Health Professions Advising

Guidance & Prep for Health Profession Careers

Discover your path to a rewarding career in the health professions with Health Profession Advising at the College of Charleston.

While not a formal "major" or "track," Health Professions Advising offers preparation and guidance while empowering you to explore diverse career interests. In addition, you'll receive the tools and support you need to stand out as a competitive applicant in professional schools throughout the country.

Let us help you navigate the pre-health process:

  1. Exploring a variety of healthcare professions and understanding the type of work (e.g. patient contact, type of facility) involved and how this matches your personal strengths, motivations and preferences
  2. Preparing for a selected health profession, including both academic (e.g. course planning and major selection) and vocational endeavors (e.g. job shadowing, volunteering, research, leadership, work experience)
  3. Applying to professional schools including assessing readiness to apply, selecting schools, preparing for and taking entrance exams and preparing a compelling application

Prepare for a career as a health professional


Explore your options and find the health profession that best matches your interest, skills and personality.
  • Cardiovascular Perfusion

    Keep hearts beating.

    As a cardiovascular perfusionist, you'll operate life-supporting equipment that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during complex procedures. 

    Your specialized skills will play an important role in ensuring the safe and successful outcome of open-heart surgeries while ultimately saving lives and improving the quality of life for patients with cardiac conditions.

    Health Professions Advising can help you prepare for your continued studies in a cardiovascular perfusion program — including the one at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) — by guiding you through prerequisite requirements and program applications. 

    Cardiovascular Perfusion Advising
  • Dentistry

    Brighten smiles and promote oral health.

    Denstists play a crucial role in maintaing the overall well-being of their patients by providing comprehensive care for the teeth, gums and oral cavity.

    Whether you're drawn to the artistry of cosmetic dentistry, the complexities of oral surgery or the importance of preventive care, we provide resources and guidance to help you navigate your journey to dental school admission.

    More on Dentistry Advising
  • Healthcare Administration/Public Health

    Shape healthier communities through health administration and public health.

    Contact Health Professions Advising for guidance on navigating prerequisites, application requirements and career paths in health administration and public health.

    Health Admin/Public Health Advising
  • Medical Laboratory Sciences

    Prepare for entry into a professional program and a career in medical laboratory science.

    Medical laboratory scientists play a crucial role in detecting and diagnosing disease by analyzing bodily fluids and specimans. 

    Your attention to detail and technical epertise will provide accurate and timely test results and enable physicians to make informed decisions about patient care and form a treatment plan.

    Ready to take the next step to become a medical laboratory scientist? Let us guide you through coursework prerequisites and the program applicaiton process.

    Medical Lab Science Advising
  • Medicine

    Heal the whole person and explore the pathways to allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medicine.

    As a physician, you'll diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries while combining scientific knowledge with compassionate care to restore and maintain the health of your patients.

    Let Health Professions Advising guide you on the distinctive approaches and requirements of MD and OD programs, and receive custom support to successfully navigate the application process. 

    Medicine (MD and DO) Advising
  • Nursing

    Provide compassionate care across a lifespan.

    From administering treatments and monitoring vital signs to educating patients and advocating for their well-being, nurses make a profound difference in the lives of individuals and their families.

    Let us help prepare you for a fullfilling career in nursing.

    More on Nursing Advsising
  • Occupational Therapy

    Empower independence and enhance well-being.

    Let us help you with the required prerequisites and application process to enter an OT program.

    We'll help prepare you for this specialized role in facilitating independence, improving quality of life and promoting meaningul engagement in daily activities for individuals with physical, cognative or developmental challenges.

  • Optometry

    Enhance vision and illuminate lives.

    As an optometrist, you'll diagnose and treat various eye conditions, prescribe corrective lenses and educate patients on maintaining healthy vision.

    Let us guide you as you prepare for optometry school and help you successfully navigate the application process.

    More on Optometry Advising
  • Pharmacy

    Unlock the power of medication.

    Pharamacists are essential members of the healthcare team, ensuring the safe and effective use of medications for patients. Pharamacists are medication experts who ensure patients receive the right medications at the correct dosage while also providing guiance on safe and effective use.

    We can assist you with mapping out required coursework and guide you through the application process.

    Dual Degree Program: Biology to Doctor of Pharmacy

    The College of Charleston, in collaboration with the MUSC College of Pharmacy, offer an exclusive dual-degree program that guarantees up to five incoming first-year students a place in the MUSC College of Pharmacy. This program allows students to complete a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in one year less than the traditional path.

    More on Pharmacy Advising
  • Physical Therapy

    Help others by empowering movement.

    We can guide you through the prerequisites you need to apply to a physical therapy program. We can also help you build a strong resume and application. Get ready to continue your studies in rehabilitation, movement analysis and patient education. Be prepared to restore physical function and promore overall wellness.

    More on Physical Therapy Advising

Additional Health Career Preparation Opportunities


  • Physician Assistant

    Prepare for a dynamic role in healthcare.

    Health Professions Advising for physician assistants provides guidance to you as an aspiring PA. We focus on the versitile roles PAs play in delivering healthcare across medical specialties while preparing you to apply for a PA program.

    More on Physician Asst. Advising
  • Speech-Language Pathology

    Help others find their voice through speech-language pathology.

    Explore speech-language pathology and learn about coursework, application prep and the rewarding career of an SLP.

    Speech-Language Pathology Advising
  • Veterinary Medicine

    Become a guardian of animal health and welfare.

    Veterinarians are highly skilled medical professionals dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of animals from beloved household pets to livestock, exotic species and wildlfe.

    Your expertise will contribute to the advancement of animal care, disease prevention and the development of new treatments and therapies.

    We'll help you navigate the veterinary school prerequisites and applications so you can pursue your passion for animal care.

    More on Veterinary Med. Advising