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An opportunity to prepare for a specific career, the Pre-Professional path at Capital allows students the opportunity to take courses designed to help them excel in graduate school. Students who choose to pursue a Pre-Health path at Capital take extensive science courses within the context of a well-rounded education.

Degrees Offered

Majors/Minors

  • Pre-Athletic Training
  • Pre-Chiropractic Medicine
  • Pre-Dentistry
  • Pre-Medical Doctor
  • Pre-Occupational Therapy
  • Pre-Optometry
  • Pre-Pharmacy
  • Pre-Physical Therapy
Build Your Own Professional Path

Opportunities to Help Improve Health for All

Pre-Med and Health Specializations

Do you want to be a medical doctor or a veterinarian? Or, are in interested in being an optometrist, a dentist, or a physician’s assistant? Or, do you want to be a chiropractor or a pharmacist? Or, is your goal to be an athletic trainer, an occupational therapist, or a physical therapist?

Program Overview

Capital University offers the following pre-health specializations that can be combined with a major of your choice. The specialization path will help you prepare for graduate school application. Specializations include athletic training, chiropractic, dental, medical doctor, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, or veterinary.

  • Step 1: Select a major that interests you – a major that you will enjoy and do well in. 
  • Step 2: Declare your pre-health specialization in Capital’s Registrar’s Office – this will let your academic advisor know that you are a pre-health student and will help you keep track of the courses that you need to take for your major and for your pre-health specialization.
  • Step 3: Complete the courses needed for your pre-health specialization – these courses are required or encouraged by most graduate programs for the specialization that you choose.
  • Step 4: Look at the requirements for the specific graduate programs or medical schools that you are interested in to see whether they have additional course requirements, GPA requirements, and entrance exam requirements.
10:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

80%+

More than 80% of Pre-Medicine Capital students who Apply to Medical School are Accepted

60+

Majors to Choose From

Pre-Health Specializations

Athletic Training

Athletic trainers (ATs) are multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician. As a part of the health care team, athletic trainers can provide primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.

Chiropractic Medicine

Chiropractors focus mainly on the vertebral column, and alleviation of pain caused by spinal difficulties, but they have also built a wider health care model which includes nutrition, exercise, posture, stress management, weight management, and a wide range of lifestyle counseling. The philosophy of chiropractic practitioners is the promotion of general health without the use of drugs or surgery. 

Dentistry

Dentistry is the field of medicine that specialize in the teeth and associated tissues. Dentists earn a doctor of dental science degree and practice either solo or in a group setting. They also may be employed by the public health service or the military. Dental school is four years, followed by optional specialty training or practice.

Medical Doctor

An MD (Doctor of Medicine) graduates from a traditional medical school. A DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) graduates from an osteopathic medical school. A major difference between MDs and DOs is that some doctors of osteopathic medicine use manual medicine as part of treatment. Manual medicine can include hands on work on joints and tissues and massage. After medical school, both kinds of doctors must complete training as residents in the specialty they choose. They also must pass the same licensing exam before they can treat people and prescribe medicines.

Occupational Therapy

An occupational therapist (OT) works with individuals whose participation in life has been interrupted by physical injury/ illness, developmental/learning disabilities, psychological/emotional problems or the aging process. The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes occupational therapy as among the fastest growing and most needed health care professions. There is a shortage of therapists nationwide. The number of patients requiring occupational therapy is increasing faster than the number of OTs.

Optometry

An optometrist earns a doctor of optometry degree and studies the human eye and its function. Optometry school requires four years of study. Optometrists are employed by private industry, as well as hospitals and clinics. They may also be self-employed and open their own practice.

Pharmacy

Pharmacists study drugs and drug interactions in the human body and help to educate the public about drug interactions and effectiveness. Many pharmacists work for pharmaceutical companies, as well as hospitals and pharmacies. A doctor of pharmacy degree requires four years of study after an undergraduate degree.

Physical Therapy

Capital’s pre-physical therapy program prepares students to enter graduate school in physical therapy at the doctoral (DPT) level. Our approach produces professionals eager to increase our understanding of human health and the natural world. Physical therapists practice in hospital settings or through home health agencies, nursing homes, public schools, and a variety of other non-traditional settings.

Physician Assistant

Physician assistants practice medicine under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. They may treat injuries, prescribe most medications, and perform routine patient care. A master’s degree is required and takes 2.5 years to complete.

Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary physicians treat non-human patients, from cats and dogs to exotic animals in zoos. Four years of study after the undergraduate degree are required to earn the doctor of veterinary medicine degree. Opportunities for specialty training are available in addition to private practice. Veterinarians often work for the government and industry as food and public health inspectors, as well as in zoos, aquaria, and animal parks.

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