If you are interested in a career in the health sciences other than becoming a physician, the University of Washington Seattle campus has many undergraduate and graduate allied health programs. The UW has degree programs leading to careers in Environmental Health, Medical Technology, Prosthetics & Orthotics, Speech & Hearing Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Public Health and Community Medicine, Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics, and Medex Northwest (Physician Assistant).
In addition, we offer minors in Medical History and Ethics, Environmental Health, and Public Health. We also offer a degree completion program in Dental Hygiene for students who have completed a dental hygiene training program at another college.
Admission to allied health programs is competitive and may have different application deadlines and procedures.
Admission to the degree programs can be extremely competitive and most admit students only once per year. Some of the programs have extensive pre-requisite course work.
Except for Speech and Hearing Sciences, the undergraduate programs allow transfer students to apply directly to the program; that is, they don't require that you attend the UW before applying to the program. The application deadlines for these programs are generally much earlier than the April 15 UW transfer student deadline. You must submit applications for admission to the program and to the University. Familiarize yourself with the admission requirements and the application procedures of the major(s) in which you are interested, by following the links to the specific degree program.
How do you decide which program to pursue?
If you think you are interested in a career in the health sciences, but are not sure of what kind of career, you need to consider the following factors:
- Are you interested in direct patient care?
Physical therapists, occupational therapists, prosthetists, physician assistants, and medical doctors have a lot of patient contact. Most medical technologists work in hospital laboratories and have little patient contact. Environmental health specialists are seldom involved in the delivery of health care, and public health specialists usually work in more administrative positions.
- Do you enjoy and do well in challenging math and science courses?
Many of these programs require years of difficult college coursework, including calculus and 2-3 years of chemistry. You must achieve high grades for admission to the degree programs.
- How much time are you willing to invest in preparing for a health career?
The bachelor-degree programs take at least four years to complete. If you don't start the program prerequisites in your freshman year and complete them in your sophomore year, a program might take five or six years to complete. The master's programs generally take two years to complete after a bachelor's degree. The professional degree programs require a minimum of 3-4 years following a bachelor degree plus several more years of additional training. If you are looking for a health profession with a shorter training program, you might consider the one- and two-year programs offered by community colleges.
- Have you had any experience delivering health care or working in a health-care setting?
One of the best ways to decide where you might fit in to the health-care field is to gain some experience working in a health-care setting, either as a volunteer or as a paid employee. Volunteer experience is readily available at most large hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Some students make arrangements to be an observer at a private practice. Other related volunteer experiences can also help you make decisions about your future, such as work in classrooms, homeless shelters, consumer advocacy groups, etc.
- Have you considered other alternatives in health care?
There are many other health professions in addition to the ones offered by the UW. A librarian could help you locate books about health careers, or look in the self-help section of a bookstore. Community colleges offer one- and two-year training programs in a variety of health fields. UW Extension offers evening certificate programs in gerontology and health information administration.