So, you want to pursue a

Health Profession?

A Presentation on a variety of Health Related Undergraduate

Degrees and Information on Graduate Medical, Dental and

Allied Health Programs

Undergraduate Health Related Degrees

Tips and Tools:

• 3 important things to remember when selecting a health related major:

1. Select a major that you are passionate about2. Select a major you can do well in or have a natural academic talent 3. If you are pursing a graduate-level degree, select an undergraduate major

you would want to work in if you were not accepted.

• Explore your options! Utilize websites such as: -Health Career Options: www.explorehealthcareers.org

-Four Year Plans @ ECU: http://www.ecu.edu/advising click on 4 Year Plan

-Advising Collaborative: www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/fyc/advising.cfm -Pre-Professional Advising: www.ecu.edu/ppac

Undergraduate Majors to Consider• B.S. Health Education & Promotion:

Pre Health Concentration This concentration prepares students for entry in graduate health professional schools in areas such as: medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, pharmacy, veterinary sciences, and optometry. Students will take courses in natural and physical sciences, social sciences, and health education and promotion. In addition, courses that focus on health problems, health behavior, and health promotion strategies. A 12-week internship is also included, where they are placed in a health care setting that match with their future professional goals. Community Health Concentration If your future goals include working in the Public Health field, this degree provides the knowledge and skills necessary to work closely with people in communities as they strive for improved health. Working in such areas as Health Departments, hospitals, wellness centers, and more. Internship included.Worksite Health ConcentrationThis concentration offers a unique blend of health promotion, exercise science, and business management courses in order to prepare students to work as a health promotion specialist in various worksite settings. Jobs include contract firms, HMO’s, health departments, Federal agencies and military, etc. Internship included in 4 year plan.

Undergraduate Majors Continued…

• B.S. Environmental HealthGraduates can begin their professional careers as entry-level environmental health specialists or industrial hygienists in industry, academic institutions, consulting firms, and health regulatory agencies at the local, state, or federal level. Employment opportunities include areas such as air pollution control, food protection, water quality, toxicology, environmental epidemiology, waste treatment, control of disease-transmitting insects, and counterterrorism. This major also provides the pre-requisites for most post graduate health programs.

• B.S. Recreational TherapyProvide treatment services and recreation activities to individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Treatment utilize leisure activities to diminish or eliminate disabling conditions. These conditions include physical, cognitive, social, emotional, etc. The RT uses techniques like arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, and community reintegration outings. Recreation therapists work in a variety of settings: hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, community recreation centers, pediatric hospitals, group homes, senior centers, community health centers, etc. You can structure the RT Program to prepare for graduate school programs in recreational therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, special education, and other disability/health-related fields.

Undergraduate Majors Continued…• B.S. Exercise Physiology

This degree is designed to prepare professionals in exercise who are looking to find, cure, and prevent diseases while using exercise as a main variable in research. The extensive science courses meet nearly all medical program requirements, while the core courses in exercise prepare individuals to work with the body and understand it’s functions, inside and out.• B.S. Athletic TrainingCommonly called sports medicine, our Athletic Training program is one of the oldest and most established programs in the country. The program is designed to enable one to take the National Athletic Trainer’s Association Board of Certification (BOC) national examination upon graduation, which is required to work with collegiate and professional athletes. While students are trained very intensely on working with the body and sports related injuries, it does not have many of the required prerequisites needed for medical programs. It is very competitive and time consuming. Students must be disciplined in time management and with their studies. Can get pulled in two directions.

Undergraduate Majors Continued…

• B.S. Clinical Laboratory ScienceClinical Laboratory Science prepares individuals to get jobs working in laboratories, usually in hospitals, to run tests on patient samples. Clinical Lab Scientists (sometimes referred to as Medical Lab Technologists) work with physicians to help them determine diagnoses and treatment plans.• B.S. Rehabilitation ServicesRehabilitation Services prepares graduates to work with individuals who are dealing with a mental or physical handicap, and/or substance abuse issues. This field is very much rooted in the social sciences. Graduates are typically employed by substance abuse treatment facilities, vocational rehabilitation facilities, and social service agencies.• B.S. Speech and HearingSpeech and Hearing Sciences places an emphasis on normal speech, language, and hearing processes. Most states require that individuals entering the profession have a master’s degree. This degree does not prepare students to work professionally, but to go on to graduate school.

• B.S. Health Service ManagementHealth Services Management prepares individuals to get jobs in the business-side of health care. Health Services Management deals with the overall management of a health care facility – everything from contracting with vendors for supplies to supervising administrative support staff. The degree prepares graduates for entry-level health care administration jobs in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes, outpatient care facilities, and large physician group practices.

• B.S. Health Information ManagementHealth Information Management prepares individuals to get jobs in the business-side of health care, but it deals strictly with all of the data involved in health care. Health Information Managers complete the coding, billing, insurance claims, Medicare, Medicaid, and the software and hardware used to maintain their healthcare databases.

*All of the undergraduate Allied Health programs have separate application processes, which students typically complete their sophomore year. Advisors will let you know

when you should apply. These programs are small and very competitive.

Undergraduate Majors Continued…

Other Options to Consider…

• OTHER Undergraduate Majors @ ECU to Consider:• Biology • Biochemistry• Bio Medical Engineering • Chemistry• Neuroscience

• Community College Options:There are many health related programs offered at North Carolina community colleges that allow you to work in the health field, such as:

• Dental Assistant• Health Information Technology• Nursing• Occupational Therapy Assistant

• Nursing• Nutrition• Physics • Psychology• Social Work

• Physical Therapy Assistant• Radiology Technician• Respiratory Therapist

Allied Health Post Graduate Programs

PHYSICAL THERAPY (DPT) Physical therapists (PTs) diagnose and treat individuals who have medical problems that limit their physical ability to move and perform daily activities. 30 seats. Admission preference is given to NC residents. Program Length: 3 years, 106-semester-hours

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OT) Occupational therapists (OTs) help people to regain or learn daily living/leisure/play/work skills. 20 seats. Admission preference is given to NC residents.Program Length: 27 Months (including summers)

PHYSICIAN ASSITANT (PA) Physician assistant (PAs) practice medicine supervised by licensed physicians. 30 seats. Limited to residents of NC, SC, GA, TN, and VA. Preference is given to residents of NC. Program Length: 27 months

• Admission Statistics :Vary from year to year for these programs: Average GRE: 1100+ Average GPA: 3.4 to 3.7

Medical and Dental Post Graduate Programs

MEDICAL SCHOOL (MD)130 accredited medical schools in the US (from the Medical School Admission Requirements, 2010-2011)• 4 medical schools in NC

The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina UniversityUNC-CH School of MedicineDuke University School of MedicineWake Forest University School of Medicine• BSOM Statistics for the class of 2008: *Only accepts NC residents!

• 878 NC applicants-76 accepted (34 out of 76 were re-applicants) *largest class in history

• Average MCAT: 28.2• Average GPA for applicants with bachelor’s degrees: 3.6; with master’s

degrees 3.8• Average age: 24

Medical and Dental Post Graduate Programs

Continued…DENTAL SCHOOL (DDS) • ECU School of Dentistry• Will begin accepting applications fall of 2010 and is slated to open fall

of 2011. • Will only accept NC residents• Curriculum-3 years in Greenville-4th year in clinics around the state• www.ecu.edu/dentistry

• Dental School Requirements:• Prerequisites (+)• Take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT)• Shadow a dentist• Participate and get involved in dental clinics or other dental outreach

programs

• Do well academically! • Mostly “As” and “Bs” (more “As” than “Bs” is a plus)• For some programs the standardized admissions test is based on your

prerequisite courses (i.e. Medical school-MCAT)

• Challenge yourself to enroll in 2 sciences at the same time! See now if you can be successful!

Many programs also suggest you to take 2 at the same time to graduate on schedule and have them completed prior to taking the standardized admissions test for your future program of study.

• Get to know your faculty members

• Get involved in the campus & community!• Volunteer/Leadership/Academic Research/Extra Curricular

Activities/Student clubs and organizations/Shadowing

Post Graduate Programs Tips and Tools

Post Graduate: Tips and Tools Continued…

• There are no short cuts: • Potential applicants to grad programs should prepare for graduate level study

by taking challenging courses. Taking less challenging courses outside of the required prerequisites may lead to a very high grade point average, but graduate admission committees take note of type and level of difficulty of courses.

• If not admitted on the first attempt at admission, then pursue coursework or experience to enhance application and reapply.

• Volunteer hours: Check requirements for your preferred program.

• Take note of the prerequisites classes • Look at the ECU department program website to find list of accrediting

organizations. These organizations will have links to institutions offering the program . Check prerequisites for the program as they will vary from institution to institution.

• Remember: You can Major in ANYTHING! • Think of Plan B, when choosing your major

Post Graduate: Tips and Tools Continued…

• OTHER Post Graduate Programs to Consider: • Audiology • Chiropractic Medicine• Genetics• Health Administration • Nutrition • Optometry

• Osteopathic Medicine• Podiatry • Pharmacy• Public Health• Speech Language Pathology• Veterinary

www.ecu.edu/gradschool *PLEASE NOTE: not all grad programs listed are available at ECU Graduate School

• COAD 1000: Freshman Seminar-If you are interested, please sign up after tonight’s session!

Pre-Health sections are being taught this Fall It is open to any pre professional student (med, dentistry, pharmacy, PT, OT, PA, vet, podiatry, optometry, etc.) All four sections will be taught on Tuesday and Thursdays from 2-3 and 3-4.

How to Contact Us Pre-Professional Advising Center (register with us online!)

2500 Old Cafeteria Building Phone: 252-328-6001www.ecu.edu/ppac

(Clinical Laboratory Science, Health Information Management, Health Services Management, Rehabilitation Services, Speech and Hearing)

Health and Human Performance Advising CenterBelk Annex 1 Building Phone: 252-328-4645

www.ecu.edu/hhp/advising(Exercise Physiology, Health Fitness Specialist, Sports Studies, Athletic Training, Recreational

Therapy, Recreation & Park Management, Health Education & Promotion, Environmental Health, School Health, Physical Education, Environmental Health)

Advising CollaborativeAll Advising Centers & Contact Information:

www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/fyc/advising.cfm