students working in the lab

Pre-Health Professions Program

Washington College's Pre-Health Professions Program prepare undergraduate students for careers as physicians, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, pharmacists, nurses, and veterinarians, as well as allied health careers such as physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, and more. We have five tracks in the health professions program:

Students interested in careers in medicine, including physicians, dentists, optometrists, and podiatrists, receive individualized guidance. Washington College has partnerships with the medical and dental schools at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) and with Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine.
The pre-nursing program has prepared over 100 students to succeed in the challenging and rewarding field in the last two decades alone. Our program includes a 3:2 dual-degree program with the University of Maryland School of Nursing, where students spend three years at Washington then enter the traditional baccalaureate program at the University of Maryland for two more years. We also have a partnership with Johns Hopkins University for direct entry into their Master of Science in Nursing program. Students can also complete necessary prerequisite courses at Washington before they apply to accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing and direct entry Master of Science in Nursing programs at other institutions.
Alumni of our pre-pharmacy program have gone on to gain Doctor of Pharmacy degrees in top pharmacy schools with successful careers in the field. In addition to applying to pharmacy schools of their choice as traditional applicants, our program includes the option of a 3:4 dual-degree program with the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, where students spend three years earning a Bachelor of Science from Washington College, then spend four years at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
Students interested in becoming veterinarians have several opportunities for hands-on experience with a wide range of animals thanks to our location. The River and Field Campus offers an unparalleled living classroom in a variety of subjects. Our rural location offers experiences with household companions, livestock, laboratory species, horses, and wildlife.
Our alumni have gone on to a wide variety of important careers in the health care field, including athletic training, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, genetic counselors, chiropractors, and more providing safe and effective patient care. Our program has a 4:2 dual degree program with the Bridgewater College Master of Science in Athletic Training program, meaning students spend four years at Washington then spend two more at Bridgewater to earn their Master of Science in athletic training.

The health professions program tracks are not majors, meaning students major in other areas of interest while still actively working toward their health career goals. Common majors for students pursuing health professions include biology, chemistry, or biochemistry and molecular biology, but our students can major in anything while they're here (with some exceptions for certain partnership programs). The pre-health professions program faculty and staff advise students to ensure they're taking the courses that will help them succeed after Washington. Those working with the premedical committee must take certain courses, and the public health minor is often useful for students, depending on their career goals.

As a student in the health profession program, you will get help from program advisors and your peers through:

  • student receiving mentorshipcourse recommendations,  
  • help with preparing application materials,
  • personal statement workshops,
  • a cohort of fellow students who work together,
  • MCAT prep,
  • connecting with alumni for shadowing,
  • campus speakers,
  • mock interviews,
  • exploring interests to see which careers would be a best fit, and
  • balancing courses.

The program presents students with many options for what they can do in the healthcare field, the various paths they can take to achieve their goals, and the support to get there. The continued education required for many healthcare professions, particularly if medical school is necessary, is very expansive; our program faculty and staff are dedicated to ensuring out students are set up for success before making that financial commitment. While there are tracks through the program that often lead our alums to certain careers, students wanting to pursue any health profession can work with the program to make sure they're doing what they need to achieve those goals. Many secondary schools like to see liberal arts schools on transcripts because it means students have had a broader education and can think through several lenses.

Our health professions program provides individualized support, along with programming, for students interested in any human healthcare career requiring graduate or professional degrees, as well as those interested in obtaining a BSN or pursuing veterinary medicine.

 

 

Elizabeth Yost

Department of Sociology

Elizabeth Yost

Associate Professor of Sociology & Director of Public Health Minor, Director of Pre-Health Programs

 

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Sara Sypolt in a Washington College sweatshirt

Sara Sypolt '26

Pre-Pharmacy Student

“You really get to know your professors. It's really easy to just ask them questions, to just halt class, to halt lecture and be like, 'okay, I don't understand this. Can you go back over it?' You get a much deeper understanding of stuff here. I think the professors know well how to pace coursework, so you get a lot more information, but it's not too overwhelming.”

 

 

Elizabeth Yost

Department of Sociology

Elizabeth Yost

Associate Professor of Sociology & Director of Public Health Minor, Director of Pre-Health Programs

 

Request Information