Mission, Role & Scope

Mission

The College of Health Professions (CHP) serves the state of Arkansas as the primary arm of the University of Arkansas in offering programs that provide education, service, and research in the allied health professions. The College was organized as a separate college within the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1971.

In fulfilling its mission, the College of Health Professions offers education and training opportunities for students of the allied health professions to prepare them as graduates to assume the roles of the professional. The College curricula coordinate the professional course work with the arts, humanities, and basic and social sciences into a total educational experience that emphasizes life-long learning in the allied health professions.

Patient and public health education is an important part of the mission of the College of Health Professions. In its public service role, programs in the College render patient care services as part of their educational efforts under the supervision of faculty. Technical advice and consultative services are available from the College to institutions and agencies throughout the state. The professional service mission of the College includes the offering of continuing education courses to practitioners to enhance teaching, administration, and professional skills.

Research in the College of Health Professions involves the educational process as well as professional fields. The research mission involves the quest for new information which addresses the health and health care educational needs of the state, and the sharing of this information with the scientific community.

CHP Role and Scope

The CHP mission is achieved through the varied offerings of its departments. The College, the only one of its kind at an academic health science center in Arkansas, has as its main role the education of allied health professionals to serve in the health care delivery system in the state. The specific educational programs currently offered within the College of Health Professions are provided by ten academic departments. They include: Audiology and Speech Pathology; Dental Hygiene; Dietetics and Nutrition; Genetic Counseling; Imaging and Radiation Sciences (Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences, Radiologic Imaging Sciences); Laboratory Sciences (Cytotechnology, Medical Laboratory Sciences); Occupational Therapy; Physical Therapy; Physician Assistant Studies; and Respiratory Care.  Programs range from academic requirements of three semesters to programs that require four years of study. Academic awards include bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. Nearly all the programs stipulate prerequisites for admission that must be completed at another (general undergraduate) institution.

Other roles of the College of Health Professions include public and professional service and research. The College offers professional continuing education opportunities to enhance the abilities of practicing allied health professionals; serves as a resource center for allied health planning, education, and delivery systems in Arkansas, and develops applied research programs in allied health. All of these roles combine to support the overall mission of the College.