Pre-Health Careers

Many healthcare professions require advanced education before entering practice. NDSU provides advising and resources for students preparing for programs such as:

Master's Programs

• Genetic Counseling
• _{Occupational Therapy}
• Physician Assistant

Doctoral Programs

• Chiropractic
• Dentistry (DDS or DMD)
• Medicine (MD, DO or DPM)
• Optometry
• Physical Therapy
• Veterinary Medicine

Most professional healthcare programs do not require a specific undergraduate major. Instead, students are encouraged to choose a major they enjoy while completing the prerequisite courses required for their intended professional program.

Many students pursue majors in biological sciences, chemistry, psychology, physics and other disciplines, but students from a variety of academic backgrounds successfully enter healthcare professions. If your major does not include the required science coursework, your academic and pre-health advisors can help you develop a plan that meets professional school requirements.

Strong academics are only part of preparing for professional school. Successful applicants also demonstrate a commitment to their chosen profession through meaningful experiences outside the classroom.

NDSU offers opportunities to strengthen your application through:

• Personalized pre-health advising
• Job shadowing and clinical observation
• Undergraduate research
• Volunteer and community service experiences
• Student organizations
• Pre-health seminars and workshops

These experiences help students develop the knowledge, skills and professional insight needed to become competitive applicants.

Pre-health advisors support students throughout every stage of the process, from exploring healthcare careers and selecting prerequisite courses to preparing competitive professional school applications.

No matter your major, our advisors can help you understand admission requirements, gain relevant experiences and confidently prepare for your future in healthcare.