Health Professions

How to prepare for a health profession at the University of Mississippi?

There are courses and degrees preparing students for entering a health professional school.

Some health professions require a baccalaureate degree before admission to the professional school, such as physicians, dentists, physical or occupational therapists, optometrists, and veterinarians.  These students enroll in a degree program of their choice and also see advisors in Health Professions Advising Office each semester to keep on track for admission to the health professional school of their choice.

Other health professions – allied health professions – require certain prerequisite courses before admission to the professional school where you typically finish the baccalaureate degree, including dental hygiene, health informatics and information management, medical laboratory science, medical technology, nursing, and radiologic sciences.  Those students will enroll in the BA in Allied Health Studies, which is advised out of the Health Professions Advising Office.  Among the allied health professional programs, only the 3+ 1 Medical Technology (three years at UM in Oxford and one year at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo) is awarded by the University of Mississippi in Oxford.

Why is UM a good place to prepare for a career in the health professions?

UM has a full-service Health Professions Advising Office that was named one of the top 7 in the nation by Science Times. They providing assistance to all students on campus no matter the health profession career interest.  Our staff guides every step in preparation for the competitive admissions process to healthcare professional schools.

Beyond advising, the HPAO office activities include 40+ events a year with health care professionals and admissions officers of healthcare schools. Their website provides the list of programs and services.  They sponsor student health organizations, write letters of evaluation, host career fairs, coordinate mock interviews and practice admission exams, and help organize shadowing experiences. The office awards ~50 scholarships to students pursuing a health profession for close to $90,000 in support a year.

For more information

Health Professions Advising Office
Dr. Sovent Taylor, Director
Martindale Suite Q, 3rd Floor
University, MS 38677
662-915-1674 | hpao@olemiss.edu