The pre-health areas of study described below are advising categories used to identify students advancing toward a health-related career goal. Students cannot declare a major or earn a degree in a pre-health area. A pre-health coursework plan is developed in conjunction with an Explore Center advisor and consists of prerequisite courses required for admission into professional health schools. This coursework may be in addition to the coursework required for a University of Nebraska–Lincoln major. Upon successful completion of pre-health coursework, and after participating in a number of years of relevant health- and community-related activities, pre-health students apply to professional health schools in order to receive clinical training (e.g., at a nursing school, medical school, optometry school, etc.).
The Explore Center serves as the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's advising resource for pre-health students. Pre-health advisors work one-on-one with students to provide specialized pre-health advising, which supplements advising in the academic major. In addition to meeting with an advisor for their academic major (if declared), all pre-health students should meet once per semester with a pre-health Explore Center advisor for help in planning the necessary curricular and extracurricular requirements to apply to a professional health school in the future. Pre-health advisors help students create short- and long-range plans so that they can be in the best possible position to gain admittance to a professional health school. The Explore Center also provides a number of pre-health advising resources, workshops, and events to help students develop and move forward in their health profession career plans. See https://explorecenter.unl.edu/pre-health for resources.
Professional academic advisors in the Explore Center are available for individual student meetings on a drop-in or appointment basis. Pre-health students who have not yet chosen a major have an assigned Explore Center academic advisor but are welcome to meet with any advisor in the Explore Center. Students can find their assigned advisor in MyRED. For complete and current information on Explore Center academic advising visit https://explorecenter.unl.edu/about/appointment or contact the Explore Center by visiting 127 Love Library South or by calling 402-472-3605.
Some pre-health students declare a University of Nebraska–Lincoln major while also working toward their professional health school requirements; these students earn a degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln before entering professional school. Some health professions schools allow students to apply after completing prerequisite requirements and without earning a degree. In either case, students may designate a pre-health interest in any of the following pre-health categories while they are preparing for professional school and/or deciding on a major and degree. Students may select any University of Nebraska–Lincoln academic major while pursuing pre-health areas of study or can temporarily select a major of "Pre-Health" through the Explore Center. Students pursuing pre-health areas of study can receive guidance and advice from the Explore Center by indicating their pre-health interest with their college advising office. Students who are still exploring health-career paths are encouraged to research the many options available by using the Explore Health Careers website and/or taking CASC 150 Introduction to Health Professions.
The following are common pre-health interest areas. Curricular requirements vary by program and coursework plans should be developed with the help of the student's Explore Center advisor to ensure all requirements are being met during the appropriate semesters and in the appropriate sequence. Detailed course checklists for each pre-health area are listed at https://explorecenter.unl.edu/pre-health .
Pre-Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a branch of health care that focuses on manipulation as the best mode of care and treatment of many injuries and illnesses. It emphasizes the inter-relatedness of the body parts as a whole set, but especially as they relate to the function of the nervous system. Since the majority of the body's organs are innervated by nerves which enter or leave the spine, a major emphasis is on the correct structure and function of the spine and the body joints.
Pre-Clinical Perfusion Science
Perfusionists are skilled allied health professionals who deal with all phases of regulating and controlling blood flow outside the body, called extracorporeal circulation. The perfusionist operates extracorporeal equipment during any medical situation where it is necessary to support or temporarily replace the patient's circulatory or respiratory function. The perfusionist has diverse responsibilities which include the mechanical support of a patient's circulation and pulmonary function during open-heart surgery and is an integral member of the cardiovascular surgery team involved in infant and adult cardiac surgery.
Pre-Cytotechnology
Cytotechnology is an allied health specialty which offers possibilities for those who want a career in science and a significant role in health care. Working with a microscope, cytotechnologists study specimens from all body sites. Using subtle clues in the cells themselves, cytotechnologists can solve the mystery of disease by identifying cancer, precancerous lesions, benign tumors, infectious agents, and inflammatory processes. Cytotechnologists help discover certain diseases early when treatment is most effective.
Pre-Dental Hygiene
A dental hygienist is a preventive oral health professional licensed in dental hygiene to provide educational, clinical, and therapeutic services supporting total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. The dental hygienist is responsible for providing treatment that helps to prevent oral diseases such as dental caries (cavities) and periodontal disease (gum disease) and for educating the patient to maintain optimal oral health.
Pre-Dentistry
Dentistry is devoted to maintaining the health of teeth and gums, as well as other hard and soft tissues of the mouth. Early detection of oral cancer and systemic conditions that manifest themselves through the mouth are necessary for the maintenance of general health. The dentist is dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of all oral diseases and conditions. In addition to general dentistry careers, dental school graduates can pursue additional studies in one of the following dental specialties: dental public health, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial procedures, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics.
Pre-Dietetics
Registered dietitians advise patients and clients on how to improve their health through food and nutrition. Registered dietitians can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, food service companies, wellness programs, and community/public health centers. Registered dietitians use specialized knowledge about the body's nutritional needs to improve health, especially in cases where health is compromised. Common diseases registered dietitians help treat include diabetes, obesity, and diseases that cause or are the result of nutritional deficiencies.
Pre-Genetic Counseling
Genetic counselors have advanced training in medical genetics and counseling (Master's in Genetic Counseling). They work in various healthcare settings to interpret genetic test results and to guide and support patients in the prevention and treatment of genetically inherited diseases. They help explain to patients how family and medical histories may impact the chance of disease occurrence or recurrence; guide patients through choosing which genetic tests may be right for them and interpreting the results; and help patients and their families make the most informed choices about health conditions.
Pre-Medical Laboratory Science
Medical Laboratory Science (also known as Medical Technology or Clinical Lab Science) is the allied health profession concerned with performing laboratory tests that are used in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of disease and in the maintenance of health. The clinical lab scientist performs a full range of laboratory tests, from simple pre-marital blood tests to more complex tests to uncover diseases, such as AIDS, diabetes, and cancer. The clinical lab scientist is also responsible for confirming the accuracy of test results and reporting laboratory findings to the pathologist and other doctors.
Pre-Medicine
The medical profession (allopathic, osteopathic, or podiatric) offers a wide variety of career options and specialties. On most medical teams, the physician serves as the primary diagnostician, healer, and patient advocate and remains central to the provision of health care in our country. Although most physicians provide direct patient care, some medical degree recipients concentrate on basic or applied research, become teachers or administrators, or combine various elements of these activities.
Pre-Mortuary Science
Completion of a professional program in mortuary science leads to licensure as a funeral director/embalmer. Morticians deal with funeral planning, death registration, embalming, and the grief and bereavement issues of families and friends of the deceased.
Pre-Nursing
The nursing profession offers a wide variety of career opportunities. Nursing training programs range from associate to bachelor educational levels. Students who earn the BSN are prepared to assume staff nurse level positions in areas such as public health, gerontology, pediatrics, industrial settings, emergency medicine, psychiatric and mental health facilities, and acute care agencies. Students who desire advanced nursing degrees will find graduate programs leading to the masters and doctor of philosophy degrees in a variety of specialty areas.
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy is a health care profession using purposeful activity (occupation) as a means of preventing, reducing, or overcoming physical, social, and emotional challenges in people of all ages. An occupational therapist works with individuals whose participation in daily activities has been impaired by physical injury/illness, developmental/learning disabilities, psychological/emotional problems or the aging process. The occupational therapist carefully evaluates each person to determine physical and/or mental strengths and weaknesses, and, in conjunction with other health professionals, develops a program using purposeful activities and adaptive equipment to encourage the patient's involvement in meaningful daily living.
Pre-Optometry
Optometry is the primary health profession dedicated to caring for vision. Through academic and clinical training, optometrists acquire the knowledge and skills needed to diagnose, treat, and prevent problems of the visual system. Providing health education, managing curative or preventive regimes, and supplying vision care to special groups of patients are all parts of an optometrist's work.
Pre-Pharmacy
Pharmacists are responsible for drug therapy and drug distribution and must possess the scientific and technical knowledge necessary to evaluate drug therapy for each individual patient. They must develop skill in personal relations with patients and other health professionals. Above all, they must be able to make good use of acquired knowledge and experience in arriving at sound judgments and policy decisions.
Pre-Physical Therapy
Physical Therapists assess and treat disabilities and promote wellness to individuals of all ages. Their primary objective is to promote human health and function through movement therapies. The physical therapist conducts physical evaluations to determine the patient's potential for rehabilitation and lifestyle changes indicated, as well as educates the patient and family.
Pre-Physician Assistant
The physician assistant (PA) practices medicine with the supervision of a physician. As a result of extensive medical training, the PA can assume many tasks traditionally performed only by a medical doctor, thereby helping the physician to be more efficient. The PA diagnoses and treats a wide range of common medical problems, and assists the physician in the management of complex chronic illnesses. Many PAs make hospital and nursing home rounds and assist in surgery. A very important part of the PA's role is to educate the patient and the community about illness, family planning, social services, health hazards, baby and child care, and other aspects of health promotion and disease prevention.
Pre-Public Health
Public health is the science and art of creating healthy communities through education, research, and promotion of healthy lifestyles. In public health, the focus is on health promotion and disease/injury prevention, in contrast to the medical model of care, which focuses more heavily upon diagnosing and treating illnesses and conditions after they occur.
Pre-Radiation Science Technology
Radiation science technology comprises several disciplines that utilize radiation for diagnosis or treatment, including but not limited to radiography, nuclear medicine, diagnostic medical sonography (ultrasound), or radiation therapy technology. Students should explore options in radiation science to see which field best fits their skills and interests. The career options available to students interested in radiation sciences continually expands as technology develops.
College Requirements
ACE Requirements
Consistent with the mission and values of the University, Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) is based on a shared set of four institutional objectives and 10 student learning outcomes. The ACE program was approved by faculty in all eight undergraduate colleges and endorsed by the Faculty Senate, the student government, and the Academic Planning Committee in January 2008 for implementation in fall 2009. ACE aligns with current national initiatives in general education.
Key characteristics of ACE that demonstrate the benefits of the program to students:
- Students receive a broad education with exposure to multiple disciplines, critical life skills, and important reasoning, inquiry, and civic capacities.
- ACE is simple and transparent for students, faculty, and advisors. Students complete the equivalent of 3 credit hours for each of the ten student learning outcomes.
- Students connect and integrate their ACE experiences with their selected major.
- Students can transfer all ACE-certified courses across colleges within the institution to meet the ACE requirement and any course from outside the institution that is directly equivalent to a University of Nebraska–Lincoln ACE-certified course. Courses from outside institutions without direct equivalents may be considered with appropriate documentation for ACE credit (see academic advisor).
ACE allows faculty to assess and improve their effectiveness and facilitate students' learning.
ACE Institutional Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes
To meet the ACE program requirement a student will complete the equivalent of 3 credit hours for each of the ten ACE Student Learning Outcomes (a total of 30 ACE credit hours). See the ACE website for the most current information and the most recently certified courses. Students should meet with an Explore Center advisor to discuss the planning and completion of ACE courses and requirements.