Preprofessional Career Paths

Transcription

1 DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DMACC s Path to Transfer Arts and Sciences Degrees Preprofessional Career Paths Transfer Partnership Programs

2 Start Your Four-Year College Degree at DMACC. Excellence in Academics DMACC offers academic excellence, small class sizes, state-of-the-art facilities and highly qualified faculty who help you get the most out of your DMACC experience, all while preparing you to transfer and be successful at your destination college or university. DMACC also offers an Honors Program for qualified students who want even more challenging academics and specialized courses. If you re undecided, DMACC is the ideal place to start. We have expert advisors and career exploration courses to help you find the right career field for you. Academics, Advising and Support that Help You Succeed DMACC s proven process includes high-quality academics plus enhanced support programs like free tutoring that prepare you to thrive at a four-year college or university. DMACC has prepared students to transfer credits to more than 925 colleges and universities around the country. DMACC students can transfer credits or their completed Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) degree to all of Iowa s public and private colleges and universities. No matter where you want to go, DMACC has the expertise to help you get there. 3

3 Choosing Your Academic Program. Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Getting Started Start by selecting your academic program. No matter what your career aspirations are, DMACC offers a course of study to get you on the right path. Many transfer students graduate from DMACC with an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree in Liberal Arts. When you apply, you can choose from more than 30 concentrations to pursue your planned area of study. Keep in mind that your concentration can be changed if your plans change. Are you still exploring your career options? Exploration is an important first step in the decision-making process, and the DMACC Career Center provides helpful resources at no cost. The Career Center offers career exploration workshops, one-on-one career counseling, and assistance with gathering career information. Once you are accepted to DMACC, you will be invited to sign up for a DMACC Student Orientation session. At DMACC Student Orientation, you will connect with Academic Advisors who will help you get started on your academic goals by reviewing degree requirements and helping you register for classes. Once you become a DMACC student, it s time to get engaged. DMACC offers internships to help you gain work experience in your field of study, and a host of social activities, clubs and intramurals to help you make new friends and have some fun outside the classroom. It s part of the total college experience. Below are just a few of the majors students have prepared for at DMACC. Don t see your favorite? No matter what your interest, you can almost certainly get a great foundation for that degree at DMACC. Accounting Dentistry Actuarial Science Drama Agribusiness Early Childhood Agriculture Education Anthropology Economics Architecture Elementary Education Art Engineering Biology English Business Administration Environmental Science Chemistry Finance Chiropractic Fitness and Sports Management Computer Science Foreign Language Construction Management Forensics Criminal Justice Geography Cultural Studies Global Studies Graphic Design Health Administration History Human Services Humanities Information Systems Information Technology Journalism Law Literature Mass Communications Mathematics Medicine Music Nursing Optometry Pharmacy Philosophy and Religion Physician Assistant Physics and Astronomy Political Science Psychology Public Administration Secondary Education Sociology Social Work Speech Veterinary Medicine and many more! For more information, including an up-to-date list of Preprofessional programs, visit 5

4 University-College Transfer Meet Often with an Academic Advisor It s important to meet regularly with a DMACC Academic Advisor. An advisor will help you select the best DMACC courses for transfer and make sure you ve taken all the other steps needed to make eventual enrollment in your four-year college quick and easy. Enhance Your Experience at DMACC DMACC helps all transfer students with support and opportunities as they earn their Associate s Degree. Some of DMACC s many benefits include: Transfer Fair During the fall and spring semesters, DMACC hosts a Transfer Fair to help you explore a variety of both in-state and out-ofstate four-year institutions! Workshops DMACC offers workshops each semester to help students stay on track and make the important decisions needed to ensure a smooth transfer. Workshops range from financing a four-year degree to selecting your next institution to navigating the application process. Visit Days DMACC helps you to connect with four-year colleges and universities through hosting visit days on our campus. Career Assessments Still deciding on a career path? That s okay! Participate in one of our career assessments with a DMACC Advisor or Counselor to explore areas you may be interested in as a career. Academic Advisors DMACC provides one-on-one transfer advising to all students interested in transferring. Visit any of our campuses or centers to meet with an advisor and discuss your transfer path. Honors Program DMACC s innovative Honors Program is an option for all students who qualify. The Honors Program offers more rigorous academic courses, mentoring, exclusive use of facilities and other advantages. Study Abroad Take this opportunity to spend 10 weeks in London studying with a DMACC professor in a variety of areas of interest. Housing DMACC offers new and remodeled student housing options for students on the Ankeny, Urban, Boone and Carroll Campuses. The affordable housing provides DMACC students with a traditional college experience that s on or close to each campus. For more information, go to 7

5 Ensure Smooth Transitions with Transfer Partnership Programs. Transfer Partnership Programs DMACC has formalized transfer partnerships that bring extra benefits with many colleges and universities across Iowa. Transfer Partnership Programs connect you with four-year institutions for academic advising, housing, transfer agreements, extracurricular activities and more. Some include: Buena Vista University Drake University Grand View University Grinnell College Iowa State University Simpson College Upper Iowa University University of Iowa University of Northern Iowa For details, see the Course Equivalency Guide at DMACC s Transfer Partnerships help students determine which four-year college or university they want to attend, and ensure a seamless transition to the destination school. These agreements help you and your advisor select DMACC courses that transfer seamlessly. Some transfer partnerships often include extra benefits as well. Even while you re a DMACC student, you have access to these services from your destination four-year college or university: Personalized mentoring and academic counseling Use of recreation facilities Participation in clubs and organizations Attendance at sports and cultural events Guaranteed acceptance for DMACC students meeting admission standards 9

6 Your Professional Career Begins at DMACC. Medicine. Law. Education. Engineering. Dental. Vet Med. Physical Therapy. If you re pursuing a career in one of these professions, give yourself the advantage of starting at DMACC for your first two years and earning an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree before transferring to a four-year college or university. Smart, affordable, and a great way to confirm your interest in your chosen professional career! Contact your academic or campus advisor. Reach out to the program by contacting your academic or campus advisor. BUSINESS Chris Moon, Boone Campus [email protected] Reggie Sinha, Ankeny Campus [email protected] EDUCATION Patsy Steffen [email protected] ALSO: LAW, DENTAL, VET MED For more information, please call ENGINEERING Matt Sprengeler, Ankeny Campus [email protected] Shelby Hildreth, Boone Campus or Hunziker Center in Ames , ext [email protected] MEDICINE Qian Moss [email protected] You ll enjoy the many advantages of DMACC, including affordable tuition, outstanding classroom instruction from faculty dedicated to your success, flexible class schedules that mesh with your work and life responsibilities, six convenient campuses and six learning centers. No matter what your interests are, DMACC is a great place to build a foundation for a successful career. It all starts with outstanding academic quality and expert, experienced faculty who genuinely care about your success. Beyond the classroom, DMACC offers everything you need to grow personally and professionally while developing valuable and rewarding leadership skills. Our programs help you connect with fellow students, capitalize on service learning and business opportunities, and much more. Plus, you get all this while saving thousands in college costs! 11

7 Planning Your Transfer. Questions to ask and tips to know. How Should I Begin? Choosing a major. Many majors require you to complete specific coursework prior to your acceptance. Therefore, it is important to have a college major selected before you transfer. If you are undecided about your future career or major, you should begin exploring your options very early in your college career. Career counselors are available to guide you through self-assessment and career exploration activities. Selecting a college. It is very beneficial to have a transfer college in mind early in the planning process. Research your options and make sure the college you choose offers your intended major. Call the Admissions Office of the four-year college you are considering and schedule an official campus visit. While you are on campus, visit with an advisor about your transfer plans. How Do I Transfer My Credits? Once you become a DMACC student, it s time to get engaged. Your transfer college will require you to provide official transcripts from each college you have attended. Transcripts must be sent directly from one college to another to be considered official. Transcript requests must be submitted to the DMACC Registration Office. It is important to realize that each college has its own policies regarding the acceptance and application of transfer credit. What Questions Should I Ask the 4-Year College? Do you offer my major? Is admission into my major competitive? What are the admission requirements? Is there an admission fee or deposit required? How will my DMACC courses transfer? How many credits can I transfer into your college? What is your college s foreign language requirement? How much is tuition? What payment options are available? Are there deadlines for financial aid? What scholarships are available for transfer students? What are my options for on-campus housing? When do I need to apply for housing? How much does it cost for housing and meal plans? What student activities and organizations are available? 13

8 DMACC Student Testimonials. My experience at DMACC has been great. I just finished my first year and plan to stay another year and then transfer to either Iowa or Iowa State University. I chose to come to DMACC because I haven t chosen a major and [don t know what career to pursue.] Kelly, Liberal Arts Major Going to DMACC is like having the entire city of Des Moines as your backyard playground. I also love the flexible class schedules and the College s affordability. Madeline, Liberal Arts Major DMACC teaches you how to study, how to learn, how to socialize, and be successful. So many students go to a huge university without any idea what they want to be in the future. DMACC allows you to explore career choices at an affordable rate, and has professors who have personal experience in almost every field. Grace, ISU Engineering Student The low student-to-teacher ratio was a big factor for me in coming to DMACC. There s a much more personal level of education here. The staff also really helped me with financial aid. The schedule is flexible with night classes, too, so there were a lot of opportunities for me to get into the right classes. Kade, Pre-Business After graduating from high school, I was undecided about my major and career plans. I chose to attend DMACC to begin my college education with liberal arts classes to earn my AA degree. With smaller classes it is easier to get to know students and teachers and to get more one-onone help if needed, which makes going to school more enjoyable for me. DMACC was the perfect place for me to start my college education! Morgan, Liberal Arts Major College Planning Tips P Write down the names of the people you visit with at your college and take good notes so you will remember their suggestions. P Keep your college catalogs, important papers and assignments. Many four-year colleges require a portfolio of your academic work

9 Start Your Four-Year Degree at DMACC. Interested? It s Easy to Learn More. Take the first step and apply to DMACC today and start your path to transfer FIND DMACC ON: ANKENY BOONE CARROLL NEWTON URBAN/DES MOINES WEST DES MOINES DMACC AT PERRY VANKIRK CAREER ACADEMY DMACC CAREER ACADEMY, HUNZIKER CENTER, AMES DMACC TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE EVELYN K. DAVIS CENTER FOR WORKING FAMILIES DMACC CAPITOL CENTER DMACC CENTER FOR CAREER & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT SOUTHRIDGE Nondiscrimination Policy: Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in or allow discrimination covered by law. This includes harassment based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and marital status), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability and genetic information. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint Procedure (ES4645). Complaint forms may be obtained from the Campus Provost s office, the Academic Dean s office, the Judicial Officer, or the EEO/AA Officer, Human Resources. For requests for accommodations, the Accommodation/Section 504/ADA Coordinator can be contacted at For Title IX questions and concerns, contact For more information about DMACC graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at