Four-year Planning Guide

Focus Area

• Explore health professions.
• Start planning prerequisite courses.
• Gain early exposure to healthcare.

Key Actions

• Meet with your academic advisor to outline academic and career goals.
• Begin taking foundational courses (e.g., biology, chemistry).
• Volunteer or work in healthcare settings (e.g., hospitals, clinics).

Focus Area

• Build on foundational courses.
• Strengthen your clinical experiences.
• Start preparing for entrance exams.

Key Actions

• Complete key prerequisite courses (e.g., anatomy, physiology).
• Attend workshops or events hosted by CHP.
• Continue volunteering or working in healthcare.
• Research standardized exams like GRE, MCAT, or TEAS.

Focus Area

• Narrow down career options.
• Prepare for application process.
• Take entrance exams (if required).

Key Actions

• Focus on advanced prerequisites.
• Take GRE, MCAT, or TEAS.
• Draft personal statements.
• Obtain letters of recommendation from faculty/healthcare professionals.
• Attend application prep workshops.
• Note some programs may require you to apply at the end of junior year.

Focus Area

• Finalize application materials.
• Complete any remaining clinical hours or coursework.
• Prepare for interviews.

Key Actions

• Submit applications to practitioner programs.
• Participate in mock interviews.
• Meet with your advisor to ensure all prerequisites are complete.
• Continue gaining experience and networking in your chosen field.

Health Science: This major focuses on applied and interdisciplinary health-related knowledge, preparing students for careers or graduate programs in healthcare fields like public health, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, or healthcare management. It emphasizes real-world applications, healthcare systems, and the social determinants of health.

Biology: This major provides a strong foundation in the natural sciences, focusing on biology, chemistry, and physics. It’s a traditional pathway for students pursuing medical school, dental school, or other research-heavy professions in the health field. Biology includes more lab-based coursework and theoretical science.

1. Career Flexibility: Health Science prepares you for a broad range of health-related careers, including allied health fields, healthcare administration, and public health. It’s ideal for students who are passionate about healthcare but unsure of a specific path.
2. Interdisciplinary Focus: You’ll explore a mix of science, healthcare policy, ethics, and practical skills relevant to the healthcare industry, making it a versatile option.
3. Prepares for Professional Graduate Programs: Health Science aligns well with prerequisites for programs like Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Public Health.
4. Hands-On Learning: The program often includes experiential learning, internships, and practical projects that connect directly to healthcare settings.
5. Complementary to Nursing and Other Allied Health Fields: For students interested in a transition to or preparation for nursing or other healthcare fields, Health Science provides relevant and practical preparation.

1. Preparation for Medical or Research Careers: Biology provides a strong foundation for students pursuing medical, dental, veterinary, or research-based graduate programs.
2. Comprehensive Science Background: The curriculum emphasizes core natural sciences and lab experience, building critical analytical and problem-solving skills.
3. Pathway to Professional Schools: This major is tailored to meet prerequisites for programs like medical or dental school, which often prefer a traditional science-heavy background.
4. Opportunities for Research: Biology majors often have opportunities to engage in laboratory research, which can strengthen applications for competitive graduate programs.

• Consider Your Career Goals:
  • If you’re aiming for a career that involves direct patient care, public health, or healthcare management, Health Science may be the better fit.
  • If you’re focused on medical or dental school or enjoy the foundational sciences, Biology may align better.
• Evaluate Your Interests:
  • Do you prefer applied, interdisciplinary learning with a healthcare focus? Consider Health Science.
  • Are you passionate about lab work and studying biology at a deeper level? Biology might suit you.
• Think About Your Learning Style:
  • Health Science tends to be more practical and career-focused.
  • Biology is more theoretical and science-intensive.
• Talk to an Advisor: Advisors can help you weigh the pros and cons based on your goals, strengths, and interests.

Yes! Many programs allow you to include elective courses or minors from other fields. For example:

• A Biology major could minor in Public Health to gain applied knowledge and explore health care issues and systems.
• A Health Science major could minor in Biology to strengthen their science foundation and meet prerequisites for certain graduate programs. This allows students to combine the applied focus of Health Science with the deeper theoretical and lab-based knowledge offered by Biology, enhancing their preparation for a wide range of health professions.

• Health Science: This major provides flexibility to pivot into non-clinical healthcare roles or administration if your interests shift.
• Biology: The strong science foundation makes it easier to transition into research or non-health science graduate programs.