In the College of Health and Human Sciences, several majors have dedicated four-year plans to help you plan your undergraduate academic pathway and lay the foundation for your future medical career.

Kinesiology Clinical_2

Kinesiology and Health

If you’re interested in building a foundation in body mechanics, the benefits of exercise, or how the brain tells the body to move, Kinesiology and Health is a good fit for you.

MacKay Fruit Fly Lab Student Working Pre-Health 4-29-25 1

Nutritional Science

Choosing nutritional science as your undergraduate major will give you a deep understanding of the critical role diet plays in the treatment and prevention of diseases.

HDFS

Human Development and Family Studies

Human Development and Family Studies teaches you the science behind human growth, development, and family dynamics across the lifespan.

Iowa State’s College of Health and Human Sciences Powers Molly’s Future Career

Inspired by a personal experience, Molly chose Iowa State to begin her journey toward a career in medicine. Iowa State’s Kinesiology and Health program gave Molly hands-on research, clinical exposure, and mentorship that shaped her path. In this video, she shares how passionate faculty, real-world opportunities, and a strong support system helped her grow as both a student and future physician.

She was a leader in the pre-med club and worked alongside Kinesiology and Health researchers. Molly also credits the program for providing much more than classroom knowlede – something she knows will benefit her future career.

“I think the biggest thing by far is the clinical experience- and you can get that even through volunteering. It just shows that it’s so much more than the science-heavy parts. Obviously, that’s very important, too. But, you can be as smart as you want – if you can’t connect with someone, that’s going to be a real hindrance for you as a physician and I think a lot of people need to focus more on that aspect.”

Watch Molly’s story to see how a degree in kinesiology and health prepared her both in and out of the classroom.

Students wearing gloves work together in a lab setting, assembling respiratory testing equipment and preparing tubing for a physiology experiment.

Future doctor? Start here!