Nursing
Combine your compassion as a helper and healer with the latest in healthcare science and technology.
Health and Wellness
Passion for Helping? Find a Great Career
Get a great start here in one of the decade’s fastest growing career fields. With your Kirkwood educational experience, you’ll qualify for high demand careers because you’ll have the skills employers are looking for.
You’ll get hands-on training in crisis situations at Kirkwood’s state-of-the-art Katz Family Healthcare Simulation Center. Plus, Kirkwood’s close affiliation with local major health care institutions means you’ll also get excellent real world clinical training.
And don't forget — we have scholarships for everyone, including nearly 25 individual scholarships specifically for students interested in health programs.
Dental Assisting
Classroom, laboratory, and hands-on experience by working with patients at the College of Dentistry at the University of Iowa and in private dental offices.
Dental Hygiene
Dental hygienists help prevent, detect, and treat diseases of the mouth, playing a key role in patient education and treatment planning.
Dental Technology
This accredited program prepares you in five specialty areas: dentures, partial dentures, ceramics, orthodontics, and crowns and bridges.
Diagnostic Assistant
The Diagnostic Assistant degree is designed for Radiologic Technology students in partnership with the Mercy/St. Luke’s School of Radiologic Technology.
Electroneurodiagnostic Technology
Record the brain's most intricate electrical activity with EEG and help doctors diagnose strokes, headaches, sleep disorders, and more.
Exercise Science and Wellness
Learn how to help people live healthier lives through exercise, rehabilitation, and nutrition as you study the science behind human movement, exercise, and diets.
Medical Assisting
Master a complex body of knowledge and develop specialized skills with a combination of classroom, laboratory, and computer experience.
Medical Laboratory Technology
As an MLT graduate, you’ll be able to work in hospitals, physician’s offices, private labs, research, biotechnology, public health, and more.
Occupational Therapy Assistant
You’ll learn the skills you need to work as an occupational therapy assistant from experienced, caring instructors and utilize state-of-the-art equipment.
Paramedic
Learn the complex knowledge and skills for patient care and transportation in an incredible learning environment.
Pharmacy Technician
Get a great job assisting in a community retail or hospital pharmacy.
Physical Therapist Assistant
Learn treatments in strengthening, flexibility, aerobic conditioning, exercise, balance activities, and other therapeutic interventions.
Respiratory Therapist
Our curriculum sets you up for success with a wide range of classroom, laboratory, and hospital-based clinical experiences at area hospitals and in-home health.
“I love Kirkwood’s Criminal Justice program! The instructors are former law enforcement officers, so not only do they have practical experience to share, they have contacts that lead to interesting experiences. My class went on a tour of the Linn County Courthouse and it was so neat to get an insider view and see how it applies to our classwork.”
Malayna Arp,
Walker, Iowa
Looking for more options?
Check out our Program Areas
Program Areas are a collection of Kirkwood’s academic program options organized by similar career/interest categories. If you’re not ready to commit to a specific program yet, a Program Area is perfect for you! You can also customize any of our programs to meet your transfer needs, if that’s your goal.