Pre-Med (Osteopathic--D.O.) Program in Pennsylvania
Prepare for medical school with a personalized plan that will enable you to complete the classes required for your major while completing your medical school requirements.
Study Pre-Med (Osteopathic--D.O.) at a Christian University
There is no preferred or "best" undergraduate major for students interested in attending medical school. In fact, your choice of major is wide open. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), if you are planning to attend medical school, you should select a major that interests you, and that you can perform well in, as you complete the course requirements for medical school. While degrees in the sciences are popular, other types of majors, including those in social science, business, humanities and even engineering, are equally suitable. Whatever your choice of undergraduate degree, you must excel in all of your coursework, both within your academic major and in the courses required for application to medical school. While certain science-related majors inherently cover more of the prerequisite courses, with careful planning you can select virtually any major and be a successful medical school applicant.
For this reason, at Messiah University we offer a pre-med advising option rather than a designated major. You’ll work with a pre-health advisor and a major advisor who will help prepare you for medical school with a personalized plan that enables you to complete the classes required for your major while completing your medical school requirements.
Just as no two patients are the same, no two physicians are either. In the true liberal arts tradition, Messiah has an excellent record of preparing poets, philosophers, historians, musicians and scientists for lives of service and leadership in the healthcare professions.
While students planning to enter medical school represent a variety of majors, some of the more widely selected majors for medical school-bound students at Messiah include:
- Applied Health Science
- Biochemistry (B.S. and B.A.)
- Biology – Biomedical concentration
- Biopsychology
- Molecular Biology
While specific requirements vary by school, most medical schools require these core classes:
- One year of general biology
- One year of general chemistry
- One year of organic chemistry
- One semester of biochemistry
- One year introductory or general physics
- One semester of psychology
- One semester of sociology
- One year of English
Pre-med (D.O.) advising students at Messiah have been accepted to many prestigious medical schools, including:
- Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
- Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)
- Liberty College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Ohio Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bachelor’s + D.O. Partner Program
The Bachelor’s + D.O. Early Assurance Program (EAP) for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) is a collaboration between Messiah University and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). You will complete your Bachelor’s degree at Messiah University and then proceed to one of the LECOM campuses to obtain your Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. This Early Assurance Program is open to qualifying high school students who are accepted to and plan to attend Messiah University and current Messiah University students prior to the start of their junior year.
For academic and application requirements, career planning tools and more.
Questions?
Contact Martha Stigelman, Pre-health professions advising coordinator
717-766-2511, ext. 3936
In the Pre-Med (Osteopathic--D.O.) program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Pre-Med (Osteopathic--D.O.) careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of the Pre-Med (Osteopathic--D.O.) program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
96% of the Class of 2022 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.