Betsy Francis-Connolly Ph.D., Dean
Yanice Méndez-Fernández, Ph.D., MPH, Associate Dean
The School of Health Sciences (SHS) at the University of New Haven is a regional destination and nationally recognized provider of quality health professions education. The School of Health Sciences at the University of New Haven prepares students to develop the competencies necessary to be a successful healthcare professional in the 21st century. The signature of a University of New Haven School of Health Sciences education is our commitment to competency-based education assessed through hands-on learning experiences in simulated and real-world healthcare settings. Students learn and grow through health career exploration, interprofessional education, and hands-on experiences. Our curriculum is focused on healthcare innovation, systems thinking, and using evidence-based approaches to solve today's biggest challenges in healthcare which gives students the tools to succeed in today's complex healthcare environment.
Mission
The School of Health Sciences' mission is to educate competent, caring health professionals by delivering innovative, interdisciplinary healthcare education and services.
Vision
The School of Health Sciences aims to become a regionally and nationally recognized provider of health education and services at the forefront of health professional education for the 21st century.
Organizational Structure
The School of Health Sciences consists of three operational units as follows:
- The Department of Allied Health
- The Department of Population Health & Leadership
- The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences & Wellness
Professional Accreditation
The A.S. in Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) (https://www.ada.org/en/coda).
The B.S. and M.S. in Medical Laboratory Science programs are fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) (https://www.naacls.org), awarded in April 2023 for a period of 5 years.
The University of New Haven Paramedicine program has been issued a Letter of Review by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). This letter is NOT a CAAHEP accreditation status, it is a status signifying that a program seeking initial accreditation has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the accreditation standards through the Letter of Review Self Study Report (LSSR) and other documentation. Letter of Review is recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) for eligibility to take the National Registry's Paramedic credentialing examination(s). However, it is NOT a guarantee of eventual accreditation. To contact CoAEMSP: visit coaemsp.org or call (214) 703-8445
The University of New Haven Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This program integrates the didactic coursework with supervised experiential learning to provide a competency based education that provides graduates eligibility to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and be prepared for practice.
The M.S. in Healthcare Administration Program (MHA) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) (https://www.cahme.org).
The University of New Haven Master of Public Health program is an applicant for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The program is proud to pursue accreditation from this prestigious organization, and plans to submit its self-study in the fall of 2023. Information regarding the program's progress can be found at https://ceph.org/about/org-info/who-we-accredit/applicants/.
The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology (residential) at the University of New Haven 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, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a "preaccreditation" status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of 5 years.
The Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program has been granted Candidacy status by ACOTE. Candidacy Status indicates that the plans and resource allocations for the proposed program appear to demonstrate the ability to comply with the ACOTE Accreditation Standards. The program will admit its first class of students for the Fall term 2023. The program must complete a pre-accreditation review and an initial on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam.
University Core Curriculum
In addition to departmental requirements, students must fulfill all requirements of the University Core Curriculum.
General Policies in the School of Health Sciences
Each student is assigned an academic adviser. Typically, the adviser is a member of the faculty in the major department for the student's degree program.
A student may select a minor in a department other than the major department after consultation with the adviser or the appropriate department chair.
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation.
Additional Requirements
Clinically intensive programs utilize several off-site facilities to support a wide variety of clinical experience. Transportation to and from these sites is the responsibility of the student.
CastleBranch Fees
Students in health sciences programs will be required to submit proof of participation in interprofessional educational programs. The University of New Haven works with an external vendor, CastleBranch, to facilitate the monitoring of this work. Students work with CastleBranch directly and pay them directly for any necessary services. The one-time cost for monitoring of IPE services will be $28, with clinical health sciences programs utilizing additional CastleBranch services. (See individual programs for additional fees and services).
Background Checks and Immunizations
Internships and clinical sites frequently require students to complete a criminal background check in order to be placed at their facility. Students are also required to submit required health and immunization records prior to the start of clinical education. Students are responsible for the cost associated in obtaining background clearance and necessary health requirements. Please consult the program-specific chairperson for more information.
Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens
Exposures to blood and other body fluids occur across a wide variety of occupations. Health care workers can be exposed to blood through needlesticks and other sharps injuries, mucous membranes, and skin exposures. The pathogens of primary concern are the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Technical Standards
Admitted students must meet the technical standards/essential functions of their program of study. Technical standards establish essential qualities necessary to achieve the skills, knowledge, and competencies for entry-level practitioners as well as meet the expectations of the program's accrediting agency. All students must meet the established abilities and expectations. If a student is unable to fulfill the technical standards/essential functions, with or without accommodations, the student may be dismissed from the program. Please consult the program-specific chairperson for more information.