Pre-Health Tracks

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Last Updated: Feb 05, 2026, 03:37 PM

Strategic Foundations, Professional Ambitions

Students Learning Anatomy

Whether you have always known your career path or are just beginning to explore your potential health track, your success depends on a solid strategic foundation. Turning your passion for health into a professional career requires a clear vision and a deliberate strategy. SIU provides a specialized Pre-Health Professions Office to help enhance your academic journey and provide the dedicated support required for your professional preparation. Regardless of your interest in medicine, dentistry, or another health profession, our tracks are designed to provide the rigorous foundations necessary to achieve your career goals by ensuring you have access to essential resources and personalized guidance.

 

Explore our list of pre-health tracks below to learn more about the specialized support and academic guidance available to you throughout your time at SIU. Through these dedicated resources, you will discover how we can help you become a highly competitive candidate for your future in healthcare.

Discover Your Professional Pathway

To best support your professional ambitions, the Pre-Health Professions Office offers specialized guidance for each of these distinct disciplines. Select a track below to discover the specific opportunities and requirements for each field.

  • Chiropractic (DC)

    Chiropractors are skilled healthcare providers who address essential health concerns affecting their patients’ spinal health and overall physical function. This track provides the framework to complete your doctoral prerequisites and ensures you are on pace for a successful transition into a chiropractic program.

  • Dentistry (DDS, DMD)

    Dentists serve as essential healthcare providers dedicated to maintaining oral health and treating conditions affecting their patients' teeth and gums. Our office helps you navigate the competitive application cycle and ensures you remain on track with the rigorous science prerequisites necessary for dental school admission.

  • Medical (DO/MD)

    Physicians are primary healthcare providers dedicated to diagnosing illnesses and facilitating comprehensive care to improve patient outcomes. We support your professional journey by helping you manage the intensive application timeline and fulfill the academic requirements for allopathic or osteopathic programs.

  • Occupational Therapy (OTD)

    Occupational Therapists are dedicated healthcare providers who empower individuals to regain independence by mastering the activities of daily living after injury or illness. Our office helps you align your undergraduate coursework with doctoral program expectations and ensures you remain on track to meet standards necessary for a successful application.

  • Optometry (OD)

    Optometrists are primary healthcare providers who specialize in eye care, vision health, and the diagnosis of ocular diseases. We provide the guidance required to manage your testing timeline and fulfill the unique academic prerequisites necessary for a successful application to optometry school.

  • Pharmacy (PharmD)

    Pharmacists are essential healthcare providers who specialize in the science of medication, ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical therapies to improve patient outcomes. Our office helps you navigate the specific science prerequisites and testing requirements to ensure you remain a competitive candidate for admission to a doctor of pharmacy program.

  • Physical Therapy (DPT)

    Physical therapists help patients improve movement and manage pain through specialized rehabilitation and exercise programs. Our office provides the framework to complete your prerequisites and ensures that you are prepared to meet the rigorous clinical observation and academic standards required for a successful application to physical therapy programs.

  • Physician Assistant (PA)

    Physician Assistants are medical professionals who practice medicine in collaboration with physicians to diagnose illnesses, develop treatment plans, and prescribe medications. We provide the guidance necessary to manage your patient care experience hours and ensure that your undergraduate trajectory aligns with the intensive requirements of professional Physician Assistant programs.

  • Podiatry (DPM)

    Podiatrists are specialized physicians dedicated to the medical and surgical treatment of conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and lower extremities. We support your professional journey by helping you navigate the specialized application cycle and ensuring that you remain on pace to fulfill the academic requirements necessary for a successful acceptance into a doctoral podiatric program.

  • Veterinary (DVM/VMD)

    Veterinarians are essential healthcare providers who diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and other medical conditions in animals. Our office helps you navigate the highly competitive admission process and ensures you remain on track with the rigorous prerequisites and experience hours necessary for enrollment in a veterinary program.

Beyond the Classroom: See Your Future in Action

While our tracks offer a strong foundational academic start, the most valuable insights come from seeing healthcare in action. We encourage students to go beyond the classroom by connecting with those already in the field. Whether you are shadowing a professional, networking with practitioners, or exploring the latest research, these real-world experiences are where your career truly begins.

Support for Your Track and Ambitions

Building strategic foundations starts with our guidance. Our office provides the clarity and direction you need to navigate your chosen track while we help you chart a clear path through every requirement. We are here to provide the tools and resources you need to pursue your professional ambitions with confidence.

Pre-Health Professions Office

Our office is available to support you at every stage of your track. We are here to guide you as you begin this important journey toward your professional goals.