John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Sciences

Mission

The Rangos School of Health Sciences faculty will educate ethical healthcare professionals to engage and serve diverse local and global communities to advance person-centered healthcare. In the spirit of Duquesne University, moral, ethical and spiritual values support the scientific and philosophic underpinnings of all Rangos School of Health Sciences curricula. Students will be provided with opportunities and experiences to foster the development of comprehensive knowledge for practice in health care, education, and other professional settings. This knowledge will support advanced graduate education and scholarship. Graduates from the Rangos School of Health Sciences will be culturally-competent health science professionals who demonstrate competence, leadership, expertise, and a profound moral/ethical respect for their patients/clients, professional colleagues, and the general public.

Philosophy

The RSHS was founded in concert with the educational philosophy and objectives of Duquesne University. Students in the RSHS are exposed to a broad liberal arts education with emphasis on understanding the scientific, theoretical and theological constructs of the world. The academic programs focus on the scientific theories, which support the skilled ethical practice of the various professions, coupled with a strong appreciation and understanding of spiritual values. In recent years, health care in the United States has seen a transition to massive, complex health care delivery systems, which offer society choices to receive health care. A mixture of generalists and specialists practice in this sophisticated system to meet the growing health service demands of our society. To integrate our graduates into this system, the academic programs in the RSHS instill in-depth scientific and theoretical knowledge of health care practice, enhanced by a rich infusion of moral and spiritual values, necessary to prepare our graduates to be competent health care professionals. Through this preparation, students are encouraged to become cognizant of the needs of their patients/clients, their colleagues, and the health care systems in which they practice. Students are also required to develop an understanding of the necessity for on-going research and are prepared to advance the bodies of knowledge in their respective professions through their research efforts. All aspects of the students' education are coupled with an awareness and sensitivity of the human response to the functional limitations in various social and health care delivery contexts. The ultimate goal of the educational programs within the RSHS at Duquesne University is to educate truly outstanding health care professionals and citizens capable of explaining, investigating, and delivering the highest level of quality care with kindness, dignity, responsibility, and respect.

History

The Rangos School of Health Sciences has a distinguished history -- On January 29, 1990, Dr. John E. Murray, Jr., then President of Duquesne University, announced that the John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Sciences was being created to "graduate professionals who will provide assistance to people in maintaining their physical well-being. It will make them more self-sufficient physically and provide great hope for their futures. It meets an overwhelming societal need and it enlarges opportunities for students at Duquesne. In serving the citizens of Western Pennsylvania and our students, this initiative is precisely in accordance with the purposes of Duquesne University." The Rangos School of Health Sciences was Duquesne's first new School since 1937.

On March 18, 1991, Mr. John G. Rangos, Sr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Chambers Development Company, Inc.; The John G. Rangos Charitable Foundation; and the Chambers Development Charitable Foundation, made a major gift to Duquesne University in support of the School of Health Sciences. In recognition of that gift, Dr. Murray announced the School would be named the John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Sciences (RSHS).

In September 1991, the first freshmen were admitted to the athletic training, health management systems, occupational therapy, perfusion technology, physical therapy and physician assistant programs; students were also admitted into the professional phase of the physical therapy program. In May 1992, the professional/accredited phase of the physician assistant program was initiated and in September 1992, the professional phase of the athletic training and occupational therapy programs were implemented. In September 1993, the health management systems professional phase was implemented. During the 1993-1994 academic year, the RSHS became fully operational. Approximately 700 students were enrolled from the freshman year through the fifth year of the entry-level master's degree programs. In September 1996, the first freshmen were admitted into the speech-language pathology program. In September 1998 the professional phase of the speech-language pathology program was inaugurated. In May 2002, the last class of perfusion technologists graduated from the perfusion technology program. The Department of Engineering joined the School on July 1, 2019.

Duquesne University is proud of its association with regional health care organizations which provide unique clinical experiences for health sciences students. In addition, many private practitioner groups have contributed significantly to the development of the RSHS. A complete listing of RSHS clinical affiliation sites is available in the Office of the Dean.

Masters and Doctorate Degrees Awarded by the RSHS

Duquesne-China Health Institute

Duquesne University has developed, in collaboration with universities in China, a linkage program that allows for the exchange of masters and doctoral students, as well as faculty. A Master of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology are available to Chinese students who have earned a minimum of a bachelor's degree in health and/or rehabilitation-related areas at Chinese universities. This program is not designed to prepare students to pursue professional certification or licensure as health care professionals in the United States. Students in this programs spend one year (3 academic semesters) on Duquesne's campus where they have all the same rights and responsibilities as other Duquesne students. Once admitted to this program, a student must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA every semester and have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA to graduate with a master's degree.

Health Administration

Master of Health Administration

The Master of Health Administration is a 42-credit degree program that includes foundation, core, and concentration courses, as well as a capstone. Concentration areas include Health Informatics and Data Analytics, Population Health, and Healthcare Compliance and Risk Management. The Master of Health Administration is a two-year, online program with a three-day residency requirement immediately prior to graduation.

Occupational Therapy

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

The RSHS offers an entry-level master's degree program in occupational therapy (Master of Science in Occupational Therapy). The academic model for this program is 5 semesters of pre-professional liberal arts and science requirements, followed by 6 semesters of professional education. Professional-level education occurs on a year-round basis during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Students in the entry-level master's program are awarded a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences at the end of the fourth year and a Master of Science degree after successfully completing post-baccalaureate coursework and clinical fieldwork education. Students who have already earned a bachelor's degree will not be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences; they will work directly toward the master's degree.

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

The RSHS offers an entry-level doctoral degree program in occupational therapy (Occupational Therapy Doctorate). The academic model for this program is 5 semesters of pre-professional liberal arts and science prerequisite requirements followed by 6 semesters of professional phase education, then 3 semesters of advanced professional education, which occur in a hybrid format. Professional and advanced professional-level education occur on a year-round basis including fall, spring, and summer semesters. These models are unique and provide the RSHS faculty the opportunity to maximally utilize the excellent core curriculum and science offerings at Duquesne as the basis for creative, professional curricula.

Students in the entry-level doctorate program are awarded a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences at the end of the fourth year and an Occupational Therapy Doctorate at the end of the program. Students who have already earned a bachelor's degree will not be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences; they will work directly toward the doctorate degree. Students who chose to pursue the OTD will not be awarded a Master of Science in Health Sciences; they will work directly toward the Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree.

Physical Therapy

Doctor of Physical Therapy

The RSHS offers a six-year entry-level doctoral degree program in physical therapy (Doctor of Physical Therapy). Students may enter as freshmen and participate in the six-year program that is comprised of three pre-professional years and three professional years of study. These students will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree upon completion of the fourth year, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree upon completion of the sixth year. Students who transfer into the program having already earned a bachelor's degree will not be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree; they will work directly toward the doctoral degree.

All students who are granted the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree are eligible to take the national licensing exam that allows them to practice physical therapy.

Physician Assistant Studies

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies is only available to students who begin in the pre-professional phase of the program. We do not offer a stand-alone Master's program.

Speech-Language Pathology

Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

The Master of Science in Speech-Languate Pathology is only available to students who begin in the pre-professional phase of the program. We do not offer a stand-alone Master's program.

Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences

The Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences is a 72-credit program available to both domestic and international students who have earned a minimum of a bachelor's degree in health and/or rehabilitation-related areas. The program offers courses for domestic and international students to complete a program of advanced study with an emphasis in Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Public Health, or Health Care Administration, and related areas. Graduates of the Ph.D. in Health Sciences program will be prepared to provide excellent care, conduct research in the realms of rehabilitation and related health fields, work in academia, and assume managerial positions within health systems, hospitals, government agencies, and public and private research institutions or centers.

Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science

The Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science offers a Ph.D. (72 credits) degree. The Ph.D. program in Rehabilitation Science is a specialized curriculum in Orthopedics & Clinical Biomechanics. The curriculum is an integrative endeavor of the Departments of Athletic Training, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. The academic course of study and the research focus are designed to meet the academic needs of the student and the collaborative research initiatives of the student and faculty. Graduates of the program will be productive members of the academic community who are engaged in teaching, research and scholarship.

Academic Policies

Policies for all RSHS academic programs can be found in the RSHS Student Academic Handbook.