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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. The degree of
a premedical student 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. Students may take
prenursing courses for two years at Iowa State University and, if
accepted, transfer to the BSN program at another college or university.
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.
Pharmacy
Pharmacists prepare and dispense therapeutic drugs; educate health
care professionals, patients and the general public about the appropriate
use of drugs; conduct pharmaceutical research and work in industrial
settings which involve the manufacture, marketing and advertising
of pharmaceutical. Students may complete prepharmacy courses within
two years at Iowa State University. Upon admission, the student
will then transfer to a Pharm. D. program of study which will entail
three or four years of study.
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 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
entering professional school to earn a master's degree or doctoral.
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. PAs conduct physical examinations, order
and interpret laboratory tests, make diagnostic and treatment decisions,
and are allowed to prescribe medication in most states. 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. Applicants who have
had health-care experience with direct patient contact are preferred.
Admission to a master's degree program requires similar coursework
and clinical experience in addition to a bachelor's degree.
Podiatry
Podiatrists diagnose, and treat 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.
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