done through special advising and personalized attention, access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources, relevant coursework such as our Health Coaches class and minors such as our minor in Medicine and Healthcare, and opportunities for hands-on research opportunities within the scope of medicine and healthcare. 

In our Pre-Health Sciences tracks, students pursue a major of their choosing, such as biology, psychology or chemical engineering, and then work with a team of Clarkson faculty and staff to ensure they are prepared for the next stage in their education or career.

We currently offer Pre-Health Sciences tracks in:

Twelve Clarkson Pre-Health students recently completed a week of volunteering in Denver. Read about their experience.

Request More Info Apply Now Pre-Health Fact Sheet PDF

Contact the Pre-Health Advising Dept. Contact Admissions

Strong Graduate School & Industry Opportunities in Health Sciences

Through our strong alumni network, opportunities in our own graduate programs and partnerships with graduate programs, Clarkson Pre-Health Sciences track students have options to explore. 

Clarkson Pre-Health Sciences track students have gone on to prestigious graduate programs such as: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, SUNY Update Medical University, Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry and University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. 

Clarkson Health Graduate Programs

Students interested in physical therapy, physician assistant and/or occupational therapy careers can pursue these programs as undergraduate tracks and gain the opportunity for fast tracked admission into Clarkson's graduate degree programs to complete their education. 

Clarkson offers:

Early Acceptance at LECOM

Students interested in medicine, dentistry or pharmacy can apply for a reserved seat at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) before the end of their second year at Clarkson. 

Clarkson University and LECOM have an agreement to allow qualified Clarkson students to be given a provisional letter of acceptance (i.e., a reserved seat) in one of LECOM’s professional schools upon completion of a successful interview. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Application to the EAP can occur as early as the senior year in high school and up to the start of the third year at Clarkson (depending on the professional school). Please see https://lecom.edu/admissions/entrance-requirements/early-acceptance-programs/ for additional details.

Healthcare Internships & Co-ops

Clarkson also boasts alumni leaders in healthcare and related industries, especially in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, where Clarkson graduates are employed by companies such as Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, GlaxoSmithKline, Biogen and ThermoFisher Scientific.

Companies like these come to our twice-a-year Career Fair, hosted by our award-winning Career Center, where Clarkson students can meet with representatives from nearly 200 companies to secure internships, co-ops and full-time positions. Pre-Health Sciences track students find immense value in internships and co-ops in understanding the healthcare industry, gaining meaningful resume experience and making lifelong connections. 

Relevant Health Courses and Minors

Pre-Health Sciences track students greatly benefit from Clarkson's course and minor offerings that are relevant to a future career in healthcare. After choosing from one of our 50+ majors, students still find time in their four years at Clarkson to choose relevant minors to take their studies further. We also offer all of the required coursework needed to apply to the health graduate programs of your choice, including: biology, chemistry, physics, math/calculus/statistics, English, psychology and sociology, organic chemistry (medical, dental, vet, PA), anatomy and physiology (PA, PT), biochemistry (medical, dental, vet), microbiology (vet, PA) and nutrition (vet).

Popular Majors for Pre-Health Sciences

Our most popular majors for Pre-Health Sciences undergraduate students are:

Relevant Healthcare Minors

Pre-Health Sciences undergraduate students also choose minors such as:

Health Coaches Course

The Health Coach Program — Students can participate in this yearlong program sponsored and coordinated by Canton-Potsdam Hospital. The program has 2 semesters of coursework featuring weekly discussions with healthcare professionals on topics such as population health, chronic diseases, the healthcare system, and rural medicine. During the second semester, students gain experience working with community members who have chronic conditions. This course helps students gain service and volunteer hours in the medical field.

Personalized Attention & Pre-Health Advising

At Clarkson, we provide a team of staff from across the University to help our Pre-Health Sciences track students plan course schedules, develop the credentials needed to get into graduate programs, study for placement exams and successfully apply to the programs of their choosing. Every student has a personalized experience to reach their individual goals. 

The Office of Undergraduate Advising provides a Pre-Health Student Advisor who specializes in mentoring and coaching our students throughout their time at Clarkson to reach their goals. Our Career Center works with students to assist in helping them find relevant internships and co-op opportunities that will boost their resumes and give them the experience needed to navigate the vast healthcare industry. Our faculty, especially in the departments of biology, chemistry and biomolecular science, and psychology are experienced in providing additional mentorship to students who are eager to find success in healthcare. 

Student Clubs & Organizations

 

    The interest in health-related student clubs and organizations on Clarkson's campus continues to grow as the number of our students looking to enter the health field grows. Students are empowered to create their own clubs and organizations on campus and, many times, are given funding. Some health-related clubs include:

    • Doctors Without Borders
    • Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students
    • Pre-Physician Assistant Club
    • Physical Therapy Club
    • Animal Science Club (pre-vet)
    • Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society
      Clarkson's student chapter of Doctors Without Borders traveled to Ecuador to volunteer in local medical facilities.

      Each year, Clarkson's Doctors Without Borders student club travels to a global destination to volunteer in local medical facilities, gain experience and learn about new cultures. Matt Kane '20, a Pre-Physician Assistant track undergraduate student and biology major recently wrote about the group and their international experiences. Read more about it!

      Hands-On Medical Research

      The renowned Trudeau Institute, home of the cure for tuberculosis, offers Clarkson students a Biomedical Scholars Program. This program is an intensive living and learning experience and appeals to students interested in human health science and biotechnology. Clarkson faculty on campus are also at the forefront of research in areas such as biosensors, stem cells and regenerative medicine, neurophysiology, rehabilitation engineering, nanotechnology and more. 

      Trudeau Biomedical Scholars Program

      Cutting Edge Facilities

      Cadaver Lab

      An integral part of our undergraduate anatomy and physiology course is our Cadaver Lab, where students have the chance to work with an actual cadaver, something that isn't offered to undergraduate students at many other universities.

       

       

      Graduate Program Facilities

      Our graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy and physician assistant studies all provide state-of-the-art facilities that undergraduate students are able to see in action, such as the Occupational Therapy Simulation Lab.

      Innovation Hub

      Clarkson Ignite is an innovation ecosystem that connects students to faculty, staff, alumni, and community leaders to gain critical hands-on, creative experience. The Innovation Hub, located in the heart of campus, is home to a variety of innovation spaces such as the Dorf Makerspace and Digital Making Suite.

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