Navigating the Health Careers—Nursing and Health Professions

Traditionally, the Pre-Professional (Health) Programs prepare students to enter those programs offered through specialized "professional schools." Often, these professional programs grant a doctoral degree, and most require prospective students to have already earned a Bachelor's (B.S. or B.A.) degree. However, there are many other health-care careers. The following explanation (with related links) may help students who did not find their chosen career goals listed on the "pre-professional" page:

Nursing—Many students do not realize that there are many levels of nursing:

Health Sciences—contact the College of Nursing and Health Sciences for more information. These careers often link business and mathematics with health-related science…

Allied Health Professions—usually do not require graduate or post-baccalaureate work to become a practitioner. Often, the education/training for these careers is completed in two years or less, and is avaliable through junior or community colleges such as Del Mar College or Coastal Bend College. This training/education may or may not require passage of licensing or certification examinations, and it may or may not result in the student earning an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree. Examples are…