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Pre-Health Program

A Comprehensive Pre-Health Program for Students Interested in Health Professions North of New York City

Why Pursue Pre-Health at Marist University?

Students in Marist's Pre-Health program receive individualized support to help reach their health care goals. While building a strong academic foundation through rigorous coursework and hands-on learning experiences, students learn about themselves and their community, and connect to their purpose in health care. We collaborate with students to link their foundational knowledge and skills with the ethics necessary for becoming compassionate health care providers.

The Pre-Health program at Marist supports students in all majors who are interested in any health field. This includes areas like medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, pharmacy, and chiropractic. The Pre-Health program is neither a major or minor, nor a pre-set list of courses.

Program Distinctions

Advancing Science Education

Backed by Marist’s $100 million Science and Health Initiative, including a new state-of-the-art facility designed to support clinical learning and preparation for health professions.

Graduate Success

97% of School of Science graduates are employed or pursuing graduate study within six months of graduation*.

* Based on a five-year average from Marist’s annual outcomes report (knowledge rate: 86.8%).

Immersive Learning Environments

Comprehensive preparation for health professions through rigorous coursework, advising, and experiential learning, including clinical exposure and community-based healthcare initiatives.

Real-World Application

Integration of simulation and AI-enabled tools that support clinical reasoning, diagnostic practice, and decision-making in healthcare settings.

Top Institutions

Graduates continue their education at leading institutions such as Columbia, Touro, UConn, UMass, and Marist, and pursue careers with healthcare organizations including New York-Presbyterian and Atlantic Health.

Image of renderings for Marist University's new Science building.

Marist Announces Ambitious $100 Million Science and Health Initiative

Marist University is investing $100 million to launch a comprehensive Science and Health Initiative to expand academic programs, modernize facilities, and strengthen partnerships to meet growing student interest and workforce demand. Grounded in Marist's "and" not "or" philosophy, the initiative blends rigorous scientific training with the critical thinking, ethics, communication, and leadership skills that today's scientific and clinical professions demand.

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Your Pathway to a Career in Healthcare

Marist expanded its admissions pathways to meet the growing demand for careers in the healthcare industry. Our competitive and comprehensive programs offer specialized entry pathways to support our undergraduate interests and healthcare-related goals. Marist Pre-Health students can access direct pathways to graduate school through connections with: 

  • Marist University Doctorate of Physical program
  • Marist University Physician Assistant program
  • Russel Sage College Occupational Therapy program
  • Northeast College of Health Sciences Chiropractic program
Learn More About Marist's Partnership Agreements

Welcome to Marist's Pre-Health Program

At Marist's Pre-Health Program, you'll have the opportunity to:

  • Explore your interest in health-related careers
  • Connect with students and alumni with similar career interests
  • Engage in workshops and seminars on topics related to health care and graduate school preparation
  • Receive personalized 1:1 and group advising
  • Prepare to be a competitive applicant to medical, dental, veterinary, physician assistant, physical therapy, and other health-related graduate/professional programs

Our alumni have gone on to have thriving and rewarding careers in health care and I’m looking forward to working with you as you chart your path forward.

Jessica Welsh, Pre-Health Program Coordinator  |  Donnelly 276  

Marist University's Pre-Health Program Frequently Asked Questions

The short answer is: it depends!

The long answer is that you need a solid academic foundation in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, psychology, and social sciences, along with strong critical analysis and reasoning skills to both do well on the MCAT and to have the foundational knowledge for medical school.

Most Marist students complete these through a Biomedical Sciences or Biology major or through a Biology minor.

Medical schools are less concerned about students having a particular major and are more focused on applicants fulfilling their specific prerequisite courses, which can vary from school to school.

To develop a plan that makes sense for your goals and interests, reach out to  Jessica Welsh, Pre-Health Program Coordinator, to schedule a one-on-one meeting.

Information for Students Interested in Medical School >

The Marist Pre-Health program helps students explore the possibilities and prepare for a wide range of careers in health care, including:

  • Athletic training (AT)
  • Chiropractic
  • Dentistry
  • Genetic counseling
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Occupational therapy (OT)
  • Optometry
  • Pharmacy
  • Physical therapy (PT)
  • Physician assistant (PA)
  • Podiatry
  • Speech-language pathology (SLP)
  • Veterinary medicine

Additionally, students benefit from specialized advising, opportunities for experiential learning through their major, and a growing list of program-specific pathways, such as the Physician Assistant Pathway and Doctor of Physical Therapy Pathway, positioning them for successful careers.

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