Healthcare

Diverse Healthcare Program Offerings

Students can choose from several undergraduate and graduate programs, including pre-health tracks and alternative pathways. Many prospective students know they ultimately want to work in healthcare but are less sure of which specific college major or focus area they should choose. The good news is that there is not a single "best" healthcare major. Your college advisor will be a valuable resource, helping you weigh the pros and cons of various options to help you find the right courses to take in preparation for further study through graduate or professional school programs in a variety of fields.

Biology

• Health Sciences Emphasis: The health sciences emphasis is designed for students who want to pursue graduate school for human anatomy or human physiology or professional healthcare programs.
• Molecular/Genetics Emphasis: The molecular/genetics emphasis includes both core courses as well as advanced molecular/genetics courses such as immunology, plant pathology, biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, and more.

Our pre-professional programs can prepare you for careers in fields that include the following:

• Pre-Chiropractic: Chiropractic medicine focuses on the integration of the body’s organs and systems, taking a natural approach to healthcare.
• Pre-Dentistry: Dentists focus on the prevention and treatment of oral disease in the teeth, gums, and mouth.
• Pre-Medical Technology: Medical technologists use chemical procedures, laboratory testing, and microscopic analysis to detect disease, as well as to determine the extent or cause of it.
• Pre-Medicine: Medical professionals work in a variety of fields to prevent, diagnose, and treat illness and disease. Students who pursue pre-medicine degrees will learn introductory methods for preventing, diagnosing, and treating illness and disease.
• Pre-Nursing: Nursing professionals provide care to patients, helping meet their physical and emotional needs in a range of settings.
• Pre-Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapists help patients who are recovering from or living with a variety of illnesses and injuries, enabling them to better care for themselves and gain more independence.
• Pre-Optometry: Optometrists work with individuals, helping to prevent, detect, and treat eye diseases, vision problems, and other eye-related conditions.
• Pre-Osteopathy: Osteopathic physicians use a full range of techniques to diagnose and treat healthcare conditions, working in all medical specialty areas.
• Pre-Physical Therapy: Physical therapists work with individuals of all ages, helping them by designing, organizing, and implementing programs designed to address the patient’s specific needs resulting from illness or injury.
• Pre-Physician Assistant: Physician assistants work directly with, examine, and educate patients, as well as prescribe treatment plans for them.
• Pre-Podiatry: Podiatrists use a variety of methods and tools to treat patients with foot and ankle conditions, diseases, and disorders.

Mechanical Engineering

• Biomedical Engineering – Biomechanical Engineering program: This emphasis focuses on mechanical and electrical systems, and anatomy and physiology. You will gain skills in medical device development.

Chemistry

• Biochemistry Biotechnology Emphasis: Students in this program complete 15 credits of the biotechnology post-baccalaureate program at Madison College and gain extensive hands-on training. This program is also available to biology majors.
• Biochemistry Emphasis: The biochemistry emphasis helps students learn how to use the principles of chemistry to understand molecular patterns, DNA structures, the molecular causes of many diseases, and more.
• Pre-Pharmacy: Pharmacists help people with their prescribed medicines and devices.

Health and Human Performance

• Exercise Science Emphasis: Students in the exercise science emphasis will study movement and the way the human body responds to exercise.
• Health Promotion-Wellness Emphasis: This emphasis helps students learn how to support, train, and encourage people in their pursuit of physical and occupational wellness.

Psychology

• Aging Studies Emphasis: Choosing an emphasis on aging studies will help prepare students for working with aging populations, providing a deeper understanding of the biopsychosocial aspects of aging.
• Substance Abuse Counseling Emphasis: This emphasis is designed for students who want to work as Wisconsin certified substance abuse counselors after earning their bachelor’s degrees.
• Social Work Training Certificate: Students who choose the social work training emphasis can pursue licensure as certified social workers in the state of Wisconsin.

Online Healthcare Degree Programs

UW-Platteville offers several online programs in healthcare.

• Organizational Change Leadership - Healthcare emphasis: An online degree in organizational change leadership with an emphasis in healthcare will prepare students for a leadership career as a healthcare consultant or working for a healthcare business or other organization.
• Healthcare Administration: The online Master of Science in Healthcare Administration prepares students who want to make a difference by pursuing careers as healthcare executives.
• Applied Biotechnology: Studying applied biotechnology online through this UW-Platteville Master of Science program will prepare students to work in business management, quality assurance and compliance, or research and development.

Careers in Healthcare

Healthcare workers include those who work in traditional healthcare settings such as hospitals and clinics, as well as in community settings like schools and places of worship and even in businesses of all sizes. People who pursue careers in healthcare typically enjoy working with and helping others and want to make a difference by being able to improve quality of life for the individuals, families, and communities they serve.

The career choices for people who earn degrees in healthcare are many and varied. Some of the most popular and in-demand careers for healthcare professionals include:

• General medicine physicians
• Physician assistants
• Nurses and nursing assistants
• Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
• Chiropractors
• Audiologists
• Dentists
• Podiatrists
• Opticians and optometrists
• Exercise physiologists
• Occupational therapists and physical therapists
• Clinical laboratory technicians

The list above includes just a sampling of some of the careers you could pursue when you study healthcare. Careers in healthcare can be incredibly rewarding, both personally and professionally. Most of these options require master’s or other advanced degrees, specialized training, certification, or licensure.