Pathways to Healthcare Professions Handbook

Missouri State has numerous majors, minors, certificates and degrees that can support pre-health interests. Programs and course requirements can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog

Majors, Minors, Certificates, and Degrees

The handbook highlights both graduate programs offered at Missouri State University and professional pathways that require students to continue their education elsewhere.

Graduate programs offered at MSU:

• Athletic Training

• Audiology

• Occupational Therapy

• Physical Therapy

• Physician Assistant Studies

Graduate programs not offered at MSU, however you can complete the prerequisite coursework required here: 

• Anesthesia Assistant
• Chiropractic Medicine
• Dentistry
• Medicine (Allopathic and Osteopathic)
• Optometry
• Veterinary Medicine
• Pharmacy (partnership with UMKC’s PharmD program on the Springfield campus)

By following the recommended courses and working with a pre-health advisor,  you can complete the necessary undergraduate preparation at MSU to pursue these advanced professional degrees at other institutions.

**Please see the Pathways to Healthcare Professions Handbook for more information about each pathway. 

Why are some health interests such as Nursing and Dietetics, etc. not included in the handbook?

The Pathways to Health Professions handbook is designed to provide information on professional fields which both require graduate training to practice and have graduate programs for which numerous undergraduate degrees will meet admission requirements. Some programs such as Nursing are completed at the undergraduate level while others such as Dietetics require a specific undergraduate degree to pursue graduate training. Other programs are partnerships that compliment two-year or clinical programs.

NursingNutrition and DieteticsRadiographyRespiratory TherapyClinical Laboratory Sciences

Nursing

Missouri State offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The BSN program is an undergraduate program which allows students to obtain their bachelor's degree and become a Registered Nurse at the undergraduate level.

Bachelor's of Science in Nursing

Nutrition and Dietetics

A master's degree is required to become credentialed as a a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Missouri State offers a Master's Degree in Dietetics. Admission to the graduate Dietetics program requires an undergraduate degree that is approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). For this reason, students interested in becoming an RDN are advised to pursue Missouri State's undergraduate program in Nutrition and Dietetics to meet these criteria.

Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and DieteticsMaster of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics

Radiography

Registered radiologic technologists can become certified through clinical associate programs. At Missouri State, Radiography is part of a cooperative agreement with Cox College and Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences of Southwest Baptist University and other JRCERT accredited programs. This program allows students to receive a bachelor's degree by taking their prerequisite coursework at Missouri State and then seeking admission into a JRCERT school of radiologic technology. Clinical radiology credits are then applied as elective credits towards a Bachelor of Science in Radiography.

Radiography Undergraduate Program

Respiratory Therapy

Eligibility to become a Respiratory Therapist can be achieved through a CoACR accredited RT program such as an Associate of Applied Science Degree. Respiratory Therapy at Missouri State allows students to apply transfer credits from a Respiratory Therapy registry program towards a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.

Respiratory Therapy Undergraduate Program

Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Missouri State has agreements with Mercy (Joplin), Cox Medical Center (Springfield), and North Kansas City Hospital (Kansas City) which allow students to complete their prerequisite coursework at Missouri State before transferring to clinical rotation for hands-on training. Clinical credits are transferred to apply towards the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences- Medical Technology degree which gives students the opportunity to become a Certified Laboratory Scientist (CLS).

Clinical Laboratory Sciences Undergraduate Program

 

There are a variety of strategies for learning more about medical professions. The Career Center is an excellent starting point, offering assessments to help you discover your interests, strengths, and potential career paths in healthcare. Career Resource Specialists can also guide you in exploring different fields through internships, job shadowing experiences, and other hands-on opportunities.

The Pathways to Healthcare Professions Handbook is another valuable resource, designed to help students explore different professional interests within healthcare. Once you have a better sense of your direction, working with an academic advisor can help you apply this information to your academic plan. If you are still unsure of a major, advisors at the Academic Advising and Transfer Center can assist you in exploring options and aligning your studies with your career goals.

Not necessarily. Most professional healthcare programs (such as medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine) do not require a specific undergraduate major for admission. Instead, they require that you complete certain prerequisite courses before applying.

While many students choose majors in the sciences because they overlap with these prerequisites, you can pursue any major at Missouri State as long as you also complete the required coursework. Some of our strongest applicants have majored in areas outside of the sciences, such as the arts, humanities, or social sciences, while still preparing for professional school.

Working with an advisor will help you design an academic plan that balances your interests with the prerequisites you need for your chosen healthcare career.

"Pre-med" refers to one's professional intentions, not a specific major of study. Students often choose to major in one of the sciences, such as Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, etc. but this is not required. Students must, however, meet the medical school's admission requirements, including prerequisite coursework. Premedical students may choose to major in any field, and should choose a major based upon an interest in that field of study and consider this field to be an alternative career path. 

The Pre-Medical Committee is one of the most valuable steps you can take as a pre-med student. The committee offers guidance on preparing for medical school and writes a committee letter of recommendation, which is often preferred—or even required—by medical schools. Unlike individual letters, the committee letter reflects the collective evaluation of multiple faculty members, giving admissions committees a stronger, more credible picture of your abilities and readiness for medical school. Participating in the committee not only strengthens your application but also demonstrates that you have fully engaged with the resources and support available at your university.

Professional schools consider several factors when reviewing applications. Your undergraduate GPA and science GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics) are especially important, as are your admissions test scores (MCAT, DAT, OAT, or GRE). These help schools see that you are academically prepared for the coursework ahead.

Healthcare experience is another key factor. If you are interested in medicine, optometry, or dentistry, you should seek opportunities in a variety of settings and with different practitioners. For veterinary medicine, experience with both small and large animals is highly recommended.

Schools also look for qualities beyond academics, including part-time work, extracurricular involvement, maturity, a well-rounded education, strong letters of recommendation, personal statements, and interview performance. Because every part of your application is considered, it’s important to strengthen each area. However, GPA and test scores remain the foundation, as they show that you are ready for success in professional school.