Career Planning & Internships
Career Planning
To choose a career path:
- Take a career aptitude test with Christine Oh at the Student Engagement and Academic Engagement Center
- Review the Career Paths below and decide on 1-2 areas of interest.
- Research graduate/training programs for those occupations in the by looking up programs in the US News and World Report Graduate School Rankings
- Discuss these options with your academic advisor to decide on the best direction
- Take advantage of the resume writing offered by Career and Professional Development Services
- Look up SMC alum in your area of interest to see about shadowing them or volunteering in their office (see GaelNation online below)
- Conduct an internship or volunteer to gain experience and exposure to the work environment relating to you career path.
Paid Positions- apply in Nov for summer positions
- Health Career Connection- to find resources on health careers and apply for a summer internship in the Bay Area
- Explore Health Careers is a comprehensive website that includes news, career information, paid internship opportunities, profiles of various professionals and more
Internships
- InternshipPrograms.com - Large internship database featuring opportunities in a wide variety of sectors across the US and other large cities across the Globe.
- Internships.com - Extensive listings of internships from 7,000 companies, with additional tools to help you clarify your internship goals and fine-tune your internship search.
- Bay Area Volunteer Information Center - Lists Bay Area nonprofit organizations that need volunteers to support their services. Sometimes the best way to get experience and learn new skills is to volunteer.
Volunteer Positions
- Peer Health Exchange- This is an opportunity to teach health education in local public schools. To speak to someone about getting involved on campus, please contact sasherschapiro@peerhealthexchange.org
- Volunteer Match- to find local volunteer opportunities at hospitals, clinics, and hospice
-
Volunteer Opportunities at local hospitals and clinics
Networking Opportunities
- GaelNation Online- Join to access the SMC Alumni Directory for potential internship and shadowing opportunities.
- LinkedIn SMC provides a listing of alumni that can be contacted for potential internship and shadowing opportunities.
Graduate School Resources
- My Health Career Navigator provides resources and information about health care careers and paid summer internships in health-related fields.
- The Occupational Outlook Handbook contains job descriptions, education & training requirements, job outlook, earnings, and links to professional associations.
- The US News and World Report provides graduate school rankings, entrance exam stats, and graduate salary data.
Career Paths & Graduate School Prerequisites
Physical Therapy
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) provides information about practice and patient care, career pathways and links to physical therapy programs and the application service PTCAS.
- Degree: Masters of Science, Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Exam: GRE
- Websites: www.apta.org, http://www.ptcas.org
- Prerequisites:
- A. Biology: biology, anatomy and physiology
- B. Chemistry: general chemistry
- C. Math: statistics
- D. Physics: general physics
- E. Psychology: psychology, social/behavioral psychology (Psych 160), developmental psychology (Psych 140)
- F. Experience: ~150 hours of clinical experience in both inpatient and outpatient physical therapy clinics.
Physician Assistant
The Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) provides career information and descriptions of the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) includes news, career information, and resources for finding out about state licensing.
- Degree: Masters of Physician Assistant
- Exam: MCAT or GRE
- Websites: www.paeaonline.org https://portal.caspaonline.org/ www.apap.org
- Prerequisites:
- A. Biology: biology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology (take in fall)
- B. Chemistry: general chemistry, org chemistry (1 sem)
- C. Sciences: 24 semester hours
- D. Math: calculus and statistics
- E. Physics: general physics
- F. Experience: One year of healthcare experience through the following (not an exhaustive list):
- Scribe
- Medical assistant
- Emergency medical technician
- Peace Corps volunteer
- Lab assistant/phlebotomist
- Registered Nurse or Certified Nursing Assistant
- Emergency room technician
- Surgical tech
Nursing
AACN.edu provides career & admissions information, links to nursing programs, and to the application service NursingCAS.
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) provides information on education, research and conferences, as well as links to nurse practitioner programs.
Registered Nurse
- Degree: Bachelors of Nursing for Registered Nurse
- Association: National Nurses United
- Test: HESI Nursing Exam
- Prerequisites (vary by program):
- A. Biology: biology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology (take in fall)
- B. Chemistry: general chemistry, 1 semester organic chemistry (for micro)
- C. Math: statistics
- D. Psychology: human development
- E. AHS 101: nutrition
- F. Communicaiton: oral comm (Com 2, 112)
- G. Some programs require off campus courses such as Pharmacology and Pathophysiology
Nurse Practitioner
- Degree: Bachelors of Nursing for Registered Nurse, Masters in Nursing for Nurse Practitioner
- Exam: GRE
- Association: AANP
- ecommended Programs: Masters Entry Programs in Nursing http://www.bestnursingdegree.com/programs/direct-entry-msn/
- Prerequisites (vary by program):
- A. Biology: biology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology (take in fall)
- B. Chemistry: general chemistry, 1 semester organic chemistry (for micro)
- C. Math: statistics
- D. Psychology: introductory psychology
- E. Sociology: introductory sociology
- F. AHS 101: nutrition
- G. Communication: oral communication (Com 2, 112)
Public Health
The Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) provides resources including information on programs, areas of study, and curricula. You will also find links to schools of public health and for virtual fairs that allow participants to speak with admissions representatives, current MPH students, and how to apply through SOPHAS. Additional resources can be found here.
- Degree: Masters in Public Health, Doctor of Public Health
- Exam: GRE
- GPA: ≥3.0
- Association: www.aspph.org, http://www.sophas.org/
- Prerequisites: 1-2 years of community health/laboratory/health research experience
Radiography, Nuclear Medicine, Sonography
- Certification: Radiographer, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Sonographer
- Website: http://kpsahs.edu/
- Prerequisites:
- A. Biology: biology, anatomy, physiology
- B. Chemistry: general chemistry, organic chemistry
- C. English: english
- D. Physics: general physics
- E. Math: calculus, statistics
- F. Communication: oral communication (Com 2), computers and information technology (Com 125)
- G. Other: Medical Terminology
Chiropractic Medicine
Chiropractors are practitioners of complementary medicine based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints. Chiropractic colleges and Chiros.org provide information about the profession as well as links to chiropractic colleges and the application service ChiroCAS.
- Degree: Doctor of Chiropractic
- Exam: GRE
- Application Website: https://portal.chirocas.org/
- Prerequisites: Science: 24 semester credits of science, with half of those credits with corresponding labs
Dental Hygienist
A dental hygienist is a licensed dental professional, registered with a dental association, or regulatory body within their country of practice. See the American Dental Hygienist Association for more information.
- Degree: Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene
- Website: http://www.dentalcareersedu.org/california/california-dental-hygienist/ http://www.kpsahs.org/
- Prerequisites:
- A. Biology: biology, anatomy, physiology
- B. Chemistry: general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry
- C. English: english
- D. Kinesiology: nutrition
- E. Sociology: introductory sociology
Emergency Medical Technicians & Paramedics
EMTs are sent to emergencies by specially trained dispatchers who maintain radio contact or patch them through to medical professionals for ongoing instructions. Following procedures, they examine victims to determine the nature and extent of injury or illness and administer first aid and emergency basic life support, such as giving oxygen and doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They may use special equipment, such as backboards, to immobilize patients before placing them on stretchers and securing them in the ambulance for transport to a medical facility.
- Certification: Paramedic
- Exam: California Emergency Medical Services Authority Exam
- Website: On becoming an EMT or Paramedic in California http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/occguides/Detail.aspx?Soccode=292041&geography=0601000000
Genetic Counseling
The National Society of Genetics Counselors, Inc. “promotes the professional interests of genetic counselors and provides a network for professional communication.” NSGC.org provides career information, news, links to genetics counseling programs and more.
- Degree: Masters of Science in Genetic Counseling
- Exam: GRE
- Website: http://www.nsgc.org/
- Prerequisites:
- A. Biology: biology, genetics
- B. Chemistry: general chemistry, organic chemistry (2 semesters), biochemistry
Health Administration
The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) vision is “to develop leaders to drive in the health system.” AUPHA.org offers resources for future and current students, faculty and program directors. You and your students can find links to events, undergraduate and graduate health administration programs and the centralized application service, HAMPCAS.
- Degree: Masters in Health Administration
- Exam: GRE
- Website: http://www.aupha.org/home
- Prerequisites: statistics
Nutrition
The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) provides career information, as well as links to professional publications like The Journal of Nutrition. Under the Professional Development tab, you will find links to graduate programs.
- Degree: Registered Dietician, Masters in Nutrition, Doctorate of Philosophy in Nutrition
- Exam: GRE
- GPA: ≥3.0
- Association: www.nutrition.org
- Prerequisites (vary by program):
- A. Biology: biology, anatomy, physiology, genetics
- B. Chemistry: general chemistry, organic chemistry (2 semesters), biochemistry
- C. Math: Statistics
- D. Physics: general physics
Occupational Therapy
AOTA.org has information for those considering occupational therapy as a profession. You can also find links to programs and the application service, OTCAS.
- Degree: Masters of Science, Doctor of Occupational Therapy
- Exam: GRE
- Websites: www.aota.org
- Degree: Masters of Science, Doctor of Occupational Therapy
- Exam: GRE
- Websites: www.aota.org
- Prerequisites:
- A. Biology: biology, anatomy, physiology
- B. Math: statistics
- A. Psychology: psychology, clinical psychology (Psych 152), developmental psychology (Psych 140)
- B. Sociology: introductory sociology
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist
- Certification: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist
- Exam: California Department of Health Clinical Laboratory Technologist Exam
- Website: http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/occguide/mdclinlb.pdf
- Prerequisites:
- A. Biology: biology, anatomy, physiology, 2 UD biology courses
- B. Chemistry: general chemistry, organic chemistry (2 semesters)
- C. Physics: introductory physics
- E. Math: calculus, statistics
- D. Training: 12 months in laboratory listed by California Association for Medical Laboratory Technology
Phlebotomy
- Certification: Phlebotomist
- Website: http://kpsahs.edu/