UC Davis has many majors available to pre meds that are hard sciences like “chemistry” and “biomedical engineering”, and they have many majors available to pre meds that are interdisciplinary like “global disease biology” and “human biology”.
10 Best Pre Med Majors at UC Davis
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Genetics and Genomics
- Global Disease Biology
- Human Biology
- Psychology
- Science and Technology
UC Davis Pre Med Majors – Biomedical Engineering
Bachelor of Science
Do you want to change the medical field? Do you want to work in a field that is a cross between engineering and medicine? Or do you want to invent the next biofuel to power tomorrow? Then biochemical engineering is your new home. You and your peers can pave the way to a healthier and more efficient tomorrow when you join the biochemical engineering program.
Major Requirements
As a biochemical engineering major, you will begin your study with an extensive series of foundation courses in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. At the upper division level, you will take advanced courses in specific topics in biochemical and chemical engineering. These courses will include fundamental process engineering courses (transport phenomena, thermodynamics, kinetics, process control, engineering economics) as well as specific courses in bioreactors, bioseparations, biotechnology facility design, regulatory compliance, technoeconomic analysis and biochemical engineering laboratory.
UC Davis Pre Med Majors – Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Bachelor of Science
Are you curious about studying how life works at a molecular level? Are you interested in solving biological problems using quantitative molecular-based techniques? The biochemistry and molecular biology major may be of interest to you!
Major Requirements
You will begin your studies with foundation courses in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. At the upper-division level, you will take a four-course sequence in advanced biological topics and an intensive laboratory course designed to introduce you to the methods and procedures used in studying biochemical processes. You will supplement your courses in biology with sequences in organic chemistry. All of your advanced coursework is designed to give you maximal opportunities to increase your skill and familiarity with research laboratory procedures.
UC Davis Pre Med Majors – Biotechnology
Bachelor of Science
Are you interested in the mechanics of life and improving human and animal health, food safety, energy production and environmental quality? Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary major that has an impact on almost every aspect of modern human life. Students develop a strong background in the biological sciences with an emphasis on the basic principles of genetics, molecular biology and cell biology. Students focus their studies into one of four areas to gain a more in-depth understanding of these topics: microbial biotechnology, animal biotechnology, plant biotechnology or bioinformatics.
Major Requirements
At the lower division level, you will develop a strong background in general biological sciences, emphasizing basic concepts of genetics, molecular biology, cell biology and recombinant DNA technology. You will choose an animal, plant or microbial biotechnology system as your special focus at the upper division level. Each track of study requires significant hands-on experience including a mandatory internship in a biotechnology company or research laboratory.
UC Davis Pre Med Majors – Cell Biology
Bachelor of Science
Are you fascinated by how the cell operates in living organisms? Are you curious how the adult cell functions? Cell biology integrates principles from many disciplines, including chemistry, physics, genetics, biochemistry and physiology, for a more complete understanding of cell function. This major will open up doors to scientific opportunities for cellular and molecular exploration.
Major Requirements
You will begin with foundation courses similar to those of other majors in the biological sciences, including basic natural science and mathematics concepts. At the upper division level, you will study more advanced topics in organic and physical chemistry and developmental, molecular and cell biology. The strong research focus of the major gives you the chance to become familiar with modern experimental biology, and you will be encouraged to work with faculty on independent research products to enhance your classroom studies.
UC Davis Pre Med Majors – Chemistry
Bachelor of Science
How is the twitch of a muscle fiber related to the silent explosion of a supernova? Every happening in the universe is linked at an atomic level by the principles of chemistry. Chemists analyze substances and test environmental samples. They create new substances, as in medical and product manufacturing, and test theories using chemical analysis. They also measure the properties of substances, like the strength of materials used in engineering.
Major Requirements
After completing required initial sequences in chemistry, physics and calculus, you will begin working with more advanced topics such as physical chemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry and analytical and laboratory methods. You may choose to specialize in an area such as chemical physics, forensic, environmental or pharmaceutical chemistry, or choose a more general course of study that will prepare you to enter a wide range of fields. At UC Davis, you have the flexibility to pursue an A.B. or B.S. degree in chemistry. Our A.B. degree is ideal if you plan to go into teaching or pursue a professional degree, while our general B.S. degree in chemistry is certified by the American Chemical Society and provides you with more rigorous scientific preparation.
UC Davis Pre Med Majors – Genetics and Genomics
Bachelor of Science
Are you looking to contribute to the advancements in heredity research? Do you want to explore the evolution of organisms? Geneticists seek to answer fundamental questions about how organisms inherit characteristics and transmit them to their offspring. Concepts of heredity and evolution are important in many areas of modern science and industry, including biotechnology, medicine and agriculture.
Major Requirements
You’ll begin your study with foundation courses in biological sciences, chemistry, mathematics and physics. At the upper-division level, you’ll study advanced general topics in the biological sciences, and you may also choose from such courses as molecular genetics, embryology, developmental genetics and bacteriology.
UC Davis Pre Med Majors – Global Disease Biology
Bachelor of Science
Global disease biology allows students to study disease and its relationship to the health of people, animals, plants and the environment in a global context. The program uses an interdisciplinary approach to advance understanding of diseases, societal and personal impacts, and the science behind discoveries, causes, evolution, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases. Students interested in the health sciences will integrate concepts from multiple disciplines to learn how to solve global disease and health challenges using innovative approaches.
Major Requirements
Students will engage in a broad range of preparatory scientific coursework and global disease biology classes such as epidemiology and disease ecology. Core classes are interdisciplinary and focus on concepts that span the breadth of human, animal and plant diseases, providing a unifying ecological and quantitative perspective of disease. Flexibility in upper division electives allows students to explore specific areas of interest in depth. A strong research component includes a senior project designed to bridge disciplines within the major.
UC Davis Pre Med Majors – Human Biology
Bachelor of Science
The human biology major will provide students with a broad biological understanding of our species, from molecules, genes, and cells to tissues, organ systems and organism/environment interactions. The curriculum includes classes on the basic principles that help us understand normal human physiology, human health, and the molecular basis of disease.
Major Requirements
The human biology majors requires coursework in biological science, general chemistry, organic chemistry, mathematics, physics, microbiology, and neurobiology, physiology and behavior.
UC Davis Pre Med Majors – Psychology
Bachelor of Science
Are you fascinated by human behavior? Do you want to understand how people think, feel, act and interact? Psychologists conduct studies to learn about what makes people the way they are — including their biology, environment and culture. This knowledge can be used to solve real-world problems in nearly every field, including business, counseling, teaching and technology, and help people who suffer from neuropsychiatric disorders or experience psychological distress.
Major Requirements
You’ll begin your studies with a generalized psychology course to introduce you to the subject matter. And after taking the foundational research methods and statistics courses, you’ll be better equipped to take our advanced psychology courses. If you’re pursuing a bachelor of science, you’ll be taking a series of mathematics, chemistry and biological science courses on top of the depth subject matter. Bachelor of arts students will have the opportunity to take a number of humanities and/or science courses while completing the in-depth subject matter. Regardless of degree or area of study, the sky’s the limit when it comes to conducting original research, assisting faculty with their own projects or participating in an internship.
UC Davis Pre Med Majors – Science and Technology
Bachelor of Science
How can we address the challenges of our increasingly high-tech world? The science and technology studies (STS) major unites the perspectives of the humanities and social sciences together with science, technology and medicine. STS students learn to think critically, explore controversies, create innovative and responsible solutions to urgent problems, and engage directly with the world-changing effects of scientific, medical and technological revolutions.
Major Requirements
Graduation with a degree in science and technology studies requires completion of introductory courses in the social sciences and humanities, in the natural sciences, and introductory, laboratory and seminar courses in STS. Upper division work includes 12 units from each of two different, complementing areas of concentration (“modules”) and 12 units (plus prerequisites) providing depth, concentration and field work opportunities in the sciences. The modules are: I. Cultural studies of science and technology; II. Ethics, values and science policy; III. History and philosophy of science; IV. Medicine, society and culture. Courses in the modules require careful selection to make the best use of the STS major. Prerequisites for courses in the sciences can be extensive and require substantial advance planning for timely completion. Students are encouraged to take advantage of faculty and staff advising to plan their courses of study.