Pre-Health & Wellness Studies
The Pre-Health & Wellness Institute at Defiance College provides a personalized, mentor-driven pathway to competitive health careers — combining close faculty guidance, hands-on experience, and strategic advising to ensure students graduate fully prepared for success in graduate and professional programs.
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Physician Assistant
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Athletic Training
- Nursing
- Veterinary Medicine
- Public Health
Students have seen a graduate program placement rate of 86% over the past 4 years.
What Sets Defiance College Apart in Pre-Health & Wellness?
✔️ Hands-On Learning in Modern Labs
Train with advanced equipment such as the Anatomage virtual dissection table, electron microscopes, force plates, and open-circuit spirometry systems.
✔️Undergraduate Research
Work alongside faculty on research in exercise science, biology, and public health, with endowment support for research costs and conference presentations.
✔️Clinical & Community Experience
Gain experience through internships with hospitals, clinics, health departments, and veterinary practices, as well as community partnerships like the PATH Center.
✔️Career & Graduate School Preparation
Through the Jacket Journey program, build professional skills and receive targeted support for graduate school applications, including personal statements, resumes, mock interviews, and alumni connections.
Pathways Through Molecular Biology
The Molecular Biology major at Defiance College is a pre-professional degree designed to prepare students for admission into graduate and professional programs in the health sciences. The curriculum provides a strong foundation in biological and chemical sciences while emphasizing critical thinking, laboratory skills, and scientific reasoning.
Students commonly pursue this pathway as preparation for careers in medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and physician assistant studies. Through close faculty advising, hands-on laboratory experiences, and individualized preparation for graduate school applications, Molecular Biology students are well positioned to meet prerequisite requirements and compete successfully for advanced study.
Not sure which health career is right for you yet? Defiance College’s Molecular Biology program allows students to explore multiple professional pathways while preparing for graduate study.
How We Prepare You:
Students complete rigorous coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics while gaining hands-on experience through research and clinical exposure. Faculty advisors provide personalized guidance to ensure students meet medical school prerequisites.
Graduate School Preparation:
Pre-med students receive support with MCAT preparation, clinical shadowing, research involvement, and application strategy, including personal statement development and mock interviews.
Four-Year Plan:
👉 View the four-year plan for Molecular Biology
How We Prepare You:
Students combine rigorous science coursework with hands-on experience in veterinary clinics, animal care settings, or agricultural environments. Faculty ensure students meet specific veterinary school prerequisites.
Graduate School Preparation:
Advising focuses on experience documentation, application readiness, and preparation for professional expectations in veterinary medicine.
Four-Year Plan:
👉 View the four-year plan for Molecular Biology
How We Prepare You:
Students complete foundational science coursework while gaining exposure to dentistry through observation and shadowing experiences. Advising is tailored to meet dental school prerequisite requirements.
Graduate School Preparation:
Faculty guide students through DAT preparation, application planning, and building competitive experiences through research and service.
Four-Year Plan:
👉 View the four-year plan for Molecular Biology
How We Prepare You:
Students complete coursework in chemistry, biology, and mathematics while developing laboratory and analytical skills essential for pharmacy programs.
Graduate School Preparation:
Faculty advisors support prerequisite planning, application readiness, and professional exposure through observation and research opportunities.
Four-Year Plan:
👉 View the four-year plan for Molecular Biology
How We Prepare You:
Students complete coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics while developing strong analytical and clinical foundations. Shadowing experiences help students explore optometry practice settings.
Graduate School Preparation:
Advisors assist with OAT preparation, application planning, and identifying experiential opportunities that strengthen optometry school applications.
Four-Year Plan:
👉 View the four-year plan for Molecular Biology
How We Prepare You:
Students pursuing the PA pathway through Molecular Biology complete a rigorous, science-intensive curriculum emphasizing biology, chemistry, microbiology, and laboratory skills. This pathway is well-suited for students who thrive in lab-based learning and want strong preparation in the biomedical sciences.
Graduate School Preparation:
Faculty advisors guide students in meeting PA program prerequisites, gaining patient-care experience, and preparing competitive applications through personal statement development, interview preparation, and professional advising.
Four-Year Plan:
👉 View the four-year plan for Molecular Biology
Pathways Through Exercise Science
The Exercise Science major at Defiance College is a professionally focused degree designed to prepare students for graduate study and careers in health, rehabilitation, human performance, and wellness. The curriculum emphasizes applied learning in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and exercise testing, supported by hands-on laboratory experiences and clinical exposure.
This major supports structured preparation for Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Athletic Training, Physician Assistant studies, and Strength & Conditioning, while remaining flexible for students pursuing graduate-level programs in chiropractic care, nursing (MSN), public health (MPH), and related health professions. The curriculum is aligned with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), providing preparation for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam.
Not sure which health career is right for you yet? Defiance College’s Molecular Biology program allows students to explore multiple professional pathways while preparing for graduate study.
How We Prepare You:
Students complete coursework in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, biology, chemistry, and physics while gaining early exposure to physical therapy settings.
Graduate School Preparation:
Advisors support students with observation hour planning, application timelines, personal statements, and interview preparation for DPT programs.
Four-Year Plan:
👉 View the four-year plan for Exercise Science – Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration
How We Prepare You:
Students gain hands-on experience in performance testing, program design, and applied exercise physiology through labs and internships.
Graduate School & Professional Preparation:
The curriculum aligns with NSCA-CSCS preparation and supports students pursuing graduate study, or careers in strength and conditioning.
Four-Year Plan:
👉 View the four-year plan for Exercise Science – Fitness, Strength & Conditioning Concentration
How We Prepare You:
Students build a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, and health sciences while exploring occupational therapy across the lifespan through observation and community engagement.
Graduate School Preparation:
Faculty guide students in completing observation hours, preparing applications, and identifying OT programs aligned with their interests.
Four-Year Plan:
👉 View the four-year plan for Exercise Science – Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration
How We Prepare You:
Students complete a focused curriculum in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, injury prevention, and rehabilitation while gaining hands-on experience in applied clinical and performance settings. Coursework emphasizes the foundational knowledge and practical skills expected of students entering professional athletic training programs.
Graduate School Preparation:
This concentration is specifically designed to prepare students for Master of Athletic Training (MAT) programs. Faculty advisors support prerequisite completion, clinical exposure planning, application timelines, and interview preparation to ensure students are competitive candidates for graduate-level athletic training programs.
Four-Year Plan:
👉 View the four-year plan for Exercise Science – Pre-Athletic Training Concentration
How We Prepare You:
Students complete science and health-related coursework while gaining exposure to patient care environments. Advisors help tailor coursework based on nursing program requirements.
Graduate School Preparation:
Students receive guidance to prepare for graduate-entry nursing programs, such as Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) pathways. Faculty advisors provide support including prerequisite alignment and experiential preparation.
Four-Year Plans:
👉 View the four-year plan for Exercise Science – Pre-Health Concentration
Public Health Minor
The Public Health minor allows students to explore health beyond individual patient care by focusing on prevention, population health, and community wellbeing. Coursework examines health promotion, disease prevention, health disparities, and the social and environmental factors that influence health outcomes.
For students pursuing clinical pathways the Public Health minor adds important context in areas like health disparities, prevention, and community-level health decision-making. This broader perspective strengthens graduate school applications and prepares future clinicians to think beyond the exam room and consider the systems that influence health outcomes.
*Available to students in any major
Meet the Pre-Health & Wellness Staff
Olivia Lozar, Ph.D.
Timothy Rickabaugh, Ph.D.
Jeanna Tran, Ph.D.
Mollie Sorrell, Ph.D.
Graduate Outcomes
Auburn College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bowling Green State University
Findlay College of Pharmacy
Kansas State School of Veterinary Medicine
Liberty University
Michigan State College of Veterinary Medicine
Ross University School of Medicine
University of Ohio College of Osteopathic Medicine
Wayne State University