2015-2016 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
College of Health Professions
Administration
Dean: Olsson
Senior Associate Dean: Goossen
Associate Dean for Research: Bacon-Baguley
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies: Beck
Website
Mission
The College of Health Professions strives to be a model of excellence in health care education in the twenty-first century. The mission of the college is to prepare reflective professionals with the foundation necessary to serve and guide health care.
Program Information
The College of Health Professions houses eleven programs in the following disciplines:
Clinical Doctorate degree
Physical Therapy
Master's degrees
Occupational Therapy
Physician Assistant Studies
Public Health
Speech-Language Pathology
Baccalaureate degrees
Allied Health Sciences with selection of an emphasis
American Sign Language Interpreting
General Allied Health Science
Health Information and Reimbursement
Histotechnology
Prehealth professional Physical Therapy
Prehealth professional Physician Assistant Studies
Prehealth professional Speech Language Pathology
Respiratory Care
Diagnostic Medical Sonography with selection of an emphasis
General - Abdominal and Obstetrics-Gynecology
Echocardiography and Vascular Sonography
Medical Laboratory Science
Radiologic and Imaging Sciences - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Radiation Therapy
Therapeutic Recreation
Accreditation
The medical laboratory science program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science. The radiation therapy program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). The diagnostic medical sonography program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS). The Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The physician assistant studies program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The physical therapy curriculum is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association. The speech-language pathology program is undergoing accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), which is affiliated with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Undergraduate Secondary Admission
Three undergraduate programs in the College of Health Professions require a selective secondary admissions/application process: medical laboratory science, therapeutic recreation, and allied health sciences in the following emphases: health information and reimbursement, histotechnology, prehealth professional dosimetry, and prehealth professional speech-language pathology. See the Academic Programs section of the catalog for details.
Admission into diagnostic medical sonography, radiation therapy, and radiologic and imaging sciences - MRI requires a competitive secondary admissions/application process. For those who are already practicing in a radiologic and imaging sciences (RIS) profession and have national registration with two years of college might be eligible for the RIS baccalaureate degree with specialization in the MRI emphasis. See appropriate Academic Program description for detailed information on undergraduate admission.
Graduate Admissions
The Clinical Doctorate of Physical Therapy, the master's degree programs in occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, public health, and speech-language pathology require completion of a baccalaureate degree and submission of a graduate application; admission into these programs is competitive. See appropriate Academic Program description for detailed information on the admission requirements.
Student Services
The CHP Student Services Office is a key resource for academic advising services and admissions to GVSU's CHP programs and majors. GVSU students who declare a major within the College of Health Profession are each assigned to a professional academic advisor and encouraged to meet with their advisor at a minimum once per year but preferably each semester. The programs in CHP are competitive; it is in the student's best interest to get academic advising throughout the college career.
Prospective and admitted students can expect to receive the following services from the CHP student services director, admissions coordinator, and three academic advisors:
Academic Plans - development of an achievable academic plan and at times a parallel plan.
Advising Availability - access to CHP advisors at GVSU's Allendale campus and in Grand Rapids at the Cook DeVos Center for Health Sciences (CHS).
Application and Admissions - navigation through the undergraduate secondary admissions process and CHP's graduate program applications.
Orientation - academic advising during freshmen and transfer orientation.
Overview - prospective students are given opportunities to visit the CHS and learn about the CHP programs.
Policies and Procedures - clarification of university policies that pertain to and support degree completion.
Referrals - introduction and encouragement to utilize GVSU's campus resources, student success services and faculty support.
Student Organizations
The College of Health Professions encourages students to consider participation in any one of the following clubs as it pertains to program interest and eligibility:
American Sign Language Interpreting Club
Doctorate of Physical Therapy Organization
National Student Speech Language Hearing Association
Preoccupational Therapy Club
Prephysician Assistant Club
Prephysical Therapy Club
Preradiologic and Imaging Sciences Student Organization
Public Health Society
Radiologic and Imaging Sciences Student Organization
Student Occupational Therapy Association
Therapeutic Recreation Student Organization
Scholarship Resources
Numerous scholarship opportunities are available to students in their respective programs. Information regarding scholarships is available through the College of Health Profession's program websites, or through Grand Valley State University's Financial Aid Office at www.gvsu.edu/financialaid/.