College of Health Professions
Dean
Dr. Janelle O’Connell
(325) 670-1339
HSU Box 16004
joconnel@hsutx.edu
The College of Health Professions was established in 2019 and includes programs at the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, master and doctoral levels. The College offers undergraduate degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Exercise Science, and Fitness, Recreation & Sports Management. It is anticipated that a bachelor's degree in nursing will begin in Fall 2025. A post-baccalaureate program leading to preparation for entrance into graduate programs in the health professions can be pursued after the bachelor's degree. It is anticipated that a bachelor’s degree in nursing will begin in Fall 2025. Master dergrees in the College include Athletic Training, Kinesiology, Sport & Recreation, Physician Assistant Studies, and Speech-Language Pathology. The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and a certificate program in Clinical Anatomy are also offered. Training students in both didactic and clinical education in a Christian environment, prepare individuals to enter the healthcare field and carry out the mission of Christ in a compassionate and loving manner. Clinical research is integrated into most programs, and the opportunity to participate in mission trips across the United States and abroad to serve others is one of the hallmarks of this college. Medical ethics are an integral part of most curriculums. Faculty within the College conduct and collaborate on research and encourage and provide internship and shadowing experiences with numerous healthcare providers.
Undergraduate Programs
Department of Communication Science and Disorders (CSD)
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders’ goal is to provide an academically challenging pre-professional education in the fields of speech-language-hearing pathology and audiology in an environment that encourages intellectual and spiritual growth and preparation for graduate school.
The program encourages students to lead lives of service to individuals across the lifespan who have communication delays or disorders by providing clinical opportunities in a variety of settings. Both a major and a minor can be pursued in CSD for preparation toward a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, a Doctoral degree in Audiology, or as the terminal degree for a SLPA (Assistant) license.
For more information regarding the CSD program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/undergraduate-majors-minors/communication-sciences-disorders-degrees/
Exercise Science (EXSC)
The wide range of subject matter within Exercise Science prepares you for many career pathways both entry-level positions in the exercise science/human performance field and entrance into allied health professional programs (Physical Therapy, Athletic Training, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Chiropractic), medicine, and graduate programs in Exercise Science or Kinesiology. You will learn how to best utilize exercise to improve health and human performance for different populations across the lifespan.
The HSU Exercise Science Program, guided by Christian faith and values, prepares students for a variety of career opportunities in health and human movement. Foundational to the Program is the multidisciplinary study of human movement involving components of biological, physical, psychological, and health sciences to explain structural and functional changes that occur on the physiological, biochemical and biomechanical levels.
For more information regarding the Exercise Science program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/undergraduate-majors-minors/exercise-science-degrees/
Fitness, Recreation & Sports Management (FRSM)
This flexible degree offers a wide array of employment options after graduation such as Personal & Group Fitness Training, Recreation in the city, church, university or military settings or Sports-related communication/marketing, Exercise Facility ownership, Athletics Administration and Parks Management, to name a few options! Program flexibility allows you to select courses from other Colleges at HSU to develop a degree plan to suit your interests. However, this degree does not provide an opportunity toward teacher certification. Guided by Christian faith and values, this degree option is committed to promoting excellence in education and professional preparation within the disciplines of health, wellness and movement sciences.
For more information regarding the Fitness, Recreation & Sport Management program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/undergraduate-majors-minors/fitness-recreation-sports-management-degree/
Health Professions Post-baccalaureate Program
The mission of the Post-baccalaureate program is to provide supplemental education after the baccalaureate degree to prepare students for graduate programs in the health profession. This program may improve the competitiveness of each student through education, service to mankind, and research.
The program is targeted toward individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university seeking to pursue admission into a health professions program. Undergraduate courses (including chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics) will be provided to baccalaureate-holding students to help improve their foundational knowledge of the health sciences. Additionally, students may pursue research opportunities in the areas of Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Public Health, and Biomedical/Pharmaceutical Sciences. Shadowing and medical service opportunities locally and/or abroad will be identified. GRE and MCAT preparation can be incorporated in this program.
For more information regarding the Health Professions Post-baccalaureate program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/health-professions-postbaccalaureate-program/
Graduate Programs
Master of Athletic Training (MAT)
Hardin-Simmons University offers the Master of Athletic Training (MAT) program in a hybrid format. This 24-month program prepares students to become an entry-level athletic trainer. During the first year of this program, courses are delivered online & begin in June. Besides the online courses, students are required to attend 6 1-week on-campus, intensive laboratory sessions during the first year. Failure to complete these sessions will delay or prevent graduation.
Hardin-Simmons University is currently seeking accreditation for their new athletic training program and is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The institution will be submitting a self-study to begin the accreditation process on July 1, 2023. Submission of the self-study and completion of an onsite review does not guarantee that the program will become accredited. Students who graduate from the program prior to accreditation WILL NOT be eligible to sit for the credentialing examination for athletic trainers and will not be eligible for licensure in most states.
This is a hybrid program designed to be online during the first year with six 1-week on-campus, intensive laboratory sessions during the first year. Full-time clinicals occur in the second year.
For more information regarding the Master of Athletic Training program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/masters-of-athletic-training/
Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation (KSPR)
This fully online degree, which can be completed in one year, is guided by Christian faith and values, is designed to provide theoretical learning that is integrated into real life experiences of students. Courses within the degree use evidence-based research to 1) enhance the careers of students who are currently working in the field; and 2) prepare students for future educational endeavors and professional growth in the field of kinesiology, sport, and recreation. The degree prepares graduates for careers in areas of wellness, sport performance enhancement/strength and conditioning, health, fitness and recreation, facilities and programs, athletic administration, sport marketing, recreation, professional sport management, and coaching. This program can be pursued on a part-time or full-time basis.
For more information regarding the Master of Science in Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/kspr/
Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
The Hardin-Simmons University Physician Assistant Program is dedicated to academic excellence in medical education. Their mission is to develop compassionate PA leaders who are committed to lifelong learning and community service. Working together as part of a greater healthcare team, our graduates will deliver exceptional healthcare to patients in West Texas and worldwide. There is an emphasis on Rural Health and healthcare delivery to underserved populations globally.
This is a full-time, 27-month, face-to-face program.
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Hardin-Simmons University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Hardin-Simmons University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program complies with the ARC-PA Standards.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-hardinsimmons-university/
For more information on the MPAS program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/physician-assistant-program/
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)
Speech-language pathologists work with individuals throughout the lifespan and in a variety of educational and health care settings. This program provides individuals who are self-motivated, dedicated and self-driven with an outstanding education by highly qualified and engaged faculty who are dedicated to your success. Excellence and integrity are developed and demonstrated in this program through lifelong learning, service and faith. The program prepares students for national licensure as an SLP.
This is a full-time, 22 month, face-to-face program; however, it can be completed on a part-time basis.
For more information regarding the SLP program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-of-science-in-speech-language-pathology/
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Hardin-Simmons University offers a seven-semester Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. The program prepares individuals who demonstrate excellence in the practice of physical therapy and are enlightened by Christian faith and values. Excellence and integrity are developed and demonstrated through lifelong learning, service and faith. Students who are self-motivated, dedicated and self-driven are provided an outstanding education by a highly qualified and engaged faculty who are dedicated to student success. An excellent, well-equipped facility, and numerous integrative learning experiences within the curriculum result in outstanding, exceptionally qualified practitioners.
This is a full-time, 28 month face-to-face program.
This entry-level professional degree prepares the graduate to be eligible for licensure and entry into the profession as a physical therapist. It is not necessary for applicants to hold a master’s degree to pursue the DPT. A new cohort of 40 students begins each fall semester. Over the last 25 years, the program has demonstrated excellent graduation, licensure and employment rates. The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Hardin-Simmons University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.
For more information on the DPT program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/doctorate-physical-therapy/
Certificates
Certificate in Anatomical Studies
This hybrid 12-hour certificate will prepare individuals to teach gross anatomy in a variety of health professions including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, nursing, medicine, respiratory therapy, radiological sciences, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, dietetics, athletic training, exercise physiology/sport sciences and chiropractic. A strong science foundation and a minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required for admission. The purpose of this certificate is to meet the shortage of qualified professionals to teach anatomy. This unique certificate program includes 4 online courses with a final, short, intensive course on campus, where human cadaver dissection leads to increased knowledge, skills and new ways of teaching anatomy. Unique to this certificate is incorporation and application of differential diagnosis and diagnostic imaging utilizing clinical anatomy.
This is designed as a 9 month online program with one full-time week on campus.
For more information on the Certificate in Clinical Anatomy, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/graduate-certificate-in-human-anatomy/