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[ Academics ]
Allied Health Sciences
Many Elmhurst students plan their academic programs with an eye to further study at graduate and professional schools. The information presented in this section is designed to assist students in planning their programs. Students are also encouraged to consult faculty advisers in their areas of professional interest.
Cytotechnology
Medical Technology
Nutrition and Medical Dietetics
Occupational Therapy
Optometry
Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
Physician Assistant
Podiatry
Elmhurst College offers a variety of programs for students who intend to pursue careers in the health professions. There are no preprofessional majors per se. Instead, preprofessional students need a solid liberal arts education and may choose any academic major. Courses required for entry into professional schools are incorporated into regular academic schedules. Although most students will complete requirements for the bachelor's degree at Elmhurst, admission to some professional programs is possible prior to completion of a bachelor's degree.
The specific requirements of professional schools differ greatly, even within a field. Therefore, we encourage students to plan an early consultation with a preprofessional adviser. These advisers assist students, whatever their majors, in achieving the academic balance, variety, and focus needed to reach their professional goals. Advisers are available to educate students on the variety of career options, to help students plan their programs, to help students prepare for national qualifying examinations, and to assist students in submitting applications to health professional schools. Applications for qualifying exams (AHPAT, DAT, MCAT, OCAT, PCAT, and VAT) and information on application services (e.g., American Association of Dental Schools Application Service, American Medical College Application Service, American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service) are available from the advisers.
Regular advising is essential because professional schools change their requirements occasionally and careful program planning is important in order to complete requirements in a timely way. Preprofessional students should contact their major advisers and the health professions advisers before enrolling in classes each term.
Additionally, the preprofessional advisers arrange for student evaluation and recommendation by the Health Professions Recommendation Committee. Students should arrange interviews with this committee one year prior to entrance into professional school.
Advisers also coordinate a variety of informational sessions, including presentations by representatives from medical, dental, and other schools.
Preprofessional students at Elmhurst have the advantage of receiving maximum individual attention and encouragement. There is a chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national premedical honor society, that serves to bring together students of common interest, even though they major in various academic departments.
The proximity of the College to several medical, dental, and other professional schools in the Chicago area makes it possible for students to visit these schools and obtain firsthand information, as well as to take a field-experience course at one of the area's medical facilities during the January Term.
Health Professions Recommendation Committee
Each student, in consultation with a health professions adviser, selects a recommendation committee of faculty members from the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities. This committee evaluates the student and prepares letters of recommendation for students seeking admission to professional programs in health care fields, including medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, and veterinary medicine.
Students seeking admission to professional schools should arrange interviews with this committee one year prior to entrance into professional school.
Cytotechnology
Cytotechnology training internship programs are available to students who have completed a minimum of prerequisites at the college level. Specific course prerequisites vary among the 40 accredited schools of cytotechnology. Students may be admitted to many cytotechnology programs after two or three years of college. However, some schools admit only students who hold a bachelor's degree. Only program graduates who hold a bachelor's degree are eligible to sit for the National Registry Examination. Most cytotechnology schools require a minimum of five courses in biology and two courses in chemistry.
For more information, contact Dr. Frank Mittermeyer, special adviser.
Medical Technology
Students interested in becoming clinical laboratory scientists may take the prerequisite courses at Elmhurst College. Typically, students obtain a Bachelor of Science in either biology or chemistry, taking care to complete elective courses appropriate for medical technology. After completing a medical technology program, students are eligible to write one or more national registry examinations.
The minimum courses required by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) for admittance to a medical technology program for those holding a bachelor's degree are:
BIO four courses including microbiology
CHM four courses including some organic and/or biochemistry
MTH one course
For more information, contact Dr. Frank Mittermeyer, special adviser.
Nutrition and Medical Dietetics
Students seeking careers in nutrition and dietetics can complete the first 15 course credits (60 semester hours) of preprofessional work at Elmhurst. Following transfer into and completion of a Bachelor of Science program in nutrition and medical dietetics, graduates can take the registration examination and apply for membership in the American Dietetic Association.
Recommended courses include:
BIO 104, 216
CHM 101, 103
ENG 105, 106
MTH 121
PSY 210
SOC two courses, one emphasizing development of social or cultural patterns; the other on development of influence of family relationships, family life, or group processes
statistics, one course
speech, one course
humanities, two courses, preferably one in literature;
economics, one course
electives to complete 15 course credits (60 semester hours)
For more information, contact Dr. Frank Mittermeyer, special adviser.
Occupational Therapy
Students may apply to an occupational therapy school after two years of work at Elmhurst or may first complete bachelor's degrees with specific majors (e.g., psychology or biology). Students who complete bachelor's degrees at Elmhurst can then apply for entry-level master's degree programs in occupational therapy. After completion of these programs, students take the American Occupational Therapy Association Certification Examination.
For more information, contact Dr. Frank Mittermeyer, special adviser.
Optometry
Most optometry schools will consider applicants with three years of undergraduate work (minimum of 22.5 course credits or 90 semester hours). However, students who complete bachelor's degrees are in a more competitive position for admission.
Students should seek information concerning the prerequisites for optometry schools in which they are interested and should complete the Optometry College Admission Test (OCAT) at least one year in advance of enrollment.
Recommended courses include:
BIO two years to include 250, 251, 414 or 216
CHM one year
ENG 105, 106
MTH one year, including MTH 151
PHY 111, 112 or 121, 122
PSY 210, 330, 355, 422
humanities and fine arts, minimum of two courses (some optometry schools require one year of foreign language).
For more information, contact Dr. Eugene Losey, special adviser.
Pharmacy
Generally, two years of basic sciences and liberal arts are required for admission to a college of pharmacy. However, specific requirements vary and prepharmacy students need to inform themselves of the specific requirements of the pharmacy colleges to which they will make application. Students should plan to take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) at the appropriate time.
The following recommended courses will meet the requirements of most pharmacy colleges in the Midwest:
BIO 104, 216, 250, 251
CHM 211, 212, 311, 312
ENG 105, 106
MTH 151
PHY 111, 112
At least one course in each of the following five areas: sociology/psychology, economics, fine arts, physical sciences, and humanities (history/philosophy).
For more information, contact Dr. Eugene Losey, special adviser.
Physical Therapy
Elmhurst College provides students with the basic undergraduate curriculum and liberal arts experience that are prerequisite for application to physical therapy schools. Because physical therapy schools vary considerably in their prerequisites for admission, it is advisable for students to inquire about specific entrance requirements prior to starting their undergraduate work.
Alternatively, students seeking careers in physical therapy can complete majors at Elmhurst in specific areas, such as biology, psychology, or athletic training, while being sure to complete all the prerequisites for physical therapy. Students then continue in either a second bachelor's degree program or a master's degree program in physical therapy in order to be eligible to apply for and complete the licensing examination in Illinois and other states.
It is important for students to realize that physical therapy schools typically require a significant number of clinical hours in one or more physical therapy settings. Also, applicants need to have current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid. Some schools require applicants to take the Allied Health Professions Admission Test (AHPAT).
Recommended courses include:
BIO 107, 108, 250, 251 plus other specific courses required by individual schools
CHM 211, 212
ENG 105, 106
KIN 204 plus two terms of activity courses, KIN 410, 414;
MTH 121, 132 plus statistics suggested
PHY 111, 112 or 121, 122
PSY 210, 317 or 318, 327
SOC 211
humanities, two terms
For more information, contact Dr. Frank Mittermeyer, special adviser.
Physician Assistant
Students can be admitted to a professional physician assistant program after completing two years at Elmhurst. Alternatively, a student may first complete a bachelor's degree at Elmhurst and then enter a second-degree physician assistant program. Upon successful completion of courses at the professional school, students receive the Bachelor of Medical Science. Some professional schools offer a physician assistant master's degree track. Professional program graduates may sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination.
Admission preference is given to students who have one year of health care experience. This experience can be in a variety of credentialed and noncredentialed positions, either on a part-time or full-time basis, with compensation or as a volunteer.
Recommended courses include:
BIO two courses
CHM two courses
ENG two courses, English composition and English literature
MTH 121 or a higher course
humanities, two courses
social sciences, two courses
science electives, two courses
For more information, contact Dr. Frank Mittermeyer, special adviser.
Podiatry
It is possible to enter podiatry school after three years of college, but 95 percent of first-year podiatry students have earned bachelor's degrees.
Working with a health professions adviser, students should plan their courses of study carefully and they should take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) at the appropriate time.
Recommended courses include:
BIO one-year minimum from the following: 250, 251, 303, 318, 414, 418
CHM 211, 212, 311, 312
ENG 105, 106
PHY 111, 112 or 121, 122
humanities and social sciences, 7.5 course credits (30 semester hours) minimum.
For more information, contact Dr. Eugene Losey, special adviser.
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