The ILS Honors College equips students with a strong foundation in biology, innovation, and interdisciplinary thinking—making them competitive candidates across a range of career paths. Whether you're passionate about patient care, scientific discovery, advocacy, or more, your ILS experience helps you build the skills and mindset to make meaningful contributions in the life sciences and beyond.

Professional School

Many ILS students pursue careers in clinical healthcare through professional schools such as:

• Medical (MD/DO)

• Dental (DMD/DDS)

• Pharmacy (PharmD)

• Physician Assistant (PA)

• Optometry, Nursing, and other allied health programs

The ILS curriculum—rich in life sciences, service learning, and hands-on research—aligns well with the prerequisites for these tracks. Many required pre-health courses overlap with ILS coursework, helping students stay on track academically.

ILS also partners closely with the Health Professions Advising Office (HPAO) to support students as early as their first semester. HPAO offers tailored workshops, one-on-one advising, mock interviews, and guidance on clinical, service, and research opportunities. ILS students also benefit from research mentorships in campus labs and federal biomedical institutes, many of which provide valuable experience for medical school preparation.

Thanks to this comprehensive support, Honors College students have a medical school acceptance rate above 80%, well above the national average, with ILS students well-positioned to succeed in healthcare careers.

Graduate School

For students passionate about research, academic inquiry, and discovery, graduate school is a natural next step. ILS students often pursue:

• PhD or MS programs in Biology, Neuroscience, Public Health, Bioengineering, and more

• Dual-degree programs (e.g., MD/PhD) for careers in academic medicine

• Post-baccalaureate research fellowships at NIH, NCI, and major research universities

To support these goals, ILS offers structured research preparation starting in the first year. Students are encouraged to enroll in BSCI279H: Catalyst Seminar, a 1-credit course that helps them secure research internships. ILS also connects students with UMD faculty and off-campus researchers who serve as long-term mentors. Through partnerships with the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, students gain access to a vast network of on-campus research opportunities.

In addition, ILS maintains a searchable catalog of internships in federal labs, private companies, and non-profit research organizations across the DC metro area. Advising is tailored to help students identify co-curricular experiences that align with their interests and strengthen their graduate school applications.

With early exposure to lab work, strong mentorship, and individualized guidance, ILS students are well-prepared to pursue impactful careers in research and graduate education,

Industry & Biotechnology

Students interested in applying their scientific skills in the private sector can find rewarding careers in biotech, pharmaceuticals, healthcare innovation, and clinical trials. ILS students have gone on to work in clinical research coordination, bioinformatics and health data science, medical science liaison roles, and more.

Many supplement their core coursework with electives in statistics, data science, or business to strengthen their industry-readiness. Internships and networking opportunities through UMD and the greater DC-Baltimore biotech corridor also help students launch careers right after graduation.