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Osteopathic Medicine Program

Declaring a Major

Declaring a major is an important event for pre-professional (pre-med, pre-osteopathic, pre-vet, pre-dent, pre-optometry, pre-chiropractic, pre-podiatric) students. Pre-med, pre-dent, etc. are all "programs" at Gannon. They are not academic majors. As such, all students in the pre-professional programs must declare an academic major. Students should declare a major by the end of their third semester (i.e. early in the spring semester of their sophomore year). Students who do not declare a major by the end of their fourth semester (i.e. the end of their Sophomore year) will not be permitted to register for their fifth semester.

Pre-professional students at Gannon have traditionally declared biology or chemistry as their academic majors. However, students occasionally declare psychology, sport and exercise science or a number of other majors. It does not matter to professional schools what major a student declars as long as certain course requirements are met. These requirements typically include at least two semesters of biology with laboratories, four semesters of chemistry with laboratories and two semesters of physics with laboratories. Many schools also have math and english requirements. Choice of academic major is addressed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in their 2003-2004 "Medical School Admission Requirements" (pg. 11)

   "Medical schools recognize the importance of a strong foundation in the natural sciences-biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics-and most schools have established minimum course requirements for admission. These courses usually represent about one-third of the credit hours needed for graduation. The approach deliberately leaves room for applicants from a broad spectrum of college majors, including those in the humanities and social sciences. No medical school requires a specific major of its enrollees. Schools know that medical students can develop the essential skills of acquiring, synthesizing, applying and communicating information through a wide variety of academic disciplines."

   "Nevertheless, many premedical students choose to major in science. Ideally, they do so because they are fascinated by science and perceive that such a major can be the foundation for a variety of career options. Choosing science based primarily on enhancing one's chances for admission to medical school is not in a student's long-term best interest. Medical school admission committees seek students whose intellectual curiosity leads them to a variety of disciplines and whose intellectual maturity assures that their efforts are persistent and disciplined."

With this in mind, students should declare an academic major that interests them and that provides enjoyable career options if they decide not to pursue or are not accepted into professional school. Students who declare biology or chemistry as their academic major have a tremendous number of career options available to them.