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Allied Health (Pre-Physical/Occupational Therapy,)

College of Sciences

	QUICK JUMP
	Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Physician’s Assistant (Allied Health)
	Study Options
	Requirements and Core Courses
	Biology Facilities
	Careers
	Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation
	Scholarships and Financial Aid
	Contact Information

Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Physician’s Assistant (Allied Health)

Physical therapists help to restore, maintain, and promote patients’ physical function, mobility, and overall health and fitness. They work with patients of all ages diagnosed with various ailments, including fractures, stroke, heart disease, neurological conditions, back and neck pain, and arthritis, as well as those recovering from surgery. Physical therapists develop plans that can include therapeutic exercise, functional training, electrotherapy, ultrasound, massage, heat, and ice treatments. Occupational therapists provide rehabilitation and instruction in adaptive strategies that allow people of all ages to function independently and participate in work and recreation. Therapeutic programs strengthen skills in coping with both physical and mental disabilities. The occupational therapist works with the environment as well as the individual to overcome disabilities so that people can participate more fully in education, personal care, employment, and social activities. Physician’s assistants are licensed health care professionals who work under the supervision of a physician to deliver basic care, including taking a medical history, performing physical examinations, diagnosing and treating illness, ordering and interpreting medical tests, prescribing or dispensing medication, counseling patients about their condition, and assisting in surgery. • Offered at WSU: Bachelor of science in biology with an option in allied health • Available at: Pullman

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Study Options

Allied health is an option under the biology major that prepares students to be highly competitive in applying to physical therapy, occupational therapy, or physician’s assistant graduate training programs. It is also appropriate for students interested in graduate training in clinical or experimental exercise physiology, genetic counseling, and other careers in human biology.

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Requirements and Core Courses

—Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biology and an Option in Allied Health NOTE: Students must meet all University general education requirements and all College of Sciences and specific degree required courses. They also must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog to graduate. Listed below is a summary of core courses for this major and option. Biol 106 and 107—Introductory Biology I and II Chem 105 and 106—Principles of Chemistry I and II Math 140—Math for Life Sciences      or Math 171—Calculus I Chem 240—Elementary Organic Chemistry      or Chem 340, 341, 342—Organic Chemistry and Lab Phys 101 and 102—General Physics I and II      or Phys 201 and 202—Physics for Scientists and Engineers MBioS 303—Introductory Biochemistry Biol 301—General Genetics Stat 212—Introductory Statistics      or Stat 412—Biometry      or Psych 311—Elementary Statistics Biol 353—Mammalian Physiology Biol 315—Gross and Microanatomy MBioS 302—General Microbiology MvSt 362—Biomechanics MvSt 380—Exercise Physiology Biol 490—Physical Therapy Seminar      or Biol 393—Undergraduate Seminar Soc 101—Introductory Sociology *      or H D 101—Human Development Psych 105—Introductory Psychology Psych 333—Abnormal Psychology Psych 361—Principles of Development Engl 402—Technical Writing Degree electives may include: exploring the brain, clinical experience or internship, human genetics, medical microbiology, immunology, motor skill acquisition, and introductory physical anthropology. * Introductory Sociology is required for students going into physical therapy.

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Biology Facilities

• Cadaver anatomy laboratory available for undergraduate training through agreement with the Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) medical program. • Owen Science and Engineering Library, the largest science and engineering library in the Northwest • Conner Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, which contains 76,000 specimens in research and display collections • Ownbey Herbarium, which contains 277,000 specimens of preserved plants • Science Learning and Instruction Center, a resource center for science majors that provides computer access, autotutorial programs, and other media-assisted learning programs • Electron Microscopy Center • Eight hundred-acre Hudson Biological Preserve at Smoot Hill (15 miles from Pullman), which serves as a biological field station for students and faculty • James Entomological Collection, comprised of more than a million specimens of insects • Mycological Herbarium, which contains more than 65,000 specimens of fungi

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Careers

Allied health careers emphasized in this biology degree option offer trained professionals a chance to be a part of the health care system in ways that allow the caregiver time to develop a personal relationship with patients. Much of medical care delivery is rushed and impersonal, but the interactions of physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician’s assistants with their patients is typically conducted in a relaxed environment that facilitates the development of a trusting relationship—and healing and wellness. The nature of employment in these fields allows the professional to balance a challenging and rewarding career with a personal life. The demand for people trained in these professions is expanding faster than the average for all occupations, and the increased numbers of older people in the population will put special demands on health care aimed at helping everyone maintain a healthy lifestyle. Average salary for physical therapists ranges from $57,000 to $62,000. A conservative estimate for new graduates is $43,000. Occupational therapists’ salaries range from $52,000 to 60,000, and the salary range for newly graduating physician’s assistants is $38,000 to $46,000.

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Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation

• Good high school preparation in science and math; at least three years of science course work in high school recommended, including biology, chemistry, and physics. • Good high school preparation in communication, including keen skills in reading, writing, and reasoning. • Computer experience • Interest in helping people through community involvement and volunteer work. • Development of a healthy lifestyle that includes aerobic and strength physical training, both to serve as a good example and to meet the physical demands of working with patients. For example, physical therapy is a physically demanding profession that requires lifting, kneeling, crouching, and standing for long periods.

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Scholarships and Financial Aid

Various federal, state, and University-sponsored programs are available to assist qualified students with education costs. A number of special scholarships are available to undergraduates in biological sciences: the Leonard Kirschner, Herbert Eastlick, Fraser, and Van Fleet scholarships, the Outstanding Biology Junior Award, the Biology Undergraduate Research Award, Biology Merit Awards, and Zoology and Biology Merit Awards. The College of Sciences also offers scholarships for which biology majors are eligible, including scholarships in the pre-health sciences.

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Contact Information

School of Biological Sciences

Washington State University 312 Abelson Hall P.O. Box 644236 Pullman, WA 99164-4236 Phone: 509-335-3553

sbs@wsu.edu

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Strengths of the Program

• Study modern physiological techniques--and benefit from well-equipped anatomy labs in the biological sciences.
• Apply knowledge of human anatomy and physiology in advanced courses in movement studies and exercise science.
• Customize your degree program with courses in human development, psychology, and chemistry to fulfill professional schools’ entrance requirements.
• Participate in research projects as preparation for professional school.
• Gain experience in “for-credit” internships at local hospitals, nursing homes, or physical therapy clinics.
• Collect volunteer time in other cities between semesters.
• Receive personal advising in selection of course work, volunteer hours documentation, extracurricular service, and graduate school applications.
• Participate in Physical Therapy Club projects: field trips, community service, hosting guest speakers, and purely social events.
• Join other science, math, and engineering students in the Gannon-Goldsworthy residence hall—share courses with your neighbors, study together, get free tutoring, and use the hall’s own computer lab.

Office of Enrollment Management, PO Box 641067, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1067, 888-GO TO WSU (888-468-6978), Contact Us