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Apr 11, 2025
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Pre-Professional Programs Major, BS - Pre-Medicine Concentration
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 Return to: Undergraduate Degrees, Majors, Concentrations, Minors, and Certificates
The Pre-Professional Programs Major with a Pre-Medicine concentration at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is designed to offer students a comprehensive four-year program that prepares them for medical school and other health-related professional studies. Moving beyond the traditional pre-medical track, this program emphasizes a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to healthcare, providing students with the knowledge and skills to thrive in an evolving medical landscape. Students will gain a solid foundation in biological, chemical, and physical sciences, while also exploring the critical social, cultural, ethical, and psychological factors that influence healthcare.
This program prepares students for medical schools nationwide, offering a curriculum that aligns with the expectations of modern healthcare education. Students will develop the critical thinking, research, and clinical inquiry skills necessary to address complex healthcare challenges. The program combines essential coursework in science with humanities, social sciences, and hands-on field experiences, fostering an understanding of diverse populations and the socio-economic and behavioral influences on health.
In addition to core science courses, students are encouraged to engage in research, internships, and volunteer work, gaining practical experience that complements their academic studies. The flexible curriculum also allows for study abroad opportunities, broadening students' global health perspectives. Graduates of the program will be well-prepared for admission to medical schools and other health-related graduate programs, equipped with a comprehensive and adaptable skillset for future careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or allied health fields.
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Program Requirements
The Pre-Professional Programs Major with a Pre-Medicine concentration at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a 35 credit hour program designed to prepare students for medical school and health-related fields. It combines a strong foundation in biological, chemical, and physical sciences with an interdisciplinary approach that integrates social, cultural, ethical, and psychological aspects of healthcare. Students are encouraged to broaden their knowledge through research, internships, volunteer work, and/or study abroad, while fulfilling other college and university requirements. Prerequisites (26-27 credit hours)
A minimum grade of C must be earned in all prerequisites.
Choose separate lecture and lab or honors lecture/lab combined:
Pre-Medicine Concentration
This concentration consists of 35 credit hours. I. Health Sciences Foundation: (20 credit hours)
Complete the following: II. Health Sciences Curriculum Expansion: (15 credit hours)
Complete 15 credit hours from the lower- and upper-division courses listed below. Choose courses that balance personal interests with the requirement of attaining at least 42 upper-division (300-400 level) hours to qualify for a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences. Notes
* Meets Volunteer Core Requirements. Several courses listed in the curriculum meet both a Volunteer Core Requirement as well as a requirement in the major. Students can choose to complete the Volunteer Core Requirement using alternative courses; however, this could increase time to degree. In addition to the coursework listed in the curriculum and uTrack pathway, students should plan to engage in research, internships, volunteer work, and MCAT preparation throughout the program, particularly during the summer months. These activities not only strengthen applications to medical school but also to other health-related professions. By balancing academics with hands-on opportunities, students can develop critical skills and experiences beyond the classroom. This approach will provide a deeper understanding of the healthcare field and better prepare students for the challenges ahead. The Pre-Medicine concentration is one of many pathways offered within the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) to help prepare students for future careers in health-related fields. Common pathways include programs in the biological sciences, such as Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology (BCMB), Microbiology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), Global Health, and Neuroscience. Students are encouraged to explore these various options with guidance from CAS academic advisors to determine the pathway that best aligns with their career goals and academic interests. uTrack Requirements (College of Arts and Sciences)
Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. In order to remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester, known as milestones. Milestones include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students. Following the sample academic plan and its uTrack milestones will help students stay on track to graduate in four years. For specific course requirements, refer to the description of the major and the Arts and Sciences requirements listed in the Catalog, and consult an academic advisor. Term 1 Milestone Notes
- MATH 119 or Math ACT of 25 or higher
- Complete at least 12 hours by the end of the term.
Term 2 Milestone Notes
- One science course from any listed in the plan with a grade of C or better.
- Complete at least 24 hours by the end of the term.
Term 3
- Foreign Language 3 credit hours (Intermediate Level)
Term 3 Milestone Notes
- Complete two additional science courses with a grade of C or better.
- Cummulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
- Complete at least 36 hours by the end of the term.
Term 4 Milestone Notes
- Complete two additional science courses from any listed in the plan with a grade of C or better.
- Complete at least 24 hours by the end of the term
Term 5 Milestone Notes
- Complete two additional science classes with a grade of C or better.
Term 6 Milestone Notes
- Complete BCMB 401 with a grade of C or better
- Complete a total of at least 9 total upper-division (300-400 level) hours.
Term 7
- Two courses from Group A and/or B Upper-Division Courses (major) 6 credit hours
- Connections Course 3 credit hours
- Engaged Inquiries (EI) Elective 3 Credit Hours *
- Non-U.S. History 3 credit hours *
Term 7 Milestone Notes
- Complete a total of at least 24 upper-division (300-400 level) hours.
Term 8
- One course from Group A or Group B Upper-Division Courses (major) 3 credit hours
- Connections Course 3 credit hours
- 3 Global Citizenship - United States (GCUS) Elective 3 Credit Hours *
- Non-U.S. History 3 credit hours *
- Upper Division Elective 3 credit hours
Term 8 Milestone Notes
- Complete a total of 42 upper-division (300-400 level) hours.
Footnotes
- * Meets Volunteer Core Requirement.
- 1MCAT 2015 contains new content; therefore, pre-med students should complete BIOL 240 and BCMB 401 and select PSYC 110 * or PSYC 117 * and SOCI 120 * to satisfy the Volunteer Core Requirement in Social Sciences.
- 2The Connections requirement may be satisfied in one of four ways:
- completing 9 hours from one of the approved Connections packages,
- completing the requirements for a second major or minor, or
- completing 9 hours of study abroad coursework.
- completing all Air Force or Army ROTC program requirements
- Completion of at least 42 total upper-division (300-400 level) hours to receive a degree from the College of Arts & Sciences.
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Return to: Undergraduate Degrees, Majors, Concentrations, Minors, and Certificates
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