A community of scholars and changemakers
Customized support and resources from day one.
The McKenna Life Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship Program is designed specifically for first-year students enrolled in on-campus, in-person degree programs. Participants will join a cohort of 30 peers to form a tight-knit community of outstanding students at Arizona State University.
Together, you will gain real-world experience and industry exposure, preparing you as leaders to solve health care challenges.
Participate in personalized cohort experiences.
Students in the McKenna Program receive unprecedented access to industry leaders, mentorship, internships, hands-on research experience, career advising and other specialized support.
Take a look at some of the cohort experiences built into your Sun Devil journey:
Bridge program retreat for incoming first-year students
Corporate engagement visits from experts in the field, as well as immersive trips to biotech hubs
One-on-one career exploration with industry partners
Student-to-student mentorship program
Monthly events including career panels, networking events, lectures and more
Customized course sequences such as drug valuation
Build your future in each year of the program.
Woven into every academic year are signature program components designed for students to engage in experiential and applied learning, build meaningful connections with peers, faculty and industry mentors, and get a head start on career development.
These one-of-a-kind opportunities will prepare you to solve health care challenges in your communities and across the globe.
First year
Participate in a bridge program with your fellow cohort members before you start your first semester of classes.
At a first-semester student success course, you’ll explore career goals, access program resources and participate in an entrepreneurship challenge.
Sophomore year
Spend a summer traveling with your cohort for a corporate engagement visit with industry experts and leading organizations in biotech hubs across the U.S.
Junior and senior years
Explore your individual career goals through a hands-on internship or research apprenticeship.
Complete a senior capstone project at the intersection of business and the natural sciences.
Become a leader in health care and biotechnology.
From starting your own business to working for national pharmaceutical and consulting companies, you will be prepared for many career options from the day you graduate.
The experiences you gain in the McKenna Program help you bypass years of entry-level jobs and slingshot you into critical high-impact roles in technology and health care. You’ll be able to start making a difference immediately.
Coursework and cohort experiences prepare you for careers in:
Business development
Clinical research
Consulting
Data analysis
Diagnostics
Drug development
Entrepreneurship
Financial analysis
Health care administration
Health care banking
Intellectual property
Investment management
Medicine
Pharmaceutical sales
Product development
Public health
Science policy
Therapeutics