Program Opportunities
- Major in biology-chemistry
- Two-year pre-pharmacy track
Overview
A major in biology-chemistry provides the essentials for a wide array of health care careers, pure science research and bachelor’s level employment directly after graduating. Although many students see the program as a launch point to pursue medicine and pharmacy, it can also take students in a variety of other directions: optometry, dentistry, veterinary sciences, chiropractic, physician assistant and physical therapy. A biology-chemistry major also enables students to gain admission to masters and doctoral programs involving biology and chemistry.
Careers for a Biology-Chemistry Major
Program Highlights
- Over the last 10 years, 79 percent of MU students have been accepted to medical school, compared to the national average of 40-45 percent. 88 percent of MU students have been accepted into dental school and 99 percent were accepted into pharmacy school.
- A Manchester Biology-Chemistry degree opens the door to a wide variety of career options beyond pre-med, with more continuing to join the list. And Manchester students applying to professional schools to pursue those careers have been accepted at a rate of 96 percent over the last several years.
- New study away and research scholarships (Miller Study Abroad Award and Donald B. Miller Student Research Award) are now available to Biology-Chemistry majors.
- The January Session Medical Practicum gives Manchester Biology-Chemistry students real-world experience working with health care professionals in areas where quality health care is in short supply. Students are afforded the opportunity to work with providers who treat hundreds of patients with medical and dental needs.
Why Manchester?
At Manchester, the Biology-Chemistry Program prepares students for getting into medical schools to learn how to become family practice physicians, surgeons, pediatricians and more. Although the MU Biology-Chemistry Program is among the best for pre-med study, enabling pre-med students to meet pre-med requirements, it’s also among the best for those wishing to follow other career paths related to health care, including research.
It’s a flexible and academically rigorous program whose small class sizes and diligent faculty mentoring results in historically strong acceptance rates into professional schools, and affords students superb preparation for a wide variety of medical careers. The Biology-Chemistry curriculum is front-loaded with key science classes, so students who decide to change to a related career path can build on the first year or two of courses without having to re-visit what they’ve already done. Students will be able to use scientific knowledge for careers that address societal issues.
In addition, Manchester’s strong liberal arts curriculum – a traditional hall mark of a Manchester education – will ensure students are prepared for more than just how to become a doctor or other medical professional. They’ll be well-rounded scholars, with ability and conviction to improve the human condition, and therefore become something Manchester has always regarded as paramount: their best selves.
Some Examples of Student Success
Madison Brown '22 will be attending West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Lauren Funderburg '22 will be attending veterinary medical school at Ross University.
Karly Eichenauer '21 is at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Morgan Shumaker '21 is at the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Nick Buttermore '19 is in MU's Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Alexa Callaway '19 is in a dual degree Dentistry/MPH program at the University of Michigan.
Rebecca Ullom-Minnich '19 is in veterinary medical school at Kansas State University.
Alexis Figueroa '18 is in a MD/PhD program at Johns Hopkins University.
Jenny Pudlo '18 completed the prosthetics and orthotics masters program at Northwestern University.