Guilford students after graduation can exchange those black caps and gowns for a set of healing white by taking advantage of the new health sciences major. In the tradition of offering its students interdisciplinary learning that focuses on student needs and future goals, Guilford College now offers a new health sciences major for students looking to pursue graduate study in one of the health or allied health professions.

Anne Glenn, associate professor of chemistry and chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee, said, “I think the most appealing quality of the new major is its flexibility. It allows students to organize the requirements for whatever graduate program they plan, into an interdisciplinary major with a capstone internship experience.

“Also, because of the required double-major, the students won’t be limited to majoring in ‘pre-med’ or ‘pre-dent.’ They will gain depth in a traditional disciplinary subject, whether it is biology, chemistry, history or English.”

Students have the choice of taking several tracks, depending on which career they wish to pursue. Careers in health and allied professions include medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physician assistant, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or athletic training.

Jeff Carmichael, a Guilford sophomore, showed enthusiasm for the new major. “Since athletic training is becoming a required double-major, I can use many of the classes I’ve already taken for the new health science major. Now I can stay focused on my main area of interest, athletic training.”

The capstone internship and accompanying internship seminar, give the student an opportunity to gain the real-world experience necessary for a career in any healthcare field. The seminar allows students to reflect on their internship experience, as well as learn from current professionals in many health-related fields.

Students will have an opportunity to discuss current challenges in health care, such as managed care, care of diverse populations, medical ethics and other issues. In addition, students will learn and discuss the application process for graduate study in the health professions.

“What brought about the major was student demand,” said Glenn. “Students want to know what courses they need to take to go to graduate school in any of the health professions, and they want to be able to call that collection of courses something. Adding the capstone experience and interdisciplinary major seemed to follow naturally.

“I also was excited about it as a way to encourage students to follow their disciplinary love, as well as get the preparation they need for graduate study. I’ve got biology, psychology and religious studies majors who are all double-majoring in health sciences.”
For more information about the new health sciences major, contact Anne Glenn at (336) 316-2234.