College of Health Sciences
Administration
Kristofer J. Hagglund, Dean
Stephanie A. Reid-Arndt, Senior Associate Dean
Timothy J. Wolf, Associate Dean for Research
510 Lewis Hall
(573) 884-6705
haydenrm@health.missouri.edu
Advising and Scholarship Contact
SHP Student Services Office
101 Lewis Hall
(573) 882-8011
mushpadvising@missouri.edu
The MU College of Health Sciences is the University of Missouri System’s only college of health professions and the state’s only public health program located on a health sciences campus. Its mission is to improve the health and well-being of others. Every day, College of Health Sciences faculty, staff, and students work towards changing lives through the integration of teaching, service and discovery.
With programs in rehabilitation, diagnostic and imaging sciences, public health, and social work, graduates of the College of Health Sciences fill critical roles in health care. The college is comprised of eight departments and 13 disciplines, many with their own specialized accreditation processes. The college also hosts a satellite program of the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Pharmacy.
The college offers undergraduate degrees with majors in Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences (emphasis areas - Clinical Laboratory Science, Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, Radiography, and Respiratory Therapy); Fitness Programming and Management; Health Sciences; Public Health; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; and Social Work. The college offers graduate/professional degrees in Health and Rehabilitation Science; Occupational Therapy; Physical Therapy; Public Health; Social Work; and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences with an emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology.
Students gain valuable experience by participating in nationally recognized service centers including PhysZou, Tiger OT, the MU Speech and Hearing Clinic, Robert G. Comb’s Language Preschool, MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and more than eight hundred fieldwork sites.
- Admissions
- Exploratory Courses
- Required Entry Level Courses
- International Admissions
- Academic Regulations
- Enrolling in Other Institutions Simultaneously
- Advising
- Career Development
Admissions
Undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Health Sciences work with a professional academic advisor to ensure timely completion of degree program requirements and for developing a personalized plan for achieving academic success. Students admitted to a clinical program may be advised by a professional advisor in Student Services or a faculty advisor in the major.
Admission to the University and to the College of Health Sciences as a pre-Health student does not guarantee admission for College of Health Science degree programs that require program-specific applications. Application deadlines and requirements vary for each program. Note that the Health Sciences major and the Public Health major do not require an application. Students are strongly encouraged to seek advising to ensure they are making satisfactory progress towards pre-requisites, MU General Education, and program requirements.
Exploratory Courses
The College of Health Sciences offers introductory courses and experiences to provide information about career opportunities in these areas. These courses are listed below:
| HLTH_SCI 1000 | Introduction to the Health Professions | 3 |
| CL_L_S 1000 | Orientation to Clinical Laboratory Science | 1 |
| DMU 1000 | Introduction to Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound | 1 |
| NUCMED 1000 | Introduction to Nuclear Medicine | 1 |
| OC_THR 1000 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy | 1 |
| HTH_PR 1100 | Introductory Topics in Pharmacy | 1 |
| PH_THR 1000 | Introduction to Physical Therapy | 1 |
| P_HLTH 1000 | Introduction to Careers in Public Health | 1 |
| RS_THR 1000 | Introduction to Respiratory Therapy | 1 |
Required Entry-level Courses
All students in the College of Health Sciences must complete Math and Quantitative Reasoning and Writing and Rhetoric (ENGLSH 1000) with grades of C- or higher by 60 university-level credit hours, including transfer and MU credit. In addition, the College of Health Sciences requires students who are declaring a "Pre-Health" or "Undeclared" major to meet the minimum GPA requirement for that program of interest. All undergraduate students are required to declare a plan upon completion of 60 university-level credit hours.
In addition to academic record, attributes such as interpersonal skills, motivation, attitude, interest, commitment and knowledge of the field are considered in selecting students to participate in the professional phase of any program. Applicants may also be evaluated on school and college aptitude tests, pattern of academic achievement, verbal expression, extracurricular activities and motivation demonstrated by employment and volunteer activities.
Information about application deadlines for each program is shown below.
| Professional Program | Application Deadline | Classes Begin |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Laboratory Science | Nov. 1, junior | Summer |
| Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound | Feb. 1, sophomore | Summer |
| Nuclear Medicine | Dec. 1, sophomore | Summer |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | Aug. 1, rolling admissions through May 1 | Fall |
| Physical Therapy | Sept. 30, junior or senior | Summer |
| Radiography | Dec. 1, sophomore | Summer |
| Respiratory Therapy | Feb. 1, sophomore | Summer |
| Social Work | Early - Feb. 15, Final - May 15 | Fall |
| Speech, Language and Hearing Science | Feb. 1, sophomore | Fall |
| Fitness Programming and Management | N/A | Fall/Spring/Summer |
| Health Sciences | N/A | Fall/Spring/Summer |
| Public Health | N/A | Fall/Spring/Summer |
International Admissions
Students whose native language is not English should contact the College of Health Sciences for requirements.
Prerequisite Curriculum Requirements
See the degree requirements in the following pages for specific course requirements in the various programs. The student is responsible for meeting graduation requirements for the program and the University. Academic advisors in the College of Health Sciences assist students with understanding degree requirements and progress towards degree completion.
Graduation Requirements
In addition to degree and major requirements, students must complete university graduation requirements, which include university general education requirements.
Degree Core Requirements
A Bachelor's degree from the College of Health Sciences is granted to candidates who have successfully fulfilled all didactic and clinical requirements of the program as described for each area, in addition to all University requirements, including University general education requirements.
In addition to the academic and clinical education requirements of a program, students must possess and exhibit those personal qualities and characteristics that are associated with patient welfare and professional trust. These elements are a part of the overall evaluation process for programs with professional phases. Should it be determined that these qualities are not present in sufficient degree or that a student does not demonstrate satisfactory growth and progress in these areas, the student is subject to dismissal from the program.
Degree with Honors Requirements
Information about specific requirements for students to graduate with latin honors is available at https://healthprofessions.missouri.edu/.
Academic Regulations
Time Limits on Credits Earned
Contact each department for information on time limits.
Credits by Examination
Students with previous training or experience may be allowed to earn advanced-standing credit through challenge or equivalency evaluation in certain programs. Contact the Health Professions advising office for information pertaining to the awarding of credit for these exams.
Maximum Credits Enrolled
A student may not enroll for more than 18 credits in a fall or spring term and 9 in a summer term without permission from the advising office; students should contact their advisor for more information.
Independent Study
Students must receive prior approval before enrolling in independent study courses.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grades
A student wishing to enroll in a course on an S/U basis must receive permission from the advising office.
Enrolling in Other Institutions Simultaneously
Students should consult with their advisor before enrolling in another institution while being enrolled at the University of Missouri.
Advising
All undergraduate students are assigned a professional academic advisor in the College of Health Sciences.
Career Development
The Office of Career Services in the College of Health Sciences offers career advising, résumé, cover letter and personal statement review, mock interviews, LinkedIn consultation, job search strategies, and workshops to enhance students' career development. In addition, the SHP Office of Career Services offers a bi-annual Career and Opportunities Fair, which allows College of Health Sciences students to connect with employers, graduate and professional programs, internships, and experiential learning opportunities. Students are encouraged to seek out and use College of Health Sciences Career Services early in their undergraduate career to connect with shadowing opportunities, find part-time employment, and explore clinical and non-clinical career paths.
The College of Health Sciences offers a wide variety of programs of study for students interested in careers in healthcare. At the graduate/professional level, we offer the following degrees:
Master's Degrees
- Master of Health Science (MHS) in Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences
- Master of Health Science (MHS) in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, with an emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
Doctoral Degrees
- Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
- PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Science
- PhD in Social Work
Graduate Certificates in the following areas are also offered:
- Epidemiology
- Global Public Health
- Public Health
- Public Health Communication
- Gerontological Social Work
Note: Prospective graduate students must apply to both the degree program of interest and to the MU Graduate School. In most cases, the entire application process may be completed online. Find program information as well as admission and application details by selecting the degree program of interest in the left navigation column.