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2021-2022 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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College of Health Professions

Administration

Dean: Beck

Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Studies: Open

Associate Dean for Research: Bacon-Baguley

Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies: Hall

Website

gvsu.edu/chp

Mission

The College of Health Professions strives to be a model of excellence in health care education in the 21st 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 20 majors and programs in the following 13 disciplines.

Doctorate Degrees
Audiology
Physical Therapy

Master's Degrees
Clinical Dietetics
Medical Dosimetry
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 (minor required)
Health Professional Degree Completion
Histotechnology
Prehealth Physical Therapy
Prehealth Physician Assistant Studies
Respiratory Care
Cardiovascular Sonography
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Abdominal and OB/GYN
Health Information Management
Medical Laboratory Science
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 cardiovascular sonography program is accredited under the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP) and programmatically through the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT). The diagnostic medical sonography program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS). The health information management program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). 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 program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association. The speech-language pathology M.S. program is a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The clinical dietetics program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), which is the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). The public health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The therapeutic recreation program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through its Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE).

Admission

Undergraduate Secondary Admission

Five undergraduate majors in the College of Health Professions require a selective secondary admissions/application process: communication sciences and disorders, medical laboratory science, therapeutic recreation, health information management, and allied health sciences in the following emphases: health professional degree completion, histotechnology, and respiratory care. See the Academic Programs section of the catalog for details.

Admission into diagnostic medical sonography, cardiovascular sonography, and radiation therapy involves a competitive secondary admissions/application process. See appropriate Academic Program description for detailed information on undergraduate admission.

Graduate Admission

The doctorate of audiology, as well as the master's degree programs in clinical dietetics, medical dosimetry, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, public health, and speech-language pathology require completion of a baccalaureate degree and submission of a graduate application and corresponding materials; 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 (CHPSS) is a key resource for academic advising services and admissions to Grand Valley's CHP programs and majors. Grand Valley students who declare a major within the College of Health Professions 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 majority of 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 and support from the CHP Student Services director, admissions coordinator, office coordinator, and four academic advisors.

  • Academic plans: Development of achievable academic plans and access to resources for parallel plans.
  • Admissions: Invitation for prospective students to visit the Cook-Devos Center for Health Sciences (CHS) and learn about the CHP programs.
  • Advisor access: Academic advisors are available to students at Grand Valley's Allendale Campus and in Grand Rapids at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences.
  • Program application: Navigation through CHP's undergraduate secondary admissions process and graduate program applications.
  • Orientation: Academic advising during freshmen and transfer orientation.
  • Policies and procedures: Clarification of university policies that pertain to and support degree completion.
  • Referrals: Introduction to and utilization of Grand Valley's campus resources, student success services, and faculty support.

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.

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's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at gvsu.edu/financialaid.

Program Descriptions


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