Other Health Fields : Health Sciences Program : Hanover College

Other Health Fields

Throughout your undergraduate education, you should consider alternatives to your primary field of interest; the array of career paths is so broad that it includes options that would suit people with very different skills, interests, and personalities. The Career Center offers career guidance, interest inventories, and an excellent resource library to help you discover the career that would best suit you. Below are just a few options; to learn about these and other fields, visit Explore Health Careers. As application deadlines vary widely even within professions, you should check for the schools and programs that interest you.

Jump to:

- Nursing
- Health Psychology / Medical Social Work
- Mental Health Professions
- Occupational Therapy
- Optometry
- Pharmacy
- Physician Assistant
- Podiatric Medicine
- Public Health

Nursing

Nurses provide direct care to patients who are injured, ill, or convalescing. Their responsibilities may involve such tasks as monitoring vital signs, administering medications, changing dressings, using equipment, carrying out doctors' orders, and maintaining medical records.

Hanover College has created some innovative curricular partnerships to serve students interested in a nursing career. Hanover and Ivy Tech Community College-Madison are now offering a joint 1+2+1 model nursing program, to begin in the Fall of 2023. Students have the opportunity to earn a Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in a four-year period. More information about this innovative program can be found here.

Hanover College also has partnerships with two institutions to assist pre-nursing students--Valparaiso University and Northern Kentucky University. Students have two options to choose from for these institutions, both of which will guarantee 5 *qualified students' admission into their 16 month accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. For the 3+ option, students complete three years at Hanover, major in Health & Movement Studies, complete all additional prescribed prerequisites, and finish up at Valparaiso University or Northern Kentucky University for a total of approximately 4 1/2 years of matriculation. Students wishing to attend Hanover for all four years (4+ option) can select any major as long as they complete all prescribed prerequisites. They will then complete all requirements for the 16 month accelerated program at either Valparaiso or NKU. Successful candidates will earn both a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hanover College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Valparaiso or NKU.

(*qualifications vary by institution. Contact the Director of the Health Sciences Program for details.)

Visit this page for curricular requirements for the Valparaiso and NKU programs.

Health Psychology & Medical Social Work

Both health psychologists and medical social workers bring counseling and interpersonal skills to assist in the treatment of a variety of health-related issues such as stress reduction in heart patients, coping with terminal illness, and pain management. Some health psychologists also focus on behavioral approaches to preventing and minimizing illness, such as smoking cessation, while medical social workers help patients connect to community resources.

Health psychologists typically have a doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in clinical psychology with a specialty in health and medically related issues, earning their degrees in programs that typically take 5-6 years post-undergraduate to complete. To learn more about this growing field, visit the APA. Medical social workers usually have a masters degree in social work (M.S.W.), requiring 2-3 years of graduate work.

Mental Health Professions

There are so many mental health professions to consider, it can be difficult for students to compare various opportunities. Dr. Joseph H. Hammer of the University of Kentucky has developed a tool for students to investigate the best fit for them. This anonymous survey is free and provides "interest scores," the results of which students can then discuss with their faculty advisor or professor.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapists (OT) assist people who struggle with activities of daily living to live life to its fullest, guiding, coaching and encouraging them through strength- or skill-building tasks and providing them with strategies and tools to live life with as much independence as possible.

OT schools require GRE as their standardized admissions test, which is offered year-round at Prometric Test Centers and at many universities. To learn more about careers in the OT profession and to find a list of OT schools visit AOTA.

Optometry

Optometrists (OD) examine eyes for the presence of disease or other abnormalities, and for vision abilities. They prescribe corrective lenses or treatments, and refer medical problems relating to the eye to other health-care providers. (Optometry should not be confused with Ophthalmology, a branch of medicine practiced by MDs with extensive post-graduate training who provide medical and surgical care of the eye).

All schools require that applicants take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), offered year round at Prometric Test Centers. The test format is as follows: Survey of Natural Science (90 minutes), Physics Test (50 minutes), rest (15 minutes), unscored pretest (25 minutes), Reading Comprehension Test (50 minutes), and Quantitative Reasoning Test (45 minutes).

Pharmacy

Pharmacists (PharmD) dispense drugs prescribed by physicians, provide information to patients about proper use of medications, and may advise health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications. They may practice in hospital settings or in pharmacies or other retail stores.

Many PharmD programs require 6 years (2 years of undergraduate studies + 4 years in PharmD coursework and experiential education). Liberal arts graduates with necessary prerequisites are eligible to enter the program for the final 4 years. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy provides information about applying through the PharmCAS application service, an overview of the PCAT entrance exam, and a list of Pharmacy schools.

Physician Assistant

Physician Assistants are licensed, medical professionals who work collaboratively with a physician supervisor. They may conduct complete physicals, order and interpret diagnostic tests, perform procedures, and prescibe medication with a physician's approval.

A typical PA training program will last 2-3 years, and requires the GRE or MCAT for admission. The centralized application service for this field is CASPA. To learn more about graduate Physician Assistant programs, and to see a list of them, visit the Physician Assistant Education Association.

Podiatric Medicine

Podiatrists (DPM) specialize in the care and treatment of the human foot, working in clinics, hospitals, or private practice. Specialties within the field include orthopedics, primary care, surgery and sports medicine. To learn more about the field, and to find a list of the nine accredited schools of podiatric medicine in the US, visit AACPM.

Most programs require that applicants take the MCAT though a few will consider GRE or DAT scores in lieu of the MCAT. Typical undergraduate course requirements include biology, physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and inorganic chemistry, but vary slightly between schools. To apply to Podiatric Medical School, you will need to register with the AACPM's application service, AACPMAS.

Public Health

Public health is described as "the science of protecting and improving the health of families and communities through promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for disease and injury prevention and detection and control of infectious diseases." Public health professionals are employed in such settings as hospitals and clinics, governmental agencies, academia, and private industry.

The GRE is required for most or all Master's of Public Health programs. For a listing of member schools, fellowships and internships visit The Association of Schools of Public Health. The application service for this field is SOPHAS.