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The strong health science degrees in Iowa are the perfect option for students who are considering a medical career in the future. These degrees are designed to combine laboratory sciences with unique and specific topics in healthcare, ranging from optometry to pediatrics, healthcare laws and ethics to the technology used in modern treatment scenarios. Along with the more traditional coursework associated with undergraduate degrees, these unique programs in Iowa are designed to produce well-rounded graduates who can ease into virtually any medical concentration at the graduate or postgraduate levels. Each university offers a slightly different approach to this degree program that will benefit students in unique ways as they pursue even further education and a long-term career in the field.
Drake University
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Drake University has a long history of graduating students who eventually become political, medical, and academic leaders, thanks to a rigorous academic program in all areas. The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is one of the most notoriously rigorous and competitive schools at the institution, guiding students through courses that are designed to make them skilled medical professionals, pharmacists, and healthcare organization leaders. The department consists entirely of doctoral-level professionals with real science, business, or healthcare experience, which allows students to gain much-needed insight into their role in the health industry and how they can make a difference on the job. The school oversees an honor society and several student organizations, and has a popular job fair on campus for health-related careers each spring.
B.S. in Health Sciences
The focus of the B.S. in health sciences at Drake University is primarily on giving students the right combination of business skills and healthcare proficiency. In addition to a core curriculum that strongly emphasizes chemistry, biology, physics, biochemistry, healthcare laws, and patient care, students will be required to choose a concentration in entrepreneurship, business management, or accounting. They’ll focus strongly on quantitative and management skills, learning how to lead a medical department or a team of medical professionals. This combination of skills prepares students to seek their medical degree or an MBA in the allied health professions as a result.
Contact
Drake University
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
2507 University Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50311
Phone: (800) 443-7253
Website
Mercy School of Health Sciences
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The Mercy School was founded exclusively to give undergraduate and graduate students the skills they need to be successful, reliable health industry professionals. From the nursing fields to health science degree programs, the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences sets the curriculum and makes sure that students are always learning those skills most relevant to the modern health industry. Because the school enjoys a central location in Des Moines and has a long reputation of producing highly competent health professionals, students can expect a high job placement rate within the first few months after graduation. Some of that success comes from a strong internship program and numerous networking events held on-campus to link health sciences students and local employers.
Bachelor of Science in Health Science (Pre-Med)
The B.S. in health sciences is designed for students who intend to go on to medical school after graduation. For this reason, it’s concerned primarily with a wide variety of science-relate laboratory coursework. Students will need to take at least two classes in physics, biology, chemistry, and biochemistry. They’ll extensively study medical technology and how it can be used in patient treatment scenarios. Students will be expected to take advanced quantitative courses prior to graduation and will extensively study each unique healthcare field as part of their required coursework. Upon graduation, they’ll be ready for medical school entrance exams and success in these advanced classrooms.
Contact
Mercy School of Health Sciences
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
928 6th Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 643-3180
Email: jmatz@mercydesmoines.org
Website
University of Iowa
Department of Interdepartmental Studies
As the flagship public institution in the state of Iowa, the University of Iowa enjoys excellent state funding and a fast-growing health science program that has become one of the most popular choices for aspiring doctors and other healthcare providers. The program exists in the university’s Department of Interdepartmental Studies, since virtually every class required comes from a different department and requires just a slightly different set of science or quantitative skills. Professors in this program are focused on providing students with excellent insight into the healthcare world, as well as into the scientific fields that serve as the basis for medical education. Thanks to the university’s size and scale, regular on-campus internship events are held throughout the year in an effort to help health science students gain hands-on healthcare or medical industry experience prior to graduation.
B.S. Health Sciences
The first thing most students will notice about the program is that it requires selecting a slate of classes from virtually every science or math-related department on campus. Students will take several classes in biology, chemistry, anatomy, physics, nutritional science, and biochemistry. They’ll also be required to have a solid understanding of mathematics prior to graduation, which requires them to select at least two high-level quantitative courses as part of their major. Students will be able to choose several electives within the program, though these electives generally must be advanced laboratory sciences that relate to their graduate-level studies or their anticipated future career in the medical field. Students who wish to pursue more of a business-related health science track can opt instead of courses in accounting and management, though this is certainly a less popular option among today’s students.
Contact
University of Iowa
Department of Interdepartmental Studies
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: (319) 384-1328
Email: andrew-tinkham@uiowa.edu
Website
As the medical field continues to expand both in terms of size and in terms of economic importance, health science degree programs have become a top choice among undergraduates. That’s because these programs offer undergraduates a way to learn about virtually ever aspect of health care, from specific medical fields to medical technology, laws and ethics of the healthcare industry, and other skills they’ll need to be successful in a medicine or graduate-level program afterward. The health science degrees in Iowa are the perfect foundation for a wide array of health-related occupations in today’s economy.
For more information on earning your Health Science degree, please see Top 10 Best Online Health Science Degree Programs.
