Academics

Introduction

Heart model with notebook The School of Health Sciences offers a variety of academic programs that focus on a variety of areas related to human health. Undergraduate learners will complete their degrees ready for careers in the health care industry, or for professional schools such as medicine, physician assistant, physical therapy and speech-language pathology.

9 undergraduate programs
7 graduate programs
3 accelerated programs
4 minor and certificate programs

Which Major is Best for My Career?

One of the great things about K-State not having a “pre-health” major is that students are able to select a major that is of both interest to them but will also provide them a great educational base to build on once they enter their professional school. Below are some of the most common majors selected within the college for each health profession, however, students are not limited to those majors listed below as professional schools do not show preference on a student’s major. If you are interested in pursuing a different major than what is common, speak to your health professions advisor for their expert advice.

Athletic Training (athletic training and rehabilitation sciences, kinesiology)
Chiropractic (kinesiology)
Communication Sciences and Disorders (communication sciences and disorders)
Dentistry (nutritional sciences, kinesiology, integrative physiology)
Dietetics (dietetics, sports nutrition)
Medicine (nutritional sciences, kinesiology, integrative physiology)
Nursing (nutrition and health, kinesiology, human development and family science, general human ecology)
Occupational Therapy (human development and family science, kinesiology)
Optometry (nutritional sciences, kinesiology, integrative physiology)
Pharmacy (nutritional sciences, nutrition and health)
Physical Therapy (kinesiology, athletic training and rehabilitation sciences, integrative physiology)
Physician Assistant (nutrition and health, kinesiology, athletic training and rehabilitation sciences, integrative physiology)

See all Health Sciences undergraduate majors

K-State & Wichita State Pathway to Nursing Program

This unique dual degree program will give students the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from K-State and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) from the College of Health Professions at Wichita State University.

Upon completion of the program, graduates earn two bachelor’s degrees; one from each institution. Students will spend the first three years in their K-State program working on pre-nursing requirements and taking courses towards a BS degree from K-State. Students will then submit an application for WSU’s Traditional BSN program. Accepted students will spend the next two years in the Traditional BSN program, and earn a BSN degree from WSU. The WSU Nursing coursework will transfer back to K-State to fulfill any remaining electives in the K-State degree. Students will graduate with both B.S. degrees in the same semester. Both degree programs will be based in Manhattan, Kansas.

Learn more about the Pathway to Nursing Program

K-State Physician Assistant Program

Kansas State University physician assistant program leads to a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree. The program follows the traditional medical model of training, providing in-depth analysis of disease processes, diagnosis and treatment, and prepares students to serve as primary health care providers who practice medicine with physician supervision.

The 27-month physician assistant program admits 44 students once a year and is designed to prepare graduates to provide medical care as part of an interprofessional health care team. The curriculum consists of three semesters of classroom training (didactic), followed by four semesters of clinical rotations (clinical). All students enter as a single cohort in early January, complete seven continuous full-time semesters, and graduate in May with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree.

Learn more about the Physician Assistant program

Guatemala Experience

A transformational service learning experience for K-State students that focuses on improving the lives of underserved populations in the Western Highlands area of the Central American country of Guatemala.

Learn more