Pre-Medicine

A career in medicine offers a broad array of opportunities, ranging from clinical practice to biomedical research to public health policy development. Physicians are knowledgeable about the scientific basis of medicine and the abnormal and normal functioning of the human body.

Pre-Medicine at Portland State University (PSU) is a professional track (not a major), but common majors for pre-medical students include Science, Biology, Chemistry, Health Studies: Health Science, and Psychology. Students can choose any major while also completing their pre-medical coursework. Students can discuss with your pre-medical advisor how these two components fit together in your course plans.

Pre-Medicine is for students interested in becoming allopathic physicians (MDs) or osteopathic physicians (DOs).

Allopathic medicine is rooted in the practice of using treatment and remedies to reverse the effects of illness and disease. However, today’s allopathic physicians also typically use a preventive approach to medicine, emphasizing health promotion, and disease prevention.

Osteopathic medicine is rooted in a holistic philosophy with an emphasis on viewing the patient as a whole (mind, body, spirit) and understanding the way that structure influences function in the body. Like allopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians utilize remedies such as medication and surgery to reverse the effects of illness and disease; however, they are also trained in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) -- manual manipulation of the musculoskeletal system.

Allopathic and osteopathic schools of medicine require that applicants complete a specific set of prerequisite courses prior to enrollment and typically require students to earn a baccalaureate degree before matriculating to medical school. Students can choose to pursue any major at PSU while completing their pre-medical coursework. Students can discuss with their pre-medical advisor how these two components fit together into course plans.

Prospective students interested in PSU can meet with a pre-medical advisor to learn about the Pre-Medicine track.