Are you interested in a career in health? ODU offers the largest number of health-related programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia, providing undergraduate and graduate pathways to diverse careers in medicine, dentistry, medical laboratory and diagnostic sciences, nursing, public health, rehabilitation sciences, and more. Our health programs equip students with a rigorous science foundation, coupled with a robust liberal arts education, clinical experiences, and research opportunities, preparing them for both entry into the workforce or admission into top-quality graduate programs nationwide.
Academic advisors provide guidance to help you explore your career interests, goals, and pathways to an undergraduate degree and beyond. Select from the tabs below to see the programs we offer @ODU.
Programs
The following programs offer students an opportunity to begin working in a health-related field upon graduation. Students pursuing admissions to graduate professional health programs like medical, dental, pharmacy, physician assistant and other professional programs can choose any major as a path toward a graduate degree.
Clinical Programs in the Ellmer College of Health Sciences and Ellmer School of Nursing provide a path toward licensure or certification to begin working as a health professional upon graduation and successful completion of licensing or certification exams. Clinical Programs have limited spaces and require a secondary application for admission. Admission into the following majors is selective and competitive. Students are Intended Majors unless admitted by the program via the secondary application process. Make sure to review the admissions criteria for your intended major before applying. These programs are lock-step and admit students once per year. Most programs start in the fall. Additional information regarding each major can be found below:
Pre-Clinical programs in the Ellmer College of Health Sciences provide a pathway for students interested in pursuing career paths that require a graduate degree + license/certification to practice in a clinical setting, such as in medicine, physical therapy, or speech language pathology.
- Exercise Science - Scientific Track
- Pre-Clinical Studies
- Speech Language Pathology & Audiology
The following programs in the Ellmer College of Health Sciences and College of Sciences offer students the opportunity to pursue a bachelor's degree with a health-related focus. Students gain practical skills through hands on learning and research opportunities. These programs prepare students for opportunities in both clinical and research-based settings.
Ellmer College of Health Sciences
The Exercise Science - Preventive/Rehabilitative Track prepares students for opportunities in biomechanics, cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, and health & wellness fields.
College of Sciences
Majors in the College of Sciences offer students the opportunity to build a robust science foundation in disciplines such as biology, chemistry, psychology, and physics. Through hands-on learning and research opportunities, students gain the knowledge and skills needed for careers in education, research, health, technology, or as preparation for pursuing advanced studies including medical, dental, pharmacy, optometry, veterinary, and other professional health programs.
Joint School of Public Health
Majors in the Joint School of Public Health, prepare students for careers in environmental health, occupational safety, health administration and management, behavioral health, health education and promotion, and public health in the community, including public health departments, the military, data analysis, and the health equity field.
Students pursuing admission to most master's degree programs in the VHS/EVMS School of Health Professions, Ellmer College of Health Sciences, and Joint School of Public Health can choose ANY undergraduate major as a path toward a graduate degree. Students pursuing admission to a graduate program in the Ellmer School of Nursing must complete a Baccalaureate degree in nursing or related science field before applying.
- Athletic Training
- Biomedical Sciences-Medical
- Counseling & Art Therapy
- Pathologists' Assistant
- Physician Assistant
- Speech Language Pathology
- Surgical Assisting
The following programs are all Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs. For specific admission requirements for each program, see the catalog.
For working professionals seeking to advance their careers.
Students pursuing admission to graduate professional health programs like medical, dental, pharmacy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and other professional programs, including the MD degree offered by VHS/EVMS School of Medicine and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) in the VHS/EVMS School of Health Professions can choose ANY undergraduate major as a path toward a graduate degree. Students pursuing admission to a graduate program in the Ellmer School of Nursing must complete a Baccalaureate degree in nursing or related science field before applying.
The following programs are all Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs. For specific admission requirements for each program, see the catalog.
For working professionals seeking to advance their careers.
- Health Sciences (D.H.Sc.)
- Medical Science (D.M.Sc.) (must be a working physician assistant)
- Medical & Health Professions Education (Ph.D./Ed.D.)
The following programs offer students an opportunity to begin working in a health-related field upon graduation. Students pursuing admissions to graduate professional health programs like medical, dental, pharmacy, physician assistant and other professional programs can choose any major as a path toward a graduate degree.
Clinical Programs in the Ellmer College of Health Sciences and Ellmer School of Nursing provide a path toward licensure or certification to begin working as a health professional upon graduation and successful completion of licensing or certification exams. Clinical Programs have limited spaces and require a secondary application for admission. Admission into the following majors is selective and competitive. Students are Intended Majors unless admitted by the program via the secondary application process. Make sure to review the admissions criteria for your intended major before applying. These programs are lock-step and admit students once per year. Most programs start in the fall. Additional information regarding each major can be found below:
Pre-Clinical programs in the Ellmer College of Health Sciences provide a pathway for students interested in pursuing career paths that require a graduate degree + license/certification to practice in a clinical setting, such as in medicine, physical therapy, or speech language pathology.
- Exercise Science - Scientific Track
- Pre-Clinical Studies
- Speech Language Pathology & Audiology
The following programs in the Ellmer College of Health Sciences and College of Sciences offer students the opportunity to pursue a bachelor's degree with a health-related focus. Students gain practical skills through hands on learning and research opportunities. These programs prepare students for opportunities in both clinical and research-based settings.
Ellmer College of Health Sciences
The Exercise Science - Preventive/Rehabilitative Track prepares students for opportunities in biomechanics, cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, and health & wellness fields.
College of Sciences
Majors in the College of Sciences offer students the opportunity to build a robust science foundation in disciplines such as biology, chemistry, psychology, and physics. Through hands-on learning and research opportunities, students gain the knowledge and skills needed for careers in education, research, health, technology, or as preparation for pursuing advanced studies including medical, dental, pharmacy, optometry, veterinary, and other professional health programs.
Joint School of Public Health
Majors in the Joint School of Public Health, prepare students for careers in environmental health, occupational safety, health administration and management, behavioral health, health education and promotion, and public health in the community, including public health departments, the military, data analysis, and the health equity field.
Students pursuing admission to most master's degree programs in the VHS/EVMS School of Health Professions, Ellmer College of Health Sciences, and Joint School of Public Health can choose ANY undergraduate major as a path toward a graduate degree. Students pursuing admission to a graduate program in the Ellmer School of Nursing must complete a Baccalaureate degree in nursing or related science field before applying.
- Athletic Training
- Biomedical Sciences-Medical
- Counseling & Art Therapy
- Pathologists' Assistant
- Physician Assistant
- Speech Language Pathology
- Surgical Assisting
The following programs are all Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs. For specific admission requirements for each program, see the catalog.
For working professionals seeking to advance their careers.
Students pursuing admission to graduate professional health programs like medical, dental, pharmacy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and other professional programs, including the MD degree offered by VHS/EVMS School of Medicine and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) in the VHS/EVMS School of Health Professions can choose ANY undergraduate major as a path toward a graduate degree. Students pursuing admission to a graduate program in the Ellmer School of Nursing must complete a Baccalaureate degree in nursing or related science field before applying.
The following programs are all Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs. For specific admission requirements for each program, see the catalog.
For working professionals seeking to advance their careers.
- Health Sciences (D.H.Sc.)
- Medical Science (D.M.Sc.) (must be a working physician assistant)
- Medical & Health Professions Education (Ph.D./Ed.D.)
Connect with Your Advisor
Stay on target with your goals. Get help from our academic advisors. Many programs require specific prerequisites and may have a secondary application process. For students interested in pursuing careers that require a graduate degree, our expert advisors provide guidance to assure the prerequisites for the chosen career path are met, even if not explicitly listed among specific undergraduate major requirements.
Special Pathways
Learn about Early Admission Programs(EAP) and Guaranteed Entry Programs (GEP).
