Degree Programs

Michigan Tech Health Professions

It is hard to imagine a more rewarding profession than one in the health fields. Michigan Tech can help you make the first important step into your future. And you've got a lot of great options from which to choose.

Clinical Laboratory Science

Clinical laboratory science (medical technology) offers an exciting variety of career possibilities for students who wish to become medically oriented biological scientists. Numerous and varied employment opportunities exist because there is currently a shortage of qualified medical laboratory personnel.

Clinical laboratory scientists use their understanding of biology and biochemistry to perform and develop laboratory test procedures. These procedures may be used to verify health, diagnose or monitor disease, make or test new medically related products, or contribute valuable information to research projects.

At MTU, you can pursue a BS in Clinical Laboratory Science.

Pre-Medicine

Michigan Technological University has, for more than a quarter century, offered a strong pre-medical studies program. Our majors are regularly accepted into all four of Michigan's medical schools as well as other medical schools around the nation. Michigan Tech's acceptance rate to all the health profession schools for the past fifteen years is approximately 70 percent.

The road to becoming a physician begins with attaining your baccalaureate degree, followed by four years of medical school and three to eight years of residency, during which you specialize in some medical field (e.g., pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery). Your first step is the selection of an undergraduate institution and your undergraduate major.

Pre-Dentistry

Michigan Tech will give you a solid foundation on which to build your career as a dentist. Our curriculum is rigorous with as strong emphasis on the sciences and will prepare you well for dental school. Our graduates are regularly accepted into both of Michigan's dental schools, as well as schools throughout the U.S.

Michigan Tech also offers you flexibility. Pre-dentistry students generally pursue the bachelor's degree in biological sciences, which is excellent preparation for a variety of health-related careers. If you later decide to enter another profession, you'll find you have many options.

Pre-Pharmacy

Our pre-pharmacy majors are routinely accepted into all three of Michigan's pharmacy schools, as well as other schools across the U.S.

Pre-pharmacy students typically spend two years at Michigan Tech completing the course work required for entry into pharmacy school. Some students choose to complete their bachelor's degree at MTU before entering pharmacy school. All pharmacy school prerequisite courses are available at MTU. While no specific undergraduate major is required, most MTU pre-pharmacy students major in either biological sciences or chemistry.

Pre-Podiatric Medicine

A podiatrist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseasses and disorders of the foot. Some podiatric physicians treat general foot problems while others specialize in podiatric sports medicine, podiatric surgery, or orthopedics, or other podiatric specialities. There is currently a shortage of podiatrists in the United States.

Following completion of their baccalaureate degree, students interested in becoming a podiatrist may apply to any of the seven colleges of podiatric medicine in the U.S. to complete their four-year Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree. All prerequisite courses for entry into a college of podiatric medicine are available at MTU and are included in the required core of courses for biological sciences majors.

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Michigan Tech provides an excellent foundation for veterinary school. As a technological university, our curriculum is rigorous and highly respected throughout the Midwest. In addition to key classes in the sciences, students take courses in humanities and social sciences that fulfill the entry reuirements of most veterinary schools.

After completing a bachelor's degree, many of Michigan Tech's pre-vet students continue their education at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, and our program is tailored to meet its course requirements. If you plan to attend another vet school, we will work with you to help assure that you are qualified for admission when you graduate from Michigan Tech.

Pre-Physical Therapy

Physical therapists improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Their patients include accident victims and disabled individuals with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, nerve injuries, burns, amputations, head injuries, fractures, low back pain, arthritis, and heart disease. Therapists evaluate patients' medical histories, test and measure their strength, range of motion, and ability to function, and then develop treatment plans accordingly.

Both bachelor's and master's programs in physical therapy are offered elsewhere, and entrance into either degree program is very competitive. Master's degree programs require at least three years of pre-physical therapy course work followed by three years of professional education. All pre-physical therapy requirements for programs in Michigan, and for most programs in the U.S., can be obtained at Michigan Tech.

Pre-Physician Assistantship

Physician assistants are licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. PAs are able to do many of the medical tasks that would otherwise be provided by the physician. About one-third of PAs practice family medicine while the remainder are involved in a variety of specialties including surgery, orthopedics, emergency medicine, and obstetrics/gynecology.

PAs complete a master's degree program that involves both classroom study and clinical experience. Prospective PA students must have completed prerequisite course work and have extensive experience in patient contact in a health-care setting (e.g., hospital or nursing home). Most, but not all, of the prerequisite course work can be obtained at Michigan Tech, and MTU students interested in becoming PAs are encouraged to transfer to the school offering the professional program a year early to complete the courses not available here. Alternatively, these courses can be completed at another institution during the summer.

Pre-Chiropractic Medicine

Doctors of chiropractic provide a natural, conservative, medication-free, and non-invasive form of health care. The DC specializes in the diagnosis of neuromuscular and skeletal disorders and in providing care for many of these disorders. Chiropractic is the nation's third largest primary health-care profession.

Entry into a chiropractic college requires the completion of at least 90 quarter hours of prerequisite course work, all of which may be obtained at Michigan Tech. A baccalaureate degree is not required, although many of our students choose to complete their BS before entering the professional school.

Pre-Optometry

Over half the people in the United States wear glasses or contact lenses. Optometrists (doctors of optometry, also known as ODs) provide most of the primary vision care people need.

Optometrists examine people's eyes to diagnose vision problems and eye diseases. They treat vision problems, and in most states, they treat certain eye diseases such as conjunctivitis, glaucoma, or corneal infections. Optometrists use instruments and observations to examine eye health and to test patients' visual acuity, depth and color perception, and their ability to focus and coordinate the eyes. They analyze test results and develop a treatment plan. Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, and vision therapy. They use drugs for diagnosis in all states and, as of 1995, may use topical and oral drugs to treat some eye diseases in forty-six states. Optometrists often provide postoperative care to cataract and other eye surgery patients.

Becoming an optometrist requires at least three years of pre-optometry course work (most applicants have completed the bachelor's degree) followed by four years in a college of optometry leading to the Doctor of Optometry degree. All pre-optometry course work can be completed at Michigan Tech, and our students are routinely accepted into Ferris State University's DO program and into other programs around the nation.

Sports Medicine

Sports medicine is an umbrella term that may be applied to any of a large number of health professionals that serve both amateur and professional athletes. Physicians, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, chiropractors, physical therapists, nutritionists, psychologists, and other health-care professionals may specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders- usually injuries- experienced by athletes. Sports medicine also includes research into various aspects of the body's response to exercise. Exercise physiology is a branch of research that specifically studies the human body during exercise. Exercise physiologists may study the entire body or concentrate on one or two systems, e.g., the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Michigan Tech's biology program can prepare you for either a clinical career or a research career in sports medicine.

Other Health Professions & Related Careers

There are more than 100 different health professions. Some are associate's or bachelor's degree programs (e.g., respiratory therapy, dental hygiene, cytotechnology), while others require an advanced degree at either the master's or doctoral level.