Other Occupations in the Health Professions, with Requirements

Audiology (AuD)

  • Undergraduate degree (BA or BS) required
  • Doctoral-level degree
  • Courses required (varies by school):
    • Biology – 2 courses
    • Chemistry – 3 courses
    • Math – 2 courses
    • Physics – 2 courses
    • Communication – 1 course
    • Statistics – 1 course
    • English – 2 courses
    • Psychology – 1 course
    • Social Sciences – 3 courses
    • Foreign Language – 2 courses
  • Tests: GRE for most programs

Chiropractic Medicine (DC)

  • 3 years undergraduate study (90 semester hours) required
  • DC is a four-year doctoral-level program
  • Courses required at Northwestern College of Chiropractic:
    • Biology 125, 126
    • Chemistry 125 (or 121/123), 126, 247/253. 248/254
    • Physics 124, 125
    • Psychology 125
    • English
  • On-line application for Northwestern College of Chiropractic

Occupational Therapy (OT)

  • Undergraduate degree (BA or BS) required
  • OT program is a 2½-year masters-level program (a few doctorate programs exist)
  • Courses required at the University of Minnesota :
    • Biology 125, 243 (may also need one additional course with physiology or anatomy, such as Exercise Science 374 or 375)
    • Statistics
    • Psychology 125, 241 and 264
    • Studio Art
  • Additional requirements:
    • Medical Terminology (extension)
    • Orientation to Occupational Therapy (1-credit course, UMN Distance Education)
    • 20+ hours of observation or work in OT
    • Computer competency

Optometry (OD)

  • 90 semester hours, undergraduate degree (BA or BS) preferred
  • OD programs are 4-year professional programs
  • Courses required (may vary at specific schools):
    • Biology 125, 126, 231
    • Chemistry 125 (or 121/123), 126, 247/253
    • Math 120
    • Statistics
    • Physics 124, 125
    • Psychology 125
    • English, 2 courses
  • Test: OAT, a computer-based exam.
  • Exposure to the field of optometry is important.

 

Pharmacy (PharmD)

  • 2 to 4 years of undergraduate study, prefer a BA degree
  • PharmD is a 4-year doctorate program
  • Courses required 89 schools of pharmacy, including the University of Minnesota :
    • Biology 125, 231, and 243
    • Chemistry 125 (or 121/123), 126, 247/253, 248/254, sometimes 379
    • Math 120
    • Physics 124, 125
    • Psychology, 2 courses
    • English, 2 courses
    • Economics 121
    • Theatre 120 (Public Speaking)
  • Test: PCAT; $105, test has 5 sections (verbal, biology, reading, quantitative ability, and chemistry)
  • Online application; $105-$130 plus $30 for each additional school
  • Exposure to the various areas of pharmacy is important.

Physical Therapy (PT)

  • Undergraduate degree (BA or BS) required
  • PT programs are 2 to 2½-year masters-level or 3 to 4-year doctoral-level (DPT); by 2020 all will be DPT
  • Courses required at the University of Minnesota :
    • Biology 125, 243 (some schools require 1-2 additional courses)
    • Chemistry 125 (or 121/123), 126 (some schools require 247/253 and/or 248/254)
    • Math 120
    • Physics 124, 125
    • Psychology 125, 241 and 264
    • Statistics
    • English
  • Additional requirements:
    • Medical Terminology (extension)
    • 40-120 hours of observation or work with a physical therapist
  • Some schools require CPR certification
  • Test: GRE (need score less than 500 on Quant and Verbal)

Physician's Assistant (PA)

  • 2-4 years undergraduate study required; many schools do not accept AP credits
  • PA programs are BS or 2½ to 3-year masters-level programs; all will be masters-level in the future
  • Courses required:
    • Biology 125, 231 and 243 or 247
    • Chemistry 125 (or 121/123), 126, 247/253, 248/254, 379
    • Psychology 125, 241
    • Statistics
    • English
    • Speech
  • Test: some schools require the GRE
  • Most schools require a significant number of hours of observation in an area related to or in medicine
  • On-line application

2005 entering class: mean GPA 3.29, mean age 26.7

 

Podiatry (DPM)

  • Undergraduate degree (BA or BS) required
  • Podiatry is a 4-year doctoral-level graduate program
  • Courses required:
    • Biology 125 and one additional course
    • Chem 125 (or 121/123), 126, 247/253, 248/254
    • Physics 124, 125
    • English, 2 courses
  • Test: MCAT; a few schools allow use of the GRE or DAT
  • Online application

Public Health (PH)

  • Undergraduate degree (BA or BS)
  • Most Public Health programs are MPH, a 2-year masters-level program
  • Five main areas are:
    • Environmental Health
    • Behavioral Sciences/ Health Education
    • Epidemiology
    • Biostatistics
    • Health Service Administration
  • Courses: Depends on the area of interest
  • Test: GRE
  • Some schools require 1-2 years of experience
  • Online application

 

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