Preprofessional Study

Requirements for admission to most professional academic programs can be met by study at Iowa State University. These requirements may be met in the course of obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State or at a level below that of a degree, depending on the intended field of study. The specific courses taken in a preprofessional program will depend primarily upon the admission requirements of the professional schools to which a student wants to apply. In some programs requiring three years of preprofessional work, a student may, by careful planning, complete requirements for the bachelor’s degree upon transferring to Iowa State up to 32 semester credits of professional coursework. Generally these credits will be counted as electives, but a maximum of 24 may be used as major credits in interdisciplinary studies and a smaller number as major credits in appropriate departments.

Students who have not declared a major upon entry should enter as preprofessional students, i.e., premedical, prelaw, PHP (preprofessional health programs), or GENPV (General Undergraduate Studies Pre Vet), until they choose a major or transfer to a professional school. All students, whether they have selected a major or not, are encouraged to identify their interest in a professional career by designating it on their application or by completing a preprofessional interest form during registration. 
Information about preprofessional program admissions requirements and career opportunities in human health or law may be obtained in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Advising Center. Information about veterinary medicine admissions requirements and career opportunities may be obtained from the coordinator of the preveterinary program in the Office of the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology
Clinical laboratory scientists, still commonly referred to as medical technologists, are important members of health-care teams. They perform the chemical, microscopic, radio-assay, and microbiological tests that are necessary in disease diagnosis, and they type and cross-match blood samples to facilitate blood transfusions. They usually work under the supervision of a physician in a hospital or clinic laboratory, but may also be employed by a pharmaceutical company or by manufacturers of analytical instruments. The professional training requires 12 months in a hospital-based CLS/MT program following at least 3 years of college study that emphasizes chemistry and the biological sciences. Students may earn a bachelor’s degree by completing the admissions requirements of the CLS/MT program and most of the degree requirements in 3 years on campus, then spending their fourth year in one of the hospital programs that are affiliated with Iowa State University. Before beginning the off-campus studies, students must earn at least 94.5 credits; the 32 most recent credits must have been earned in residence at ISU. A maximum of 32 semester credits earned in professional CLS/MT school can be used to partially fulfill the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Students who complete all degree requirements in residence at the university may apply to any school of medical technology for which the admission requirements have been met. The following CLS/MT programs are affiliated with Iowa State University:

Mercy Hospital Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa. Program Director: Stacy Sime. Medical Director: Vijaya L. Dhannavada

St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Education Coordinator: Nadine Sojka. Medical Director: Dorryl Buck.

University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, Iowa. Program Director: Mark Bowman. Medical Director: Robert D. Tucker.

Cytotechnology
A cytotechnologist works in a medical laboratory preparing, staining, mounting, and evaluating specimens of human body tissues in order to find those cells that are abnormal. The abnormal specimens are then submitted to the pathologist supervising the laboratory for confirmation and interpretation. The training requires 12 months in a school of cytotechnology after at least 3 years of college study that includes a minimum of 20 semester credits in biological sciences, 8 semester credits in chemistry, and 3 semester credits in math. Certification as a cytotechnologist requires a baccalaureate degree. Students may enter the professional school after earning a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Alternatively, they may use up to 32 semester credits from an affiliated cytotechnology school in partial fulfillment of requirements for a B.S. degree.

An Interdisciplinary Studies major must earn 94.5 credits before off-campus study; the most recent 32 credits must have been earned in residence at ISU.
Iowa State University is affiliated with the cytotechnology programs of the State Laboratory of Hygiene at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines. 

Dental Hygiene
A dental hygienist screens dental patients for oral defects, performs clinical procedures such as cleaning teeth, and may participate in oral health education programs. Most work with dentists in private practice, but some have positions in public health centers and schools. Certification as a dental hygienist requires 2 years in a professional program of study. Admissions requirements for these programs vary. A student may study for 2 years at Iowa State University and then transfer to an institution that grants the bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. Alternatively, a student may earn a bachelor’s degree in another field at Iowa State before entering a professional program.

Dentistry
Dentists diagnose, treat, and try to prevent diseases and injuries of the teeth, jaws, and mouth. Usually a general practitioner will have spent 3 or 4 years taking preprofessional courses at the undergraduate level and 4 years in dental school earning the degree of doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S.) or doctor of dental medicine (D.M.D.). Learning a specialty requires at least 2 more years. The courses necessary for admission to most dental schools include English, biology, general and organic chemistry, and physics. Students may earn a degree in any major that Iowa State University offers as they meet the admission requirements; they should choose their major to reflect their own interests and abilities. Highly qualified students may be accepted into dental school after 3 years of preprofessional study without earning a baccalaureate degree.

Health Information Management
Health information managers serve as supervisors of medical records departments in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare institutions. To be certified as registered record administrators (R.R.A.) they must have completed a program leading to a bachelor’s degree in medical record administration. Most professional programs are 2 years in length and follow 2 years of college study in chemistry, biology, the humanities, social sciences, languages, and philosophy. Students may take the preprofessional courses at Iowa State University and then transfer to a university offering the professional program or they may earn a bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University before entering a health information management program.

Hospital and Health Administration
Administrators of health care organizations manage and guide the varied activities in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and mental health facilities. The professional requirement may be for a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree, depending upon the size of the institution and whether an upper or middle entry-level position is desired. Students at Iowa State may take general education courses for two or more years and then transfer to a university offering a bachelor’s degree in health administration, or they may spend four years earning a bachelor’s degree in any department before entering a master’s degree program at the University of Iowa or other university. Courses required for admission to master’s degree programs in hospital and health administration vary, but may include introductory accounting, management, statistics, and economics.

Human Medicine
Physicians study, diagnose, and treat illness and injury. They may work in offices, clinics, hospitals, or laboratories, in private practice or for government or industry. Their professional training usually consists of 4 years of study in a college of medicine to earn the doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree, and then 3 or more years in hospital residency learning a specialty such as family medicine, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics, or psychiatry. A degree of doctor of osteopathy (D.O.) is awarded to those students who complete 4 years in a college of osteopathic medicine before their residency. All medical schools recommend a broad preprofessional education that includes courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, English, the social sciences, arts and humanities. Although many medical schools admit a small number of exceptionally well-qualified applicants after 3 years of preprofessional study, most students earn a bachelor’s degree while taking the courses required for admission to medical school. This degree can be from any college and in any curriculum or major offered by the university. The major should reflect the student’s interests and provide appropriate preparation for an alternative career.

Law
A lawyer assists the legal, peaceful resolution of conflicts in many different ways. Most lawyers are engaged in private practice, but many are employed by government agencies and private business. At least 3 years are needed to complete a law school program leading to a doctor of jurisprudence (J.D.) or a bachelor of laws (LL.B.) degree, and a bachelor’s degree is required for admission to nearly all law schools. A student planning to enter law school may major in any field. The courses taken should develop skill in critical thinking, comprehension and expression of ideas, and understanding of human institutions and values. Perhaps most valuable are courses in English language and literature, government, economics, history, mathematics, Latin, logic and scientific method, and philosophy.

Library and Information Science
Librarians are essential in educational institutions, medical facilities, government agencies, industries, and public information centers. The professional preparation for library administration is provided by master’s degree programs. Admission requirements for the University of Iowa’s program, for example, include a bachelor’s degree with at least 85 semester credits in the arts and humanities and the natural and social sciences. Iowa State students may choose majors that reflect their own interests and that may provide a foundation for working in medical, law, or other specialized libraries.

Nuclear Medicine Technology
The use of radioactive chemicals in the diagnosis and treatment of disease is the distinguishing feature of nuclear medicine. Under the supervision of a physician in a hospital or clinic, the technologist prepares and administers these radiochemical tracers, uses sophisticated detectors and computers to trace the movement and localization of the tracers in the human body, and analyzes biological specimens to determine levels of hormones, drugs, and other chemicals in the body. One year in a training program such as that at the University of Iowa College of Medicine is required to become a certified nuclear medicine technologist (C.N.M.T.). Admission to this program requires at least 94 semester credits of preprofessional coursework in chemistry, physics, zoology, English, mathematics, computer science, statistics, the social sciences, and humanities. Students at Iowa State University can transfer to a university offering a nuclear medicine technology program after 2 or 3 years of preprofessional courses, and then receive the bachelor’s degree at that institution. Alternatively, the student may earn a bachelor’s degree before entering the 1-year professional program or may spend 3 years at Iowa State University meeting the admissions requirements of the program and completing requirements for a B.S. degree using a maximum of 32 semester credits that may be transferred to Iowa State University from the professional school.

Nursing
A professional nurse may do clinical nursing, teaching, or research, in hospitals, private practice, public health centers, schools, or industry. Although becoming a registered nurse (R.N.) does not require a bachelor’s degree, the student who completes the bachelor of science degree in nursing (B.S.N.) has college-level preparation for clinical nursing and an essential base for graduate study. Iowa State University does not offer a nursing degree but does participate in a transfer program with the University of Iowa and Grand View College in Des Moines. Students take specified courses for 2 years at Iowa State University and, if accepted in the University of Iowa College of Nursing, complete the B.S.N. requirements and the R.N. examination in another 2 years. If accepted at Grand View College, they may complete the B.S.N. requirements and take the R. N. examinations in 2 years. Students may also elect to transfer to a B.S.N. program at another college or university. Most of these programs require a minimum of 3 years of resident study, but their requirements vary, so early planning for transfer is essential.

Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists provide purposeful activities to help those who have been disabled by physical illness or injury, birth defects, emotional disorder, aging, drug abuse, or other problems to learn to cope with everyday living. Therapists treat patients in hospitals, school systems, and rehabilitation centers. Students may complete a bachelor’s degree in a related area at Iowa State University, and then enter a certification, master’s or doctoral degree program at another university; or they may complete 1 or 2 years of preoccupational therapy courses at Iowa State and then transfer to another university to complete the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. The prerequisites for admission to an occupational therapy program usually include English, art, biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and statistics, but vary from one school to another.

Optometry
Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases of the visual system, the eye and associated structures. Treatment may include corrective glasses or contacts, vision therapy and therapeutic drugs. Optometrists usually set up their own offices or work in group practice. Professional study requires 4 years in a school or college of optometry and leads to the doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree. All optometry schools require at least 90 semester credits of preprofessional courses, including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and English. Certain optometry schools require a bachelor’s degree. Students wishing to earn the bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University may choose any major and take the courses required for graduation with that major as they take the courses required for admission to a professional optometry program. Alternatively, students may take only courses required for admission to the professional school without earning a bachelor’s degree.

Physical Therapy
Physical therapists work with people who have been disabled by injury, illness, or birth defects. They assist in evaluating the physical problems and administer therapeutic agents such as massage and exercise, heat, baths, ultrasonics, and electricity; they work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers, and private practice. Students have several options in planning their education. They may transfer after two years at Iowa State University to a college or university offering physical therapy as a bachelor’s degree program. They may complete three years of undergraduate courses including prerequisites before transferring to a three-year professional curriculum such as the master’s degree program at St. Ambrose University or the doctoral degree program at Creighton University. Usually, students earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field at ISU before spending two years in a professional school to earn a master’s degree or certificate. Admission to the master’s degree program at the University of Iowa requires a bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s degree from ISU may be earned in any department, provided that the physical therapy prerequisites are completed. Earning a bachelor’s degree prior to entering professional school allows a student to apply to a range of graduate level programs and builds a strong liberal arts foundation. Courses required for admission to a professional program include biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, mathematics, and statistics.

Physician Assistant
A physician assistant provides medical services under the supervision of a licensed physician, frequently in a rural or inner-city clinic. The responsibilities may include taking patients’ histories, physical examinations, prescription of laboratory studies, diagnosis and treatment, follow-up care, and counseling. Certification as a physician assistant requires 2 years in a professional program at the master’s or bachelor’s degree level. Students applying to a bachelor’s degree program must have completed at least 60 semester credits of college work including general and organic chemistry, zoology, behavioral science, and humanities. Mathematics and physics courses are recommended, and applicants who have had health-care experience with direct patient contact are preferred. Admission to a master’s degree program requires similar coursework and experience in addition to a bachelor’s degree.

Podiatry
Podiatrists diagnose, treat, and try to prevent diseases and disorders of the human foot and ankle. They treat patients in private and group practice, hospitals, and, increasingly, in industrial and sports-related positions. Professional training requires 4 years in a college of podiatric medicine and leads to the degree of doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.). This is usually followed by 1 to 3 years in a hospital residency. All podiatric colleges require at least 3 years of preprofessional study, including courses in biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, and English. Most entrants have a bachelor’s degree, which may be in any major. A few students may complete the admission requirements and most of the bachelor’s degree requirements in 3 years. If so, a maximum of 32 semester credits may be transferred to Iowa State University from the first year in an accredited podiatric college in order to complete the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Theology or Religious Studies
The professional education of a student of religion can follow one of two paths. The path to a profession as a pastor, priest, rabbi or other leadership position in a religious tradition usually requires 3 years in a program leading to the master of divinity (M.Div.) offered at a school of divinity or of theology. The path to a profession as a teacher of religious studies at the college level requires 4-7 years in a program leading to the Ph.D. at a graduate school of Religious Studies. Both seminaries and graduate schools require a bachelor’s degree for admission. The American Association of Theological Schools recommends the following areas of study as the best preparation for theological studies: English language and literature; history, including non-Western culture; philosophy; natural sciences, social sciences, especially psychology, sociology and anthropology; the fine arts; Biblical and modern languages; and religion, both Western and Eastern. Although students in a variety of major fields may qualify for admission to a theological school, interested persons are advised to review their proposed programs with a representative of the Religious Studies Program in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Veterinary Medicine
About 75% of all veterinarians are engaged in private practice. In a mixed practice, they diagnose and treat health problems among a variety of animals. Others specialize in one species (e.g., feline, pet bird) and still others specialize in a specific discipline within veterinary medicine (e.g., cardiology, ophthalmology). Veterinarians may also choose public and corporate practice (e.g., public health, education, research, food safety, industry, laboratory animal medicine, aquatic animal medicine, poultry medicine, and military veterinary medicine). 

The professional program requires four years at a college of veterinary medicine and leads to the doctor of veterinary medicine degree (D.V.M.). Admission to a veterinary college involves at least two years of preprofessional college education. Candidates must take courses in biology, chemistry, genetics, physics, English, humanities, social sciences, speech, anatomy and physiology, and biochemistry. (For Iowa State University see Veterinary Medicine, Admission Requirements; for most recent information, consult the College of Veterinary Medicine Web site: www.vetmed.iastate.edu.) 
Students may pursue their preveterinary preparation in any college at Iowa State University. A major (preveterinary medicine is not a major) should be selected that is allied to each student’s vocational interests in veterinary medicine or that otherwise offers vocational satisfaction in the event that plans for entry into the College of Veterinary Medicine change. Students are encouraged to pursue a bachelor’s degree; the most effective progress toward a bachelor’s degree is made when a major is selected upon entry and no change occurs before graduation. However, students who have not even considered a career other than veterinary medicine may need some time to explore possibilities before selection of a major. 

To assist students who have indicated interest in the preveterinary program for the College of Veterinary Medicine and are undecided about a major, an advising category is available known as GENPV (General Undergraduate Studies Pre Vet). Orientation and advising services for these students are designed to help students fulfill preveterinary course requirements, to introduce available majors and careers allied to veterinary medicine, and to introduce career options in veterinary medicine. GENPV students must select a major by the end of their second semester. Some Iowa State University majors allow, by careful planning, the opportunity for a student to earn the bachelor’s degree by combining credits from three years of preprofessional study and one year of professional study in the College of Veterinary Medicine.