Pre-Medicine Pathways

If you are interested in careers in medicine, such as physician, pharmacist, physician's assistant, veterinarian, registered dietician nutritionist (RDN), food scientist, or dentist you will need a bachelor's degree with additional professional graduate level schooling.  There is no pre-medicine major, so you can choose the major for your bachelor's degree, but you will need to complete several science and math classes as prerequisites for graduate programs. These classes include biology, anatomy & physiology, chemistry, physics, and often statistics and at least 1 quarter of calculus.

In addition to high grades in these course and their overall GPR, students will need to take entrance exams prior to applying, such as the MCAT or GRE, which require additional knowledge in courses like microbiology, psychology, and biochemistry.

At Edmonds College, you can take the courses you need on a flexible schedule, with academic support and smaller classes to fit your busy lifestyle and financial needs.  You can start by earning either a biology DTA or AST-1 associate degree to help you transfer to a university to begin your bachelor's degree program. While both associate degree options allow you to earn transfer credits for these programs, careers with a biology focus, such as physician, physician assistant, and dentist are encourage to consider the biology DTA.  If you prefer a chemistry or physics focus or are interested in careers in registered dietician nutritionist, food science, or pharmacy are encouraged to select the AST-1 option.  If you already have a bachelor's degree we also offer classes that you may need to fulfill the prerequisite courses for admission to graduate programs.

*Average costs include tuition based on WA state resident full-time enrollment. It does not include fees. The costs may vary. Learn more about Tuition & Fees.

Required Courses

Some of the science and math courses which may be required for entrance into medical and graduate schools offered at Edmonds College are listed in the table below.  Some graduate programs may have specific requirements for additional courses other than what is listed on this table.  Check with your transfer programs to determine course equivalency and whether these or other courses fit the prerequisites.

Talk to a faculty advisor: Jonathan Miller (jonathan.miller@edmonds.edu) or Lori Hays (lori.hays@edmonds.edu) to help you get started on an academic plan today.

Meet Our Students

Student Success Stories

"I was recently accepted into the University of Washington  pharmacy school class of 2027, and I know that I wouldn't have been able to achieve this without the help of the professors at Edmonds. I am truly grateful for their support."

Jonathan T.- University of Washington- Pharmacy Doctoral Student

 

Read More of Jonathan's Story

I first studied at Edmonds College after participating in a running start program in high school. It was just a few years after I first immigrated to the United States. Studying at Edmonds helped me realize that I still needed to improve my English language skills. So, after graduating from high school, I decided to study at Edmonds instead of going straight to a four-year university. With smaller class sizes at Edmonds, I was able to better connect with my instructors and meet peers with similar goals. With the support of advisors and professors at Edmonds, I earned an associate degree and was able to transfer to the University of Washington to pursue an undergraduate degree in biochemistry.

After graduating from the University of Washington, the COVID pandemic hit, and the lockdown presented unforeseen challenges. Although this period was really challenging and discouraging for me, I found a new goal and decided to pursue pharmacy school. When I returned to Edmonds to take some prerequisite courses, I was able to reconnect with some professors who taught me years ago and meet many great professors in the biology department. All the professors were really encouraging and supportive, and not only helped me succeed in their classes, but also provided me with a lot of advice and resources to help me pursue pharmacy school.

I was recently accepted into the University of Washington pharmacy school class of 2027, and I know that I wouldn't have been able to achieve this without the help of the professors at Edmonds. I am truly grateful for their support.

"Throughout my time in Edmonds, I had the privilege of learning from many inspiring professors, especially those in the Biology Department. Their dedication to teaching and mentoring their students helped me succeed in challenging courses such as Human A&P, Biology, and Microbiology. I am forever grateful for their unwavering support and encouragement, which allowed me to achieve my academic and professional goals."

David T.- University of Washington, Pharmacy Doctoral Student

Read More of David's Story

My name is David Tang, and I am thrilled to share that I have been accepted into the University of Washington School of Pharmacy PharmD program. This achievement has been made possible with the educational journey offered by Edmonds College, where I spent almost three years pursuing my academic goals.

At Edmonds College, I earned my Associate of Science in Chemistry, which laid a strong foundation for my future studies. Then, I transferred to the University of Washington, and within two years I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that I realized my passion for pharmacy and decided to return to Edmonds College and complete all the prerequisite courses required for pharmacy school. I am proud to say that I successfully completed all these courses within a year, thanks to the guidance and support of the incredible professors at Edmonds College.

Throughout my time in Edmonds, I had the privilege of learning from many inspiring professors, especially those in the Biology Department. Their dedication to teaching and mentoring their students helped me succeed in challenging courses such as Human A&P, Biology, and Microbiology. I am forever grateful for their unwavering support and encouragement, which allowed me to achieve my academic and professional goals.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to Edmonds College for providing me with an exceptional learning experience and the opportunity to pursue my dreams. I am excited to continue my education at the University of Washington. I know that the skills and knowledge I gained from Edmonds College will serve me well in my future endeavors.