Most Luther students attend the Illinois College of Optometry or Indiana University, but students are prepared to enter any of the 19 professional schools in North America. Facilities and Faculty Luther has an enviable reputation in the sciences and in preprofessional and professional health programs. These NSF grants have enabled Luther to construct additional laboratory space, purchase new equipment, and fund selected student and faculty research. A molecular genetics laboratory, electron microscopes, and an undergraduate facility have been added to the science facilities at Luther in recent years with the help of grants. A number of Luther faculty members are engaged in health-related research in addition to their teaching responsibilities.
Faculty members understand the needs of students entering health professions.
Advisers help students plan programs which satisfy specific optometry school requirements and provide the important background needed for a successful optometry practice. These internships are primarily observational, but they provide a very practical introduction to the many health-care professions. Placements are available in large medical complexes, county hospitals, medical laboratories, public health programs, and private practices. These programs vary to allow advisors the freedom to match specific internships with the career goals of the student. Mayo Clinic and Gundersen Clinic are two excellent institutions where many Luther students go for internships during January term.