Undeclared Major - College of Science: Preprofessional Health Studies

Program Description

The College of Science Preprofessional Health Studies Undeclared Major is a major, but it is not a degree-granting program. It offers a structured advising program that provides students with the necessary support and strategies to investigate and compare academic disciplines within the College of Science to provide students the opportunity to further explore science majors before making an informed decision about the degree programs they pursue.

The College of Science Preprofessional Health Studies Undeclared Major curriculum provides undecided students the opportunity to explore majors while completing General Education courses alongside prerequisites for their desired health career until they decide on a degree-granting major appropriate to their career goals. Clemson University offers a variety of degree-granting majors ideally suited for students interested in pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and more. Keep in mind, some majors are highly competitive, and it is advantageous for students to enroll in a major as soon as possible. For more information on choosing a degree-granting major visit clemson.edu/degrees.

Students interested in attending a health professional school (medical, dental, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician’s assistant, etc.) should choose a potential major to follow while accommodating the prerequisite coursework of their professional school of interest. Professional health schools typically avoid having long lists of required undergraduate courses in order to allow students a wide latitude for developing individualized programs of study. These schools are not as concerned about a student’s major as they are about academic performance in the curriculum the student selects. Performance becomes critical as competition increases for the limited number of places available in professional schools. Students choosing this route apply to a professional school at the conclusion of their third year at Clemson. Interested students are encouraged to consult with Health Professions Advising, as well as the individual schools to which they hope to apply, in order to identify the appropriate coursework.

The College of Science Preprofessional Health Studies Undeclared Major curriculum offers 90 credits of general education requirements and typical prerequisites for entry into Accelerated Pathways, such as the Medical University of South Carolina or Presbyterian College. Upon completion of the necessary prerequisites, students are eligible to apply to an Accelerated program, typically at the conclusion of their second year at Clemson. Students who complete the 90-credit program at Clemson and a full year of coursework at an accredited health professional school are eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Science in Preprofessional Studies for an August graduation at the earliest (see the Preprofessional Studies section under Graduation Requirements). The degree in Pharmacy is not awarded by Clemson. It is important for students to work closely with their advisor, as there are variations in courses required by pharmacy schools. For financial aid purposes, students in the College of Science Preprofessional Health Studies Undeclared Major are considered to be enrolled in a degree-seeking program.

More information regarding Accelerated Pathways can be found at https://www.clemson.edu/science/academics/hpa/.

Students interested in pursuing a competitive entry major are advised to identify a parallel plan to pursue alongside the admissions process. Students interested in pursuing Bachelor of Arts degrees are advised to begin their modern language requirement immediately. First-year students are advised to complete their South Carolina REACH Act Requirement.

To ensure that students graduate in a timely manner, they are strongly advised to declare a major in a degree-granting program by the end of their first year or once they have completed all General Education requirements. At that point, majors typically have specific classes that are recommended or required, and the number of crossover courses applicable to multiple majors begins to decline.

Students who meet academic eligibility requirements may transfer into the College of Science Preprofessional Health Studies Undeclared Major only if they have completed 45 or fewer total credit hours. In addition to credits completed at Clemson University, total credit hours include credit hours transferred from another institution, dual enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and credit by exam.

Program Requirements