The health sciences industry is one of the fastest growing job markets. Hollins will prepare you for graduate study and your career with critical thinking, interpersonal communication, and cooperative learning skills.
Tracks
Personalized Advising Tailored to Your Goals
Depending on what health profession the student chooses to pursue, the path and sequence of recommended courses will vary. Students are provided individualized advising, including access to internships, undergraduate research, and other experiential learning opportunities.
The requirements for each professional program can be fulfilled within multiple Hollins’ majors but as program requirements differ, close attention to course selection and extracurricular activities is needed. Please contact Professor Allison for more information on advising and suggested courses for the desired professional program.
Below are links to tip sheets for pre-nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists, and optometrists.
Primary Positions in Health Sciences
Physical Therapy
General Requirements for PT School
Course requirements for PT schools vary widely. For example, some schools require calculus and others do not. Most programs prefer students with broad, well-rounded backgrounds and value a liberal arts education. A science major is not necessarily required for professional programs; in fact, a major or minor in the arts, humanities, or social sciences may be attractive to some PT schools. However, you must balance the requirements of your major with those of PT school admissions and take a wide variety of science courses. Careful planning is essential to avoid scheduling conflicts.
It is recommended that you investigate the particular requirements of PT schools to which you are interested in applying. These can be found at aota.org. Regardless of a school’s particular course requirements, students applying to PT school programs must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The content categories are:
• Verbal Reasoning
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Analytical Writing
Information about the exam and complete content description can be found at ets.org.
General Coursework for PT School
GENERAL COURSEWORK REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION to most PT schools, and the courses at Hollins that satisfy them
- Two semesters of General Chemistry – CHEM 101/102 or 105/214
- Two semesters of General Biology – BIOL 220/236
- Two semesters of Introductory Physics – PHYS 151/152 or 201/202
- One semester of Human Anatomy – BIOL 260
- Intro to Statistics or Research Statistics – STAT 140 or PSY 208
- Intro to Psychology – PSY 141
- Two semesters of English Composition – ENG 100/Others
In addition, many schools require the following.
- Precalculus or Calculus – MATH 140 or 241/242
- Intro to Sociology – SOC 110/113
- Biological Psychology – BIOL/PSY 317
- Humanities elective
- Communications elective
Please check with the particular program on what they require or recommend their applicants to complete.
Because the GRE does not depend on you completing a certain number of prerequisite courses prior to taking it, please plan to take it when your schedule permits. If you plan to apply Early Decision, you can take the GRE no later than July 31 before your senior year. Dates for the exam run year-round, but you must schedule your test weeks in advance at a special testing site. It takes 10-15 days to receive your score. Information about dates, locations, and fees can be found at ets.org.
Applying to PT School
Official PT school application deadlines vary but are typically between October and February. However, it is strongly advised that you apply early as some programs have rolling admission.
In addition to transcripts and test scores, you will need letters of recommendation from your professors. You must request these from professors who can honestly comment on your potential to successfully navigate a PT program. Each applicant can submit up to four references. Most PT schools use the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) system for recommendation letter submission. Information about PTCAS, participating colleges, fees, and deadlines can be found at ptcas.org.
A crucial part of your application is your log of observation hours. Many programs have a minimum number of hours you must observe at PT clinics in order to apply. Minimums run anywhere from 20 hours to 100 hours, while recommended hours can be as high as 500. Start this process very early. More information on observation hours can be found at ptcas.org.
Pre-Nursing
Students seeking careers in nursing can start at Hollins.
Hollins has an articulation agreement with Shenandoah University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Each year, SU will grant priority admission to up to six qualified pre-nursing students (three for the Winchester campus and three for the Leesburg campus). The Winchester campus starts during the fall semester, and the Leesburg campus has both fall and spring starts available, catering to students who finish their first bachelor degree early.
Articulation Agreement for Priority Admission
Hollins has an articulation agreement with Shenandoah University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Each year, SU will grant priority admission to up to six qualified pre-nursing students (three for the Winchester campus and three for the Leesburg campus). The Winchester campus starts during the fall semester and the Leesburg campus has both fall and spring starts available, catering to students who finish their first bachelor degree early.
Advantages of the Hollins BA/BS + Accelerated BSN
- Nurses with BSN degrees see increased earning potential compared to their peers who are RNs with a diploma or ADN.
- Many Hollins courses satisfy requirements for the second degree BSN, allowing students to complete the additional degree in just 16 months
- Upon successful completion students will have two degrees, one from Hollins and one from SU in just five and one-half years
- Greater flexibility in future career paths
- Have other interests, in addition to nursing? There are many possible combinations that can satisfy students with varied interests and ambitious career goals. Examples include:
- B.A. in business + BSN for administrative roles
- B.S. in psychology + BSN for working with a particular population (e.g. children, elderly, mental health nurse)
- Hollins education program + BSN for nurse education
- B.A. or minor in a second language for working with non-English speaking populations
Primary Positions For Nursing
- Case Manager
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Director/CEO
- Manager/Administrator
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Practitioner
- Staff Nurse