If you’re called to serve others in the rewarding position of a physician, a bachelor’s degree in biology can give you the scientific foundation you need to prepare for medical school.
Excellence in health sciences education is in our DNA. Our rigorous and comprehensive pre-med curriculum will develop you into a strong medical school candidate. With academics rooted in Franciscan values (that happen to align perfectly with the Hippocratic Oath), the University of Saint Francis also prepares you to be an ethical, compassionate healthcare provider.
National median salary for physicians and surgeons (BLS, 2019)
best job in healthcare (U.S News & World Report, 2020)
best paying job in the United States (U.S News & World Report, 2020)
Through a partnership with Marian University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, USF offers our biology pre-med students two options for expedited admission:
Learn more about requirements for expedited admission to Marian University.
About Our Partner University & Osteopathic Medicine
Guided by a philosophy that treats the patient not the disease, osteopathic medicine focuses on the whole person: mind, body and spirit. A sister Franciscan institution, the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Marian University Indianapolis offers a faith-based approach to physician training.
As a biology pre-med major at USF, you’ll be assigned an academic advisor who will work one-on-one with you to:
The best pre-med schools and programs provide significant opportunities to learn by doing in state-of-the-art classrooms, cutting-edge labs and professional, real-world settings. At USF, this means exploring anatomy and physiology in our human cadaver lab. This is an experience not commonly offered to undergraduate students and will give you an academic advantage in medical school.
As a biology pre-med major, you will also get also get hands-on learning through off-campus experiences such as:
Small classes sizes mean personalized attention from your professors, closer collaboration with classmates and more engaging classroom discussions.
USF’s biology pre-med faculty has a diverse range of research interests and professional experience, including:
The academics at USF are so strong because of the professors — not just their knowledge but their accessibility. I always felt free to contact them with questions and they would always respond. Being supported that way makes it more enjoyable to learn.
Elizabeth Meyer ’19
Biology major
We encourage pre-med students to join the Pre-Professional Healthcare Honor Society, which organizes many campus activities and is involved with community organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Ronald McDonald House, Kids Against Hunger, and Community Harvest Foodbank.
Additionally, it’s not uncommon for biology and health sciences students to form study groups (and friendships!) that gather frequently around campus, including in Achatz’s collaboration spaces.
Our biology pre-med students have been accepted at into medical programs at institutions such as:
Your first step to becoming a USF Cougar is applying for admission. Our online application makes the process as convenient as possible.
Apply NowWhether you know what you want to see, who you want to meet or are just exploring your options, we will personalize your campus visit to fit your needs.
Visit USFAn academic plan is a general blueprint showing how one might complete the degree, semester by semester. Get an idea on what each semester could look like.