Explore Majors

While professional schools do not require a specific major, specific academic courses are required. Sam Houston State University has reviewed the prerequisite coursework and made recommendations for majors that most closely align with those requirements.

Recommended Majors

Professions are shown in the left column. Potential majors from the College of Health Sciences, College of Science & Engineering Technology, and College of Humanities and Social Sciences are listed to the right of each profession.

	College of Health Sciences			College of Science & Engineering Technology			College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Profession	B.S. in Kinesiology Clinical Exercise Science	B.S. in Health Sciences	B.S. in Human Performance & Wellness Management	B.S. in Biology⁵	B.S. in Biomedical Sciences	B.S. in Chemistry⁶	B.S. in History⁹
Athletic Training¹	X	X
Chiropractic	X	X		X	X
Dentistry²				X	X	X	X
Medical (M.D. or D.O.)³				X	X	X	X
Occupational Therapy	X	X	X
Optometry				X	X	X
Pharmacy				X	X	X
Physical Therapy	X
Physician Assistant		X		X	X	X
Podiatry				X	X	X
Pre-Nursing⁴		X

¹Athletic Training is a Master's degree offered at SHSU, and undergraduate students interested in Athletic Training are Pre-Athletic Training. An accelerated 3+2 program is also offered.

²Dentistry is a professional health program offered by other universities. Undergraduate SHSU students interested in Dentistry are Pre-Dental students. SHSU partners with the dental school at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio on the Dental Early Admission Program (DEAP).

³Medicine (M.D. or D.O.) is a professional health program offered by SHSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine and other universities. Undergraduate SHSU students interested in Medicine are Pre-Medical students. SHSU is also a JAMP participating university.

⁴Nursing (BSN) is a five-semester degree program offered by SHSU at The Woodlands Campus. Students must complete the Nursing prerequisites and apply to be accepted to attend the BSN program. SHSU interested in the Nursing program are classified as Pre-Nursing while they complete the required prerequisites to apply.

⁵B.S. in Biology requires students to select a concentration from 4 options: Integrative Biology; or Cell & Molecular; or Environmental, Evolutionary, & Organismal Biology; or Forensic Biology. Typically, pre-health students majoring in Biology will select the concentration in Cell & Molecular or Forensic Biology, depending on their area of interest.

⁶ B.S. in Chemistry requires students to select a concentration from 4 options: Other Technical Careers; or Professional Chemists; or Biochemistry & Medicine; or Forensic Science. Typically, pre-health students majoring in Chemistry will select the Biochemistry & Medicine concentration, depending on their area of interest.

Students may also choose any major not listed here as long as they meet the entrance requirements for the professional school of their choice. Depending on the major selected, pre-health students may need to take additional courses beyond the requirements to satisfy their degree in order to meet the admissions requirements for their selected professional school.

Two individuals in lab coats smiling for the camera.