The Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a Pre-Dental option prepares you for admission to dental schools in Georgia and across the country, where you can earn a Doctorate in Dental Medicine (DMD) to become a dentist. Dental schools offer other degrees too, such as a doctorate in oral biology, a DMD with a concentration in business, and a doctorate in medicine (MD) with additional training in oral surgery. With a Chemistry Pre-Dental degree, you will problem solve, alleviate patient pain, promote oral health, and contribute to the greater good of society.

The Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a Pre-Medical option prepares you for admission to medical schools in Georgia and across the country, where you can earn a Doctorate in Medicine (MD) or Osteopathic Medicine (DO) to become a physician. In medical school, you can study pediatrics, psychiatry, emergency medicine, or other specialties. With a Chemistry Pre-Medical degree, you will problem solve, alleviate patient pain, promote health, and contribute to the greater good of society.

The Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a Pre-Optometry option prepares you for admission to optometry schools across the country, where you can earn a Doctorate in Optometry (OD) to become an optometrist. In optometry school, you can study sports vision, vision therapy, neuro-optometry, or other specialties. With a Chemistry Pre-Optometry degree, you will problem solve, improve patients’ vision, promote their health and well-being, and contribute to the greater good of society.

The Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a Pre-Pharmacy option prepares you for admission to pharmacy schools in Georgia and across the country, where you can earn a Doctorate in Pharmacy (PharmD) to become a pharmacist. Pre-Pharmacy is one of our most popular degree options because pharmacists are in high demand and enjoy a rewarding career. With a Chemistry Pre-Pharmacy degree, you will problem solve, help patients, promote health, and contribute to the greater good of society.

The Dental Hygiene program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for positions in the dental profession. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The public is most familiar with dental hygienists in the private dental office, where they perform numerous critical services designed to detect and prevent diseases of the mouth. These include oral prophylaxis; assessing the head, neck, and oral areas for signs of disease; educating patients about oral hygiene; taking x-rays; and applying fluoride and sealants. In this setting, registered dental hygienists play a vital role in protecting the oral health of the American public. Program graduates receive a Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science degree.

Exercise Physiology is the study of acute and chronic adaptations associated with physical activity and exercise training.  The major comprises the study of how exercise impacts health and human performance and prescribing individualized exercise programs to meet participant health, fitness and human performance goals. A degree in exercise physiology serves as a pathway to direct employment and provides prerequisite education to pursue advanced study at the graduate level. If a future career involves movement, allied health, or medicine then a degree in exercise physiology is an excellent credential.

Graduates are employed in fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, strength and conditioning, sports performance, cardiopulmonary and oncology rehabilitation, clinical exercise physiology, dietetics, sports nutrition, medicine (physician, physician assistant), pharmaceutical sales, health coaching, education, and many more. (note:  Careers may require advanced degree beyond a BS in exercise physiology.)

The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree program prepares students for the healthcare industry, currently one of the strongest employment sectors nationally. The program helps students to identify talents and interests in the field that can be developed within the program, leading to careers in fields such as medical assistance, healthcare informatics, marketing and public relations, public health, health education, and environmental health. The degree program can also lead to graduate level study in healthcare fields such as anesthesiologist assistant, athletic training, dentistry, exercise physiology, medicine, nursing (as a second degree), occupational therapy, optometry, physical therapy, and physician assistant. Specific pre-requisites are required depending on the specific healthcare field chosen.

Nurses play a crucial role in the medical system, treating and caring for ill patients, preventing illnesses, assisting doctors, and promoting health and well being. Nurses work in a variety of settings including hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics, schools and other environments in which medical care is rendered. Students in the Valdosta State University nursing program develop critical thinking skills, gain an appreciation for diverse cultural perspectives, and learn how to address policy disputes and social problems related to health care. Upon graduation, Valdosta State nursing students assume leadership in the fields of nursing and health care, making a positive impact on their communities and touching people’s lives every day.