College of Health Professions
Dean
Dr. Janelle K. O’Connell
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 degree option exists in Health Professions to assist students who may not have achieved admissions to a professional program after achieving their undergraduate degree. Graduate programs in the College include Master degrees in Athletic Training, Kinesiology, Sport & Recreation, Physician Assistant studies, and Speech-Language and Pathology. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program and a Certificate program in Anatomy are also part of the College. Training students in both didactic and clinical education in a Christian environment, students are prepared to enter the healthcare field and carry out the mission of Christ in a compassionate and loving manner. Clinical research is integrated in many 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 Degrees:
Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD)
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders’ mission 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 an SLPA (Assistant) license. Students pursuing this major who meet the established requirements may earn an automatic admission to the Master in Speech-Language & Pathology program at Hardin-Simmons University.
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 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.
The wide range of subject matter within the Exercise Science degree prepares the student for many career pathways, whether it be entry-level positions in the exercise science/human performance field or entrance into allied health professional programs (Physical Therapy, Athletic Training, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Chiropractic), medicine, and graduate programs in Exercise Science, Kinesiology or other related degrees. A degree in Exercise Science utilizes exercise to improve health and human performance for different populations across the lifespan.
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)
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, recreation, and movement sciences. 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 to achieve teacher certification.
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/
Nursing (NURS)
The Hardin-Simmons University School of Nursing offers an exceptional undergraduate-level professional program that aims to produce clinicians who are dedicated to providing compassionate and individualized patient care, serving their communities, advancing their profession, and engaging in lifelong learning and professional development. Students who complete the program can sit for the national licensure exam, NCLEX-RN®. This full-time BSN program spans eight college terms and requires 120 credits. The curriculum is designed on a foundation of the arts, science, and humanities and incorporates The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (AACN, 2021). Students must successfully achieve all course and program learning outcomes.
The program is rooted in servant leadership principles, focusing on serving others as the number one priority. Servant leadership aims to nurture, foster, and empower others to create a community of creativity, collaboration, satisfaction, and successful performance. Nursing is considered both an art and a science, requiring the connection of the heart and mind. At the heart of nursing is a deep devotion to people, while the mind employs a rigorous commitment to learning. Registered Nurses perform comprehensive physical exams and histories before making critical decisions, provide health promotion and personalized interventions, and coordinate care using the nursing process: assessment, analysis, outcome/planning, implementation, and evaluation. The Hardin-Simmons University School of Nursing program is an excellent choice for individuals committed to providing quality patient care, pursuing professional development, and positively impacting their communities.
For more information regarding the Nursing program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/undergraduate-majors-minors/nursing-degree/
Post-Baccalaureate International Health Program
This course of study aims to assist internationally trained healthcare professionals, especially nurses, understand the American healthcare system and work toward professional licensure in the United States. Prospective students must have completed a bachelor's degree and have professional licensure in their home country before applying. For instance, international nurses must have a bachelor’s degree and be a registered nurse before coming to the U.S. The curriculum will help prepare the nursing student for the NCLEX exam so they can become licensed to practice in the United States. Other health professions may qualify for this post-baccalaureate program.
The curriculum in this unique program consists of 24-credit hours, completed over two semesters, and explores topics such as patient care, culture, pharmacology, communication, and healthcare policy. Clinical experiences in a healthcare profession are incorporated in the curriculum so students can apply what is being learned in the classroom to real patient experiences.
This is a cohort designed curriculum and requires a minimum of 25 students to be enrolled to begin the course of study.
Graduate Degrees:
Master of Athletic Training
Hardin-Simmons University offers the Master of Athletic Training (MAT) program in a hybrid format. This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Athletic Training Education. The MAT program strives to provide unique opportunities to grow personally and professionally as an athletic trainer through an education enlightened by faith.
This 24-month program prepares students to become entry-level athletic trainers. During the first year of this program, courses are delivered in an asynchronous online format, although students are required to attend six 1-week on campus, intensive laboratory sessions. The skills and knowledge obtained online are applied during the laboratory sessions. The second year of the program entails clinical rotations where your skills are further developed in different clinical settings. A bachelor’s degree is required for entry into the program, although HSU undergraduate students can participate in a 3 + 2 program and earn both the bachelor's degree and MAT degree in 5 years.
A new cohort begins each June. You do not have to move from your current location to participate in this program. While we cannot guarantee availability of clinical sites everywhere, typically clinicals can be completed near your home. Even though this is primarily an online program, this is an intense program requiring your primary attention be given to your academic studies.
For more information regarding the Master of Athletic Training program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/masters-of-athletic-training/
Master of Science in Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation (KSPR)
This fully online degree, which can be completed in one year, is guided by Christian faith and values, and 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. Courses are offered over 8 weeks during the long semesters and 7 weeks during the summer semesters. There are three concentrations and one multidisciplinary option; 1) Exercise Science and Human Performance, 2) Sport Coaching, and 3) Recreation and Sport Administration. The multidisciplinary option allows students to select a variety of courses. The Exercise Science and Human Performance concentration is recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association Education Recognition Program. This means that the program meets the established educational graduate program criteria for strength and conditioning. 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 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.
For more information regarding the SLP program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-of-science-in-speech-language-pathology/
Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
The Hardin-Simmons University Physician Assistant Program is dedicated to academic excellence in medical education. Our mission is to develop and prepare compassionate, professional PA providers who are committed to life-long leadership, learning, and community service. Our graduates will work as part of the healthcare team to deliver exceptional healthcare to rural West Texas and under-served communities worldwide.
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 is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2032. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program's accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at Accreditation-History-Hardin-Simmons-U-272.pdf (arc-pa.org)
This is a full-time, 27-month face-to-face program.
For more information on the MPAS program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/physician-assistant-program/
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 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. The DPT program has demonstrated outstanding graduation and licensure pass rates, including a 100% employment rate since 1997.
This is a full-time, face-to-face program.
For more information on the DPT program, please visit: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/doctorate-physical-therapy/
Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)
The Hardin-Simmons University Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) Program is an advanced degree program for PAs holding a state medical license. Completing the degree promotes growth in knowledge and skills to prepare PAs to expand their clinical careers. In addition, the DMSc degree provides a foundation for advancement in PA education, precepting, research, administrative, advocacy, and leadership roles in healthcare.
The program is designed for PAs who have earned their master’s degree from an ARC-PA-accredited institution and are licensed to practice medicine. The DMSc is a 2-semester bridge program using the cohort model, requiring students to take 9-credit hours each semester. Courses in the degree cover writing, publishing, communication, application of evidence-based medicine, differential diagnosis, patient education, doctoral identity formation, medical humanities, provider wellness, advocacy, leadership, and precepting.
The degree prepares graduates to further their clinical careers with the skills to become PA educators, researchers, leaders, advocates, administrators, and more. The program is delivered online to allow working PAs to pursue a DMSc degree without disrupting their clinical practice.
Hardin-Simmons University is seeking SACS approval for the program with the goal of enrollment of the first cohort 2025.
For more information about the DMSc program, please contact the Program Director, Dr. Kathy Robinson, at Kathy.robinson@hsutx.edu.
Certificates:
Certificate in Clinical Anatomy
This 12-hour certificate in Clinical Anatomy prepares individuals to teach gross anatomy in a variety of health professions including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, nursing, medicine, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, radiological sciences, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, dietetics, athletic training, exercise physiology/sport sciences, chiropractic or other related health sciences. A strong science foundation and an advanced health science related degree (beyond the 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, week-long 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 as well as teaching techniques, exam writing, and unique dissections.
This is designed as a 9-month online asynchronous program with one 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/
Residency Program:
Hendrick Health and West Texas Rehabilitation Center Orthopedic Residency
The accredited orthopedic residency program is offered across three program sites (Hardin-Simmons University, Hendrick Health, and West Texas Rehabilitation Center) with highly accomplished, certified and experienced mentors. Residents experience a wide variety of orthopedic diagnoses and patient populations encompassing all ages while developing advanced evaluation, differential diagnosis, varied manual therapy, dry needling, soft tissue mobilization, and other therapy techniques. Through the program’s academic experience, the resident will engage in teaching and research opportunities while mentoring HSU DPT students. The clinical experiences at Hendrick Health and West Texas Rehab Center offers extensive one-on-one mentorship, challenges in problem solving and critical thinking, and practice in evidence-supported skills while becoming a proficient, autonomous practitioner. To apply for the orthopedic residency, one must be a licensed physical therapist and graduate from an accredited DPT program.