You can see yourself working in healthcare. Maybe you’ve always wanted to become a doctor. Maybe you’re drawn to nursing, physical therapy, or helping people live healthier lives. Now comes the question: What should you study to get there?
Siena University offers healthcare-focused programs and opportunities in nursing, health studies, pre-med, and more—including a joint program with Albany Medical College. Whether you have a career in mind or are still exploring, here’s how Siena can help you prepare for your future in healthcare.
Want to become a doctor? Start with pre-med preparation.
Pre-med is preparation for medical school, rather than a standalone major. You choose a major, complete medical school prerequisites, and build experiences that prepare you to apply.
At Siena, biology, biochemistry, and chemistry are among the recommended majors for students interested in medicine. You can also pursue another major while working with an advisor to plan the required coursework.
Siena’s Health Professions advising team helps students navigate academic planning, skills development, and professional-school applications. The team also supports students pursuing dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, and other health professions.
A question to ask: How can I balance a major I enjoy with the requirements for medical school?
Explore pre-med and health professions at Siena.
Looking for a joint medical program? Explore Siena and Albany Medical College.
The Siena/Albany Medical College Science and Humanities Program offers a joint acceptance route that combines preparation for medicine with an emphasis on ethics, service, and understanding people.
Students accepted into the program earn a B.A. in Biology at Siena, complete a minor in the School of Liberal Arts, and continue to Albany Medical College, subject to program requirements. They earn their M.D. upon completing the medical curriculum. The MCAT is waived for students in this program.
A defining part of the experience is the Summer of Service between junior and senior year. Students work alongside underserved communities, gaining perspective on the circumstances that shape people’s health and access to care.
This program has specific application requirements, so it’s worth exploring early in your college search.
Learn about Siena’s Albany Medical College Program.
Become a registered nurse before you graduate with your BSN
At Siena, you can become a registered nurse (RN) before graduation and earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in four years.
Through Siena’s dual-degree nursing program, you’ll take classes at Siena and complete hands-on nursing training through Ellis Medicine’s Belanger School of Nursing or Maria College. By the end of junior year, you’ll earn your associate degree in nursing and be eligible to take the RN licensure exam (NCLEX-RN).
Once you pass the exam and receive your license, you can start working as an RN while finishing your bachelor’s degree at Siena. That means you could head into graduation with professional nursing experience already on your résumé.
A question to ask: What could my senior year look like if I start working as an RN while finishing my BSN?
Explore Siena’s dual-degree nursing program.
interested in Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and other allied health careers? Consider Health Studies.
Siena’s Health Studies major connects the science of health with the people and systems involved in care. Students choose between two tracks based on their interests.
Health Science: Prepare for further study in a health profession
The Health Science track includes coursework such as microbiology and human anatomy. It builds a foundation for students interested in advanced study in areas such as physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and nutrition.
If you have a particular professional program in mind, work with an advisor to understand its prerequisites and plan your courses.
Health Administration: Explore how healthcare works
The Health Administration track focuses on the organizational side of healthcare, including subjects such as project management and public policy. It prepares students to pursue administrative and management opportunities in settings such as hospitals, clinics, and wellness organizations.
A question to ask: Am I most interested in providing care, improving community health, or helping healthcare organizations operate effectively?
Discover Health Studies at Siena.
What’s the difference between Health Studies and nursing?
Nursing prepares students specifically for nursing practice and licensure. Health studies provides a broader foundation for healthcare careers and further education.
If your goal is to become a registered nurse, explore the dual-degree nursing program. If you’re considering a profession such as physical therapy or physician assistant studies—or the administrative side of healthcare—Health studies may align with your goals. Many clinical careers require additional professional education after your bachelor’s degree.
Get experience that helps you choose your direction.
Your interests can become clearer when you put them into practice.
Siena health studies students can explore faculty research, internships, and community-based experiences. Through the Interprofessional Complex Care Team, students collaborate with peers in nursing, social work, and other health fields to support people facing complex healthcare challenges.
These experiences help students build communication, teamwork, and advocacy skills while seeing how different healthcare roles work together.
Find your next step at Siena.
You don’t have to arrive with every detail of your career planned. Start with what interests you, then ask questions about the coursework, experiences, and education your goals will require.
Explore Siena’s healthcare programs and opportunities, and connect with Admissions to learn which options fit the future you’re considering.
