Allied health professions are clinical professions distinct from medicine and nursing Allied health professionals work in a healthcare team to make the healthcare system function.

At Pitt, you start in Arts and Sciences . . .

The road to most health careers for University of Pittsburgh students starts in the University's School of Arts and Sciences, more popularly known as "A&S."

Here you can build the foundation and develop the skills that will enable you to enter the health profession. You take courses in the sciences: biological, chemical, and physical. You gain quantitative knowledge through mathematics, computer, and information science courses. You will cultivate your written and oral communication abilities, and explore human behavior classes in psychology, sociology, and anthropology.

. . . then you specialize in one of several majors . . .

• Emergency Medicine — An integrated array of classroom, field and clinical experiences designed to prepare the emergency medicine professional for the technical, clinical and administrative challenges facing the health care system.
• Health Information Management — Managers in this field develop health record and information systems for patient care, the teaching of medicine, research and reimbursement.

Qualified freshman applicants indicating an intended field of study in either Pre-Emergency Medicine or Pre-Health Information Management on their admissions applications are offered guaranteed admission to the professional program which begins at the junior year level. Students must also complete certain prerequisite requirements with a minimal grade point average in A&S and, in certain programs, volunteer work experience.

• Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition — Registered dietitians are trained to apply scientific knowledge to guide people in choosing the right food in the right quantities.

Students who plan to become registered dietitians will need to apply for and complete a supervised practical experience in a Commission of Accreditation for Dietetics Education-accredited Coordinated Masters Degree Program or a Dietetic Internship Program. Guaranteed admission for this graduate program is available to outstanding freshmen who indicate Pre-Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition as an intended field of study on their application.

• Communication Science — Another name for this specialization is speech pathology and audiology. It is geared towards studying the anatomic, physiologic, psychologic, neurologic and genetic processes that underline speech, language, hearing, and swallowing skills in individuals with and without communication disorders.

Students who plan to become practicing speech pathologists and audiologists must plan to complete at least a master's degree in this field. Guaranteed admission for this graduate program is available to outstanding undergraduates who indicate Pre-Communication Science as an intended field of study on their application.

• Rehabilitation Science — This program recognizes the emerging field of rehabilitation science, and is designed to prepare students for graduate education in areas such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation technology, as well as for graduate and professional studies in various areas of health care.

. . . or you can prepare to specialize . . .

The University of Pittsburgh offers undergraduate degrees in Athletic Training and Social Work, as well as graduate and professional schools in the additional allied health professions of: dental medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, public health, and occupational therapy. The School of Arts and Sciences offers preparation for graduate programs in the following allied health fields: chiropractic medicine, optometry, podiatry and veterinary medicine.

There's a Lot of Action, Here . . .

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System is one of the country's largest university medical centers, and includes six schools of the health professions and seven teaching hospitals. It is one of the world's leading organ transplant centers, and one of the nation's leading recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Consequently, your opportunities for gaining experience through internships, volunteer work, and research are numerous.

Also, you'll meet like-minded friends in student organizations such as the Academy of Students of Pharmacy, American Student Dental Association, the Dental Science Club, Health Records Management Association, the National Student Speech, Language & Hearing Association, Minority Students, Student Dietetic Association, Student Occupational Therapy Association, Student Physical Therapy Association, and the Student Health Advisory Board, to name just a few.

With Honors . . .

The University Honors College (UHC) is designed to meet the needs of academically talented and motivated students. The UHC offers special course work and advising, fosters academic community, and provides the opportunity to obtain an Honors College Degree.