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3 to a Health Sciences Degree and Joint Programs

Discover accelerated pathways to health-related careers for ambitious achievers ready to make an impact.

College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences | On-Campus

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What You'll Learn

Picture a future as a physical therapist, medical researcher, healthcare administrator, policy expert, or lawyer? Drake University’s 3 to a Health Sciences Degree and joint programs offer efficient routes to a variety of careers.

These programs build on Drake’s Health Sciences major, condensing an interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum and immersive field experiences into three years instead of four. The major begins with an exploration of biology, anatomy, psychology, leadership, and the U.S. healthcare system before you focus your studies toward Clinical and Medical Sciences, Health Care Administration, or Public Health.

Research, service learning, and more hands-on experiences offer opportunities for professional training as you expand your résumé. And as you gear up for your journey’s next phase, mentorship and career guidance ensure you check off application prerequisites and stand out as a candidate.

After year three, you’ll transition seamlessly into a professional program at Drake or one of our partnering institutions. Alternatively, your rigorous health sciences training helps you gain entry into graduate and professional schools across the country.

Advising Plans

About Drake’s Accelerated and Joint Health Sciences Programs

  • Access accelerated pathways to professional programs at Drake and partner institutions in the area.
  • Find a wealth of options for professional development in Des Moines, Iowa’s capital city and a regional center for healthcare.
  • Receive dedicated advising and mentoring from faculty and staff who understand what you need to excel.
  • Choose from three career-focused tracks for preparation tailored to your specific interests.
  • Transition to graduate studies in healthcare, law, biomedical science, business, administration, or public health.

Program Facts

  • On campus, with some graduate programs available online
  • 120 undergraduate credits + Graduate/Professional credits

Program Options

Eliminate extra steps and save time and money while undergoing comprehensive, specialized training that takes you where you need to be.

3 to a Health Sciences Degree, Clinical and Medical Sciences (3-Year)

This intensive three-year program lets you begin post-graduate training in numerous healthcare fields a year early.

3+2 Health Sciences/Doctor of Physical Therapy

Graduate with your Doctor of Physical Therapy in just five years. You’ll earn a B.S. in Health Sciences from Drake and complete the DPT through a hybrid program offered by Graceland University.

3+3 Health Sciences/Law

In this joint degree program offered in cooperation with Drake Law School, you’ll combine in-depth health knowledge with legal expertise to pursue opportunities where Clinical Health and Medical Sciences and Law overlap.

3+3 Health Sciences/Law

In this joint degree program offered in cooperation with Drake Law School, you’ll combine in-depth health knowledge with legal expertise to pursue opportunities where Health Care Administration and Law overlap.

3+2 Health Sciences, Clinical and Medical Sciences/Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences

Study the clinical and medical sciences for three years at Drake before transitioning to Des Moines University’s master’s program to gain qualifications for positions in health-related research.

3+1 Health Sciences, Clinical and Medical Sciences/Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Fulfill prerequisite coursework to start a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Drake, Allen College, or Mercy College of Health Sciences.

3+1 Health Sciences, Clinical and Medical Sciences/Certificate in Medical Laboratory Sciences

Through a partnership with Mercy College of Health Sciences, add specialized training, including 750 hours of clinical rotations, for a career as a medical technologist or medical laboratory technician.

3+2 Health Sciences, Health Care Administration/MBA

Pair scientific knowledge with an advanced, innovative education from the Zimpleman College of Business to gain an outstanding background for healthcare administration roles.

3+2 Health Sciences, Health Care Administration/Master of Public Administration

Assemble a broad administrative toolkit and knowledge base to develop policy and outreach initiatives in government, healthcare, industry, and the nonprofit sector.

3+2 Health Sciences/Master of Health Care Administration

A Master of Health Care Administration unlocks job opportunities in one of the fastest-growing segments of healthcare. You’ll complete graduate-level coursework at Des Moines University.

3+2 Health Sciences/Master of Public Health

Explore the workings of healthcare administration or population-level determinants and outcomes at Drake before moving to master’s-level studies in Public Health at Des Moines University.

Meet the Faculty

You’ll encounter dynamic professors across several departments who are active researchers and mentors. With a commitment to your success, they’ll draw out your potential and provide career guidance as you progress through the program.

Stacy Gnacinski, PhD

Stacy Gnacinski, PhD

Associate Professor, Health Sciences

Cassity Gutierrez, PhD

Cassity Gutierrez, PhD

Professor, Health Sciences

Jon Hurdelbrink, PhD

Jon Hurdelbrink, PhD

Associate Professor, Health Sciences

All Faculty Members

Outside the Classroom

Build your résumé to apply for professional programs with experiences that develop your soft skills, expose you to clinical and research settings, and deepen your understanding of the field.

A student enrolled in one of Drake's 3 to a Health Sciences Degree and Joint Programs studies course materials from a laptop

Research

Strengthen your job qualifications and graduate school applications by participating in the discovery process. Join faculty in ongoing research and/or pursue your own project.

Using a lit anatomage table, an instructor wearing a lab coat explains systems of the human body to two students enrolled in Drake's 3 to a Health Sciences Degree and Joint Programs

Mentoring

Receive expert guidance and support from your first semester to your last as faculty, career services staff, and mentors within your target profession help you strategically navigate your career preparation.

A professor in a lab coat traces an X-ray of the human pelvic and leg bones on a computer monitor, explaining the human body's systems to a student in one of Drake's 3 to a Health Sciences Degree and Joint Programs

Job Shadowing

Clarify your trajectory. Formal and informal opportunities let you shadow professionals, observe workplace environments, and envision what you could do.

Students from Drake's 3 to a Health Sciences Degree and Joint Programs plant seeds into pots for a community improvement project

Community-Engaged Learning

Service learning builds awareness of health-related issues as you make an impact on the community and gain rich professional experiences.

Health Sciences students sitting in a lecture hall at Drake review their notes on their laptops

Scholarships

100% of Drake undergraduate students receive scholarships. Health Sciences majors can apply for additional sources geared toward students planning to enter health-related careers.

Careers & Skills

Drake designed the Health Sciences major as an all-encompassing gateway to healthcare careers ranging from patient care to administration, information management, and law. Our accelerated and joint programs fast-track these paths, helping you achieve your aspirations in less time overall.

Wherever you see yourself, you’ll develop core scientific knowledge, analytical and research skills, domain-specific expertise, and hands-on experience. This framework not only helps you excel once you begin graduate or professional studies but also leads to a challenging and rewarding vocation in a dynamic, in-demand field.

Career Opportunities

  • Athletic trainer
  • Attorney
  • Healthcare administrator
  • Medical researcher
  • Nurse
  • Occupational therapist
  • Public administrator

Skills

  • Analyze and evaluate scientific research
  • Collaboration
  • Critical thinking
  • Laboratory-based research
  • Mathematics and statistics
  • Professional communication
Wearing scrubs, students in Drake's 3 to a Health Sciences Degree and Joint Programs practice using medical equipment in a campus simulation lab

Salary & Growth Outlook

$

Median salary for healthcare occupations in 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

“I have been involved with physiological research at Drake for almost three years. Working with Dr. Kimberly Huey, I have conducted several projects regarding the combination of exercise and prescription drugs or supplements and the related effects on muscular strength, endurance, and growth factor expression.”
Kenzie Temperly, HS‘20

Related Programs

There’s more than one way to jump-start a healthcare career at Drake.

Pre-Pharmacy, BS

Prepare for the frontlines of patient care with two years of undergraduate study that seamlessly segue into our Pharm.D. program—a pathway that trims the total time to become a pharmacist from eight years down to six.

Pre-Occupational Therapy, BS

Enter a clearly defined path toward a career improving patients’ quality of life while positioning yourself for future success in Drake’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program.

Pre-Med

Follow a carefully designed track toward medical school, preparing through rigorous coursework and opportunities for research, leadership, and organizational involvement.

Take the Next Step

Get there faster. Access streamlined pathways to health-related careers with Drake’s accelerated and joint Health Sciences degree programs.

Contact

Lauren Sharp, MAC
Director of Enrollment Services
lauren.sharp@drake.edu
515-271-2247

Request Info Visit Apply
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