
Director of Professional Development and HLSAC
The Health and Life Sciences (HLS) Advising Center prepares students to pursue majors and careers in various fields across the health care industry.
What can you do with a life sciences degree? Careers in health and life sciences include direct patient care, laboratory work, health care administration, or health education.
HLS supports students in undergraduate programs that are application-based and non-competitive, including:
We also advise current IU Indianapolis students preparing for professional school in health care but are not pursuing degrees through the School of Science. Pre-professional health programs include medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, pharmacy, chiropractic, and even veterinary medicine.
No matter your path, the HLS career consultant and advisors will help you plan your schedule, prepare your application, create parallel plans, and develop career goals that align with your personality, interests, and skills. We're here to partner with you. If you're serious about following a career path in the health and life sciences, it's important to plan early and carefully.
As you prepare to transition into the world of work, we'll support you in engaging in purposeful and productive co-curricular activities, such as research, study abroad, service learning, and internships.
Meet who you’ll be working with on your academic journey.
Director of Professional Development and HLSAC
Student Success Advisor/Team Coordinator, HLS Cluster
Student Success Advisor, HLS Cluster
Career Consultant, HLS Cluster
Student Success Advisor, HLS Cluster
Student Success Advisor, HLS Cluster
Student Success Advisor, HLS Cluster
Student Success Advisor, HLS Cluster
Explore health and life science majors.
Learn to treat patients through state-of-the-art simulation and interprofessional education (learning alongside students from IU’s other health schools). An honors track is available through this program, as is a second degree accelerated track.
This bachelor's degree in nursing provides students with a traditional track to achieve their dreams of becoming a professional nurse. The concept-based curriculum stems from current trends in health care and provides students with clinical opportunities through state-of-the-art simulation and interprofessional education (learning alongside students from IU's other health schools). The techniques you will learn through this program will equip you with a strong foundation, as they have been proven to be the best methods of caring for patients and their families. An honors track is available.
Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. About 193,100 openings for registered nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement ( Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023).
According to the IUPUI (now called IU Indianapolis) First Destination Survey in 2022, the average starting salary reported for graduates with a B.S. in Nursing was $55,769, and the median salary was $55,000.
The national median annual salary for registered nurses was $86,070 in 2023 ( Occupational Outlook Handbook).
(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)
Nursing students often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:
*This career requires additional education or training.
Admission by application Information about applying to the nursing program Nursing application video
The IU Indianapolis Center for Service and Learning has many service-oriented programs that allow you to work with and impact your community in endless ways.
The IU Indianapolis Center for Service and Learning has many service-oriented programs that allow you to work with and impact your community in endless ways. Find a health-related experience to build your resume while giving back to others!
A job in a hospital or working as a CNA can provide you with valuable insight into the nursing profession.
Join the Student Nurses Association or the student chapter of the American Association for Men in Nursing to meet fellow pre-nursing or current nursing students and learn more about careers
Students in this program receive an associate’s degree that prepares them for caring for and transporting the sick or injured in emergency medical settings. Anyone in this program must be a certified emergency medical technician (EMT) in Indiana. Those who aren’t already certified may enroll in EMER-E 201 to earn their certification if they are CPR certified.
Paramedics care for the sick or injured in emergency medical settings. People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care provided by these workers. Paramedics respond to emergency calls, performing medical services and transporting patients to medical facilities.
Students who complete the A.S. in Paramedic Science are prepared to work as EMT-paramedics to deliver emergency patient care in out-of-hospital settings. The paramedic must be a confident leader who can accept the challenge and high degree of responsibility entailed in the position. The paramedic provides the most extensive pre-hospital care and may work for fire departments, private ambulance services, police departments, or hospitals.
Students must be a certified EMT in Indiana to apply to the Paramedic Science Program. Those who are not already certified may enroll in EMER-E 201 to earn their certification; students must be CPR certified to begin EMER-E 201.
Employment of EMTs and paramedics is projected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. About 18,100 openings for EMTs and paramedics are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement ( Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023).
According to the IUPUI (now called IU Indianapolis) First Destination Survey in 2020, the average starting salary reported for School of Medicine graduates with a bachelor's degree was $57,035, and the median salary was $56,673.
The national median annual salary for EMTs and paramedics was $44,780 in 2023 ( Occupational Outlook Handbook).
(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)
Those pursuing the Associate of Science in Paramedic Science degree at IU Indianapolis often complete bachelor’s degrees in the following areas:
Once a bachelor’s degree is complete, students with paramedic science backgrounds might pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:
*These careers require additional education or training.
Admission by application Information about applying to the Paramedic Science Program
Undergraduate research experiences enable you to develop important problem-solving skills and experience for your future career.
Working on campus can provide great preparation for a variety of health-related careers.
Undergraduate research experiences help you develop important problem-solving skills and experience for your future career. Gaining research experience can be particularly helpful if you’re interested in clinical laboratory science or cytotechnology.
Join the first national physical education teacher education program to transform the lives of children at the K–12 level. Students in this program will gain the experience to meet Indiana Department of Education standards and will be prepared to take the teacher licensing examination for physical education.
The physical education teacher education track focuses its efforts on those students who would like to teach physical education, wellness, or health at the K–12 level. The curriculum provides content knowledge and practical experiences to prepare students for a career in teaching and youth development. Along with coursework in the School of Education at IU Indianapolis, our curriculum prepares students for the teacher licensing examination in this content area specialty. Finally, students will be afforded opportunities throughout their studies to gain teaching experience in multiple local community or school settings.
Employment of high school teachers is projected to decline 1% from 2023 to 2033. Despite decline employment, about 64,000 openings for high school teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement ( Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024).
According to the IUPUI (now called IU Indianapolis) First Destination Survey in 2021, the average starting salary reported for School of Education graduates was $41,859, and the median salary was $42,830.
The national median annual salary for high school teachers was $65,220 in 2023 ( Occupational Outlook Handbook).
(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)
Physical education teacher education majors might pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:
*This career requires additional training or education.
Admission by certification
The School of Health and Human Sciences hosts a number of initiatives for students to get involved, add to their resume, and give back to the community.
LHSI is a paid internship program that places second- and third-year IU Indianapolis students in a variety of health and science workplaces to gain practical experience and skills.
Working on campus for offices such as Campus Recreation or the Office of Health and Wellness can provide great preparation for a variety of health-related careers.
Improve health on a larger scale by learning how to prevent disease, promote health, and address the inequities that keep those in your community from living a long and healthy life. Students in this major can choose to specialize in community health, health policy, epidemiology, biostatistics, and global health.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health prepares you for a career preventing disease, promoting health, and addressing the inequities that keep our family, friends, and neighbors from living a long and healthy life.
This multidisciplinary, flexible degree provides a strong foundation in public health to address the obstacles to health facing us today.
You will have the opportunity to personalize your degree by choosing from courses in a variety of public health discipline areas including community health, health policy, epidemiology, biostatistics, and global health.
With this degree, you will have the opportunity launch your career or pursue graduate studies at the top of your game. You will gain the public health problem solving skills you need to become a leader in Indiana and beyond.
Employment of medical and health service managers is projected to grow 29% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 61,400 openings for medical and health service managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement ( Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024).
Admission by application
Learn to use different forms of ionizing radiation for the treatment of tumors, to operate various types of medical equipment, and to observe the clinical progress of patients undergoing radiation therapy. This program has two tracks: one for nonradiography and one for radiography.
Radiation therapy involves the use of different forms of ionizing radiation for the treatment of benign and malignant tumors. Radiation therapists administer the prescribed dose of ionizing radiation to specific sites of the patient’s body as directed by the physician. They operate various types of equipment, including high-energy linear accelerators, and work with radioactive materials. In addition, radiation therapists observe the clinical progress of the patient undergoing radiation therapy, observe the first signs of any complication, and determine when treatment should be withheld until a physician may be consulted.
Employment of radiation therapists is projected to grow 3% from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 800 openings for radiation therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement ( Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024).
According to the IUPUI (now called IU Indianapolis) First Destination Survey in 2021, the average starting salary reported for School of Medicine graduates was $59,950, and the median salary was $58,000.
The national median annual salary for radiation therapists was $98,300 in 2023 ( Occupational Outlook Handbook).
(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)
Radiation therapy majors may pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:
*These career options require additional training or education.
Admission by application Information about applying to the Radiation Therapy Program Admission and Interview Tips
Undergraduate research experiences enable you to develop important problem-solving skills and experience for your future career.
Working on campus can provide great preparation for a variety of health-related careers.
Undergraduate research experiences help you develop important problem-solving skills and experience for your future career. Gaining research experience can be particularly helpful if you’re interested in clinical laboratory science or cytotechnology.
View upcoming academic and career events that help put you on the right path to achieving your goals.
Creative Explorations Workshop
JOSEPH T. TAYLOR HALL
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What are your goals and dreams? Are you experiencing college major indecision? Are you wanting to explore a second or third option? The Creative Explorations Workshop is designed to provide you w...Read more
Clinical Lab Science Application Deadline
All applications are due on this date.
Cytotechnology Application Deadline
All applications due by this date.
Paramedic Science Application Deadline
All applications are due on this date.
Not sure if you want to pursue a health and life sciences degree? Explore majors under other specialized support teams in Academic and Career Development.
IU Indianapolis
Health and Life Sciences Advising Center
Taylor Hall, 3004
815 W Michigan St
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Monday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Thursday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed