PRE-HEALTH and PRE-PROFESSIONAL

When you start your pre-healthcare journey at UW-Whitewater, you’ll receive a solid foundation in the field of your choice. You’ll pair one of the medical certificates below with a major that best suits your educational and career goals.

Don’t worry if you’re not sure which path to take. Our students explore their academic and career interests with the help of academic advisers. This could be a conversation with a first-year advisor at the Academic Advising and Exploration Center, a faculty advisor or instructor, or the Pre-Health Professions advisor. In addition, UW-Whitewater’s Career Services Office provides career counseling, career courses, testing, computer information/guidance programs and an alumni network of professionals to contact.

Pre-Athletic Training
The Pre-Athletic Training certificate is designed to prepare students for a master’s degree program in athletic training. This certificate will provide you with both the knowledge and hands-on experience you need prior to graduate school.

Pre-Dentistry
The Pre-Dentistry certificate is a statement of your intention to apply to dental schools and will help with the completion of the required pre-dental coursework and preparation for the Dental Admission Test (DAT).

Pre-Medicine
The Pre-Medicine certificate is designed to prepare you for medical school and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Pre-Optometry
The Pre-Optometry certificate is a statement of your intention to apply to optometry schools and will help with the completion of the required pre-optometry coursework and preparation for the Optometry Admission Test (OAT).

Pre-Physical Therapy
Adding the Pre-Physical Therapy certificate is a statement of your intention to apply to physical therapy schools and will help with the completion of the required pre-physical therapy coursework and preparation for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Pre-Physician Assistant
The Pre-Physician Assistant certificate is designed to prepare students for PA school and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Pre-Veterinary Medicine
The Pre-Veterinary certificate is designed to prepare students for veterinary schools and will help with the completion of the required pre-veterinary coursework and preparation for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Casper test.

Nursing
Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing while staying close to home! Our unique new program brings Edgewood College’s nursing program to the UW-Whitewater at Rock County campus, complete with a full faculty, clinical coordination expertise, and an innovative curriculum that integrates classroom instruction with hands-on clinical and simulation experiences.
Learn more about earning a nursing degree »

Pre-Health coursework
Start your pre-health courses on the Rock County campus, and then transfer into a professional school or complete a bachelor’s degree program on the Whitewater campus, at UW-Madison, or at many other schools. You can take courses to prepare for programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, physician’s assistant, chiropractic or optometry.
Learn more about pre-health coursework »

Research opportunities

Unlike some universities, UW-Whitewater not only allows — but encourages — students to get involved in actual research early in their college experience.

The Research Apprentice Program is a wonderful opportunity for freshman-and-sophomore-level students to get their feet wet in research and get paid for it! Students can learn new skills and connect with STEM faculty in the earlier stages of their schooling.

We are nationally known for our Undergraduate Research Program — which gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge outside of the classroom and dive deeper into their field of interest. You can work alongside a faculty mentor as a student researcher, or create an independent, student-led project with a mentor's help.

Internships

Earn course credit and gain clinical experience (and fulfill a med school requirement) without leaving campus through our direct care internship program. University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS) accepts a number of pre-health students each semester to serve as clinicians. You’ll be part of the healthcare delivery process — taking patients’ vitals and medical history — and shadowing a provider in-room as they assess, diagnose and create plans of care. You can also explore medical testing at our accredited, high-complexity laboratory.
Learn more about internships »

A number of student organizations at UW-Whitewater focus on the pre-health and medical fields, including:

• Aspiring Physician Assistant Organization (Pre-PA Club) is designated for students who are looking to explore the PA profession. This organization offers information and opportunities needed to enhance graduate school applications increasing the likelihood of admissions.
• Pre-Health Associates of Today (PHAT) is for pre-health majors or students interested in the health field and helping each other in advancing their career paths.
• Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) is made up of diverse, caring and energetic students who serve to promote and ensure the quality of healthcare at UW-Whitewater.

Our alumni work as physicians, physician's assistants, nurses, chiropractors, dentists, optometrists, physical therapists, and veterinarians.

They have also branched into specialty jobs like:

• Orthopedic surgery physician assistant
• Pharmaceutical project manager and scientist
• Quality control chemist
• Research animal care technician
• Surgical robotics salesperson
• Technical laboratory trainer

And they’ve gone on to earn master’s degrees and doctorates at prestigious graduate schools, including:

• Chamberlain University
• Concordia University Wisconsin
• Des Moines University
• Purdue University
• University of Minnesota
• UW-Madison
• UW-Milwaukee

Want to learn more about a major in Healthcare?
262-472-1618 | krumenak@uww.edu