University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

The mission of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is the development of professional health care practitioners through innovative, individualized, and quality classroom, clinical, and distance education.

The University has four campuses in St. Augustine and Miami, FL, San Marcos, CA and Austin, TX. Our entry-level, first-professional degree offerings include: Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree (DPT), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), Master of Occupational Therapy Degree (MOT), the Flexible (Flex) Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree (DPT) and the Flexible Master of Occupational Therapy Degree (MOT). The University also offers graduate post-professional education including the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Health Science (MHS), Master of Health Administration (MHA), Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy Degree, the Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree, the Doctor of Education (EdD), the Doctor of Health Science (DHSc), and Continuing Education Seminars and Certifications for currently licensed therapists.

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is a graduate institution that emphasizes health science education through innovative quality classroom and distance education. Founded in 1979, USAHS has locations in San Marcos, CA; St. Augustine, FL; Austin, TX and Miami, FL. USAHS offers degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, education and health science, as well as continuing education programs.

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and maintains programmatic accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) completed a rigorous assessment by B Lab®, an independent non-profit organization that serves as a global movement of people using business as a force for good, and became a Certified B Corporation®. USAHS is a member of the Laureate International Universities network and Laureate Education, Inc. is a Certified B Corp® – the largest corporation ever to become a B Corp™.

The University of St. Augustine is looking to enroll candidates who are most likely to succeed in our educational programs. We serve first-professional (entry-level), transitional and post-professional students in the health sciences fields of physical therapy, occupational therapy, orthopaedic assistant, and health sciences education.

USAHS focuses on providing the best and more appropriate academic and financial aid counseling throughout the admissions process. Whether applying to a first-professional, campus based program or a post-professional distance program, an assigned Enrollment Advisor is available to assist you from application to acceptance.

USAHS offers flexible approaches to health professional education utilizing web-based, classroom, and laboratory learning activities. Each of of our academic programs focuses on foundational sciences and concepts, sound decision-making, and strong technical skill development. USAHS delivers contemporary, flexible, evidence- informed programs that present students with many enriching and exciting learning opportunities designed to meet their professional goals. USAHS has a number of resources to help students fund their education, including dedicated financial aid counselors. Although they are campus based, every counselor is available to assist students at any point in the process. In addition to reviewing eligibility for one of the USAHS scholarships, students are encouraged to explore financial assistance programs available from health care providers who employ therapists or scholarships available for graduate education.

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is proud of the achievement of its students and the success of its programs. The University has internal processes for assessing student learning and program success, and it adheres to standards and assessment processes established by accrediting bodies at the institutional and program levels.

The University holds institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission and various programmatic accreditations including the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

Around the world, organizations, including the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, are undergoing rigorous reviews by the nonprofit group B Lab in their quest to become a Certified B Corporation. Certified B Corporations are leaders who are committed to using business as a force for good. These organizations meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. They aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

Stanley V. Paris, PT, Ph.D., in 1966 began teaching continuing professional education courses to physical therapists. These courses carry continuing education units (CEUs) which are helpful in both maintaining and developing professional competency and, in an increasing number of states, for maintaining professional licensure.
 
In 1979, the University formally known as the Institute of Graduate Health Sciences was founded. The State of Georgia granted authority to offer a clinically-based post-professional (advanced) Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MScPT) degree. Thus, the Institute became the first independent proprietary school in physical therapy able to confer a graduate degree.

In the last several years, the University has been growing at a healthy pace, adding programs, faculty, and facilities to meet the needs of rehabilitation in this time of great change and challenge. The University will continue to be a leader in providing meaningful educational experiences in areas and directions that both therapists and consumers require.