Undergraduate Physiology Degree Programs in the United States: from Famine to Feast.

The formal teaching of physiology and physiology-related subjects at the undergraduate level in colleges and university in the U.S. is critical for the long-term success of this important area of science. This educational endeavor is a fundamental requirement for the continued movement of students through the “physiology pipeline,” ultimately producing the next generation of physiologists prepared to perform research, teaching, and service in this field (1). Moreover, the teaching of physiology at the undergraduate level makes important contributions to the preparation of students for post-baccalaureate training in a variety of health professions. The overarching goals of this editorial are to provide a perspective of the history and status of undergraduate programs in the U.S. that award a bachelors of science (BS) degree in physiology, to briefly touch on the aspirations of students who choose to pursue a degree in physiology, and to outline the challenges that face existing and future undergraduate physiology degree programs in this country.