Health Professions
in the College of Health and Human Sciences

If you are interested in a career serving others through the health care industry, you are in the right place! The College of Health and Human Sciences has numerous programs that can prepare students to either enter professional or graduate school.

Personalized health career advising

Hands-on career preparation

Dedicated student organizations

Above-average placement

Pre-Health Designations

Here at K-State, we do not have “pre-health” majors. Students interested in a health career will select one of the 250 majors offered at K-State and then declare their pre-health designation. As a pre-health student, you are paired with both an academic advisor, who makes sure you are completing classes to earn your degree, and a dedicated health professions advisor, who makes sure you are meeting the requirements of your professional school as well as helping you through the application process.

Students have the option to select one of the following pre-health designations:

Pre-Athletic Training
Pre-Chiropractic
Pre-Communication Sciences and Disorders
Pre-Dentistry
Pre-Dietetics
Pre-Health Information Management
Pre-Medicine
Pre-Nursing

Pre-Occupational Therapy
Pre-Optometry
Pre-Pharmacy
Pre-Physical Therapy
Pre-Physician Assistant
Pre-Respiratory Care
Pre-Veterinary Medicine

*There are some health professions that do not require a bachelor’s degree to enter a professional school including chiropractic, health information management, nursing, pharmacy, respiratory care and veterinary medicine. Your health professions advisor can discuss your options with you in these health care fields.

Which Major is Best for My Career?

One of the great things about K-State not having a “pre-health” major is that students are able to select a major that is of both interest to them but will also provide them a great educational base to build on once they enter their professional school. Below are some of the most common majors selected within the college for each health profession, however, students are not limited to those majors listed below as professional schools do not show preference on a student’s major. If you are interested in pursuing a different major than what is common, speak to your health professions advisor for their expert advice.

Athletic Training (athletic training and rehabilitation sciences, kinesiology)
Chiropractic (kinesiology)
Communication Sciences and Disorders (communication sciences and disorders)
Dentistry (nutritional sciences, kinesiology, integrative physiology)
Dietetics (dietetics, sports nutrition)
Medicine (nutritional sciences, kinesiology, integrative physiology)
Nursing (nutrition and health, kinesiology, human development and family science, general human ecology)
Occupational Therapy (human development and family science, kinesiology)
Optometry (nutritional sciences, kinesiology, integrative physiology)
Pharmacy (nutritional sciences, nutrition and health)
Physical Therapy (kinesiology, athletic training and rehabilitation sciences, integrative physiology)
Physician Assistant (nutrition and health, kinesiology, athletic training and rehabilitation sciences, integrative physiology)

See all HHS undergraduate majors

K-State & Wichita State Pathway to Nursing Program

This unique dual degree program will give students the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from K-State and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) from the College of Health Professions at Wichita State University.

Upon completion of the program, graduates earn two bachelor’s degrees; one from each institution. Students will spend the first three years in their K-State program working on pre-nursing requirements and taking courses towards a BS degree from K-State. Students will then submit an application for WSU’s Traditional BSN program. Accepted students will spend the next two years in the Traditional BSN program, and earn a BSN degree from WSU. The WSU Nursing coursework will transfer back to K-State to fulfill any remaining electives in the K-State degree. Students will graduate with both B.S. degrees in the same semester. Both degree programs will be based in Manhattan, Kansas.

Learn more about the Pathway to Nursing Program

K-State Physician Assistant Program

Kansas State University physician assistant program leads to a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree. The program follows the traditional medical model of training, providing in-depth analysis of disease processes, diagnosis and treatment, and prepares students to serve as primary health care providers who practice medicine with physician supervision.

The 27-month physician assistant program will admit 44 students once a year and is designed to prepare graduates to provide medical care as part of an interprofessional health care team. The curriculum consists of three semesters of classroom training (didactic), followed by four semesters of clinical rotations (clinical). All students enter as a single cohort in early January, complete seven continuous full-time semesters, and graduate in May with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree. Learn more about this program.

Health Professions Advising

Pre-Health students have at least two advisors, an Academic Advisor; sometimes called a Major Advisor, and a Pre-Professional Advisor; sometimes called a Health Professions Advisor.

Major Advisors help students understand what they must do to complete the requirements of their major (degree). Health Professions Advisors help students understand what they must do to become competitive applicants to health professional schools and programs.

Students should meet regularly with each of their advisors to be sure they are making timely progress toward completion of all their major and health professions requirements.

Get more information on the Pre-Health Professions advising page!

What do health professions advisors do?

Our health professions advisors will be with you every step of the way as you navigate applying and being accepted into a professional school. You can expect your health professions advisor to:

Assist with your long-range planning including:
- Working with you to combine your degree requirements with your professional school prerequisites.
- Assisting you on when and how to prepare and take your entrance exams
- Assisting you on your application to your professional school
Discuss creating a competitive application by:
- Achieving an outstanding academic record
- Shadowing professionals and volunteering in their community
- Fostering relationships with professors and professionals who can write recommendations
- Exploring areas of interest through relevant experiences
- Developing good writing skills in preparation for creating an effective personal statement
- Performing well on entrance exams
Discuss strategies helpful in creating a strong academic record and developing beneficial skills
Direct students to appropriate campus resources
Assist in the professional school application process
Cooperate and coordinate with their students' major advisors and other relevant university resources

When do I meet with my health professions advisor?

Pre-Health Student Organizations

Alpha Epsilon Delta
Alpha Epsilon Delta is the National Health Preprofessional Honor Society dedicated to the encouragement and recognition of excellence in preprofessional health scholarship. Our Society welcomes all students engaged in the pursuit of a professional development, provides a forum for students with common interests, and extends a program of service to benefit the college/university community.

Pre-Health Ambassadors
Pre-Health Student Ambassadors promote pride in and develop awareness of options within pre-health among prospective students, parents, alumni and the general public. Pre-Health Ambassadors are a group dedicated undergraduate students who volunteer their time and talents at special events including: Discover K-State Days, Admitted Wildcat Days, K-State Open House and much more!

Pre-Chiropractic Club
This student organization was created to provide students interested in chiropractic health the opportunity for community while a student at K-State. The goal is to support members and to help them learn about graduate chiropractic programs and other related topics of interest. It is also important for this group to make a contribution to the Manhattan community through service

Pre-Dental Club
The purpose of this organization is to provide an environment in which students who are interested in the field of dentistry can join together to promote oral healthcare, provide service opportunities within our communities, and network.

Pre-Medicine Club
Kansas State University’s Pre-Med Club offers opportunities for intellectual and professional development for students to prepare them for life after college in the medical education system.

Pre-Nursing Club
The purpose of this organization will be to promote communication and understanding among the Pre-Nursing Students at K-State. This club will assist members and other K-State students in exploring possibilities for careers in nursing. Students will be informed about nursing schools and many community service opportunities.

Pre-Occupational Therapy Club
The purpose of this organization: 1) to increase communication and networking between students, undergraduate, and professional school advisors, and professional in the field of Occupational Therapy, 2) to inform students, interested in the field of Occupational Therapy, of the variety of careers in this line of work, and to help prepare students for professional school programs, and 3) to give back to our community through philanthropic projects

Pre-Optometry Club
The K-State pre-optometry club is an organizations that allows students pursuing a degree in optometry network, as well as speak with representatives from different optometry schools.

Pre-Pharmacy Club
The Pre-Pharmacy Club is designed to provide students with special interest to join a group where they can share their ideas and concerns, serve as an informational and resource center for students, facilitate students' understanding of the pharmacy profession, and provide students with leadership opportunities.

Pre-Physician Assistant Club
The Pre-Physician Assistant Club prepares students to be successful graduate school candidates and medical practitioners following their graduation from Kansas State University. Our club offers educational and professional development by hosting a variety of speakers, workshops, and volunteer opportunities.

Pre-Physical Therapy Club
The Pre-Physical Therapy Club aims to promote social and intellectual cooperation and fellowship between Pre-Physical Therapy Students.

Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club
Provide an opportunity for students to meet other pre-vet students and to become involved both professionally and socially while keeping members updated on requirements and admissions policies of Vet School.

Health Professionsin the College of Health and Human Sciences