Admissions, Records, and Registration

Admissions

Admissions Office

The Admissions Office engages candidates from the time of application submission through acceptance into the University. The office ensures that applicants meet the required guidelines for admissions and helps the Admissions Committee in selecting the most qualified students.

Student Acquisition Teams

The Student Acquisition Team consists of Enrollment, Admissions, and Student Services. This team is responsible for providing preadmission, admission, and registration services to prospective students, current students, and alumni. These offices oversee, coordinate, and administer multifaceted activities and student-centered services that include recruitment programs, preadmission advisement, admissions, registrar functions, and alumni services. The staff value excellent customer service, timely and accurate communication, professionalism, and teamwork.

Admission to the University’s Degree Programs

University students are admitted on the basis of their academic abilities and professionalism. The Student Acquisition Team coordinates admission for all degree-seeking students on all campuses in conjunction with the appropriate Program Director and the Admissions Committees for the College of Rehabilitative Sciences and the College of Health Sciences. Students who wish to enroll in only the noncredit Continuing Professional Education (CPE) seminars register through CPE Registrations.

Admission to the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences’ programs is competitive. The USAHS admissions process is holistic and may include a review of academic credentials, resume or vitae, personal statement, recommendations, GRE and TOEFL reviews, observation or practicum hours, and for some programs the process culminates in an admissions interview.

Admission to USAHS is indicated by a formal digital admissions letter sent to the candidate from the Office of Admissions offering a seat into the class and program for an approaching term. Accompanying each admission’s offer is an enrollment agreement. This agreement is signed by the student and a USAHS representative and specifies the conditions under which USAHS will provide instruction to the student. Additionally, information on costs for the specific program are included. As a prospective student, you are encouraged to review this catalog before signing an enrollment agreement. For California students, you are also encouraged to review the School Performance Fact Sheet, which must be provided to you before signing an enrollment agreement. A completed copy of the enrollment agreement is provided to the student and saved in the University’s permanent files.

Candidates who decline an admissions offer may apply again to the same program a single time. If program admission requirements have changed between the first application submission and the subsequent application, candidates are held to the new requirements. Candidates who decline a second offer of admission will not have future applications considered regardless of program.

Candidates offered admission may request a deferral to a future term in instances when the applicant has extenuating circumstances related to a health or family emergency that would prevent their ability to start in the term offered admission. Requests for deferral will be reviewed for consideration with supporting documentation. Deferral is not guaranteed. If approved, deferrals are for one term start only and may not be extended.

Candidates who are denied admission to the University are permitted to reapply to any program after the first denial. Candidates who are denied admission may immediately reapply for the next available term (e.g., an applicant who is denied admission for the Fall term may reapply for the Spring term that immediately follows) only if all admission requirements including prerequisites are complete. However, when reapplying to the same program, the application must reflect significant improvements that would warrant reconsideration (e.g., improved GPA or GRE scores).

A candidate whose admission is denied a second time, regardless of program, is ineligible for future consideration of admission to the University. The admission decision of the second application is final.

Should the University rescind admission for failure to complete prerequisite requirements, the candidate may reapply only when all admission requirements and prerequisites are complete. Candidates whose acceptance is rescinded due to failing to meet the requirements of the background check, drug screen, or fingerprint results may reapply after six months from the date the offer is rescinded, unless the admission decision is deemed final with no opportunity to reapply.

Students previously enrolled who left the University in good standing may apply to return either as a reinstated student (abbreviated application, limited to those who have been away less than a full year) or through the submission of a new application which will be considered along with all other traditional applicants. Reinstatement/readmission is not guaranteed.

Students previously enrolled who were suspended or placed on Administrative LOA due to student conduct violations may apply for reinstatement once all sanctions have been met and provided it’s been less than a year since last enrolled. If the timeline for seeking reentry is beyond a full year, the student may submit a new application which will be considered along with all other traditional applicants. Reinstatement/readmission is not guaranteed.

Students previously enrolled who were dismissed due to student conduct violations are permanently separated from the University and ineligible for readmission.

Students previously dismissed for academic reasons may seek readmission through the academic appeal process within five days of receipt of the original dismissal notification. If the student fails to submit an appeal during the appropriate timeline or the appeal is unsuccessful, then the student has no further opportunity for readmission.

Background Checks, Fingerprints, Drug Screens, and Criminal Records (DPT, MOT, OTD, MS-SLP, MSN, DNP, Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates)

In general, the majority of practicum sites (and employers) require that students’ and applicants’ criminal background checks^* be clear of any convictions and require a negative drug screen. In the interest of ensuring that University students will be eligible to participate in required clinical and field experiences, accepted students are required to complete a criminal background check, 12-panel drug screen,^** and fingerprint report, which are conducted by a third-party vendor. Ideally, results should be received by USAHS prior to matriculation. Students who are accepted into a program must have their criminal background check and 12-Panel drug screen results received within the first 30 days of enrollment or risk the rescission of admission and/or having a hold placed on their record that prevents future enrollment and the distribution of federal financial aid, when applicable. The University must receive the fingerprint report before the end of the first term of enrollment or the student risks being removed from the program and having a hold placed on their record that prevents future enrollment.

A background check that includes a positive drug screen or any felony conviction will result in rescission of admission or dismissal from the University. Certain misdemeanor convictions, including but not limited to those involving drugs, theft, violence, or crimes against a person, may also result in rescission of admission or dismissal from the University. Any felony conviction or positive drug screen while enrolled as a student at USAHS will result in dismissal from the program, while certain misdemeanor convictions may also result in dismissal from the program. Applicants are provided a list of approved testing providers and all checks and screens are completed at the student’s expense.

Students accepted into a program are required to obtain a criminal background check, 12-panel drug screen, and fingerprint report through the University’s approved providers within the timeframe identified above. Students also are required to obtain updated checks if required by the clinical site prior to participating in any of the required clinical practicum courses in the curricula. Costs associated with these updated checks are the responsibility of the student. Successful clinical practicum experiences are a requirement for graduation from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Candidates must provide verification of current fingerprint clearance documentation in accordance with the fingerprint policies of the state in which they reside. Current and valid fingerprint clearance must be on file throughout the duration of the program. Failure to maintain current and valid fingerprint clearance may lead to immediate termination from the program. Students with felony convictions are ineligible to continue in the program. Students with misdemeanor convictions will have their records reviewed to determine if there are issues with potential clinical placement and employability based on the individual’s record.

Any arrest/conviction record may also affect eligibility for licensure. Students who are admitted with misdemeanor convictions can in no way be guaranteed licensure or employment, as licensure is at the sole discretion of the State Boards external healthcare employers. It is the responsibility of each student to understand the licensure requirements for the state(s) in which he or she intends to seek licensure to practice.

Upon acceptance, the student has a continued obligation to report any criminal arrests or convictions to the head of the Clinical Services department within 72 hours of its occurrence.

A positive drug screen or one not completed when scheduled will result in rescission of admission or dismissal from the program. Tuition and fees will be fully refunded if admission is rescinded or the student is dismissed from the program due to an initial adverse report on the background check, drug screen, or fingerprint report.

*List of background screens performed: County criminal search, nationwide sex offender search, Office of Inspection General (OIG), and US General Services Administration (GSA).

**List of tested substances: Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, THC, Cocaine, Methadone, Opiates, Methaqualone, Phencyclidine, Propoxyphene, MDMA, and Oxycodone.

Please note: Although laws regarding recreational drug use vary state by state, USAHS utilizes federal law as its benchmark for its policy against drug abuse. Pursuant to federal requirements, USAHS maintains a drug-free environment  at all campus locations. Students are strictly prohibited from misusing controlled substances, intoxicants, alcohol, and prescription drugs, or buying, selling, manufacturing, distributing, possessing, or working under the influence of those substances when conducting USAHS business, while on the campus premises, while working in the University online environment, or while participating in internships, fieldwork, residencies, fellowships, or other university-sponsored activities (on or off the USAHS campuses), except as explicitly authorized by a prescription from a physician. Students who receive a positive drug screen will have their admission rescinded or may be dismissed from the program; however, students may reapply after six (6) months for the next available term, unless the decision is deemed final with no opportunity to reapply.

Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation includes presenting information known as false and with the intent of obtaining employment or admission to an educational program at USAHS. Statements made and documents supplied by USAHS applicants and students must be complete and accurate. The University will not tolerate any misrepresentation by a student or applicant of past or current academic programs, degrees, professional accomplishments, health records, or health screening information. If unexplained discrepancies appear between statements or documents provided to USAHS and information obtained otherwise, except in the case of misspellings and other such inadvertent errors, applicants may be rejected for admission and enrolled students may be dismissed.

Records and Documents Submitted for Admission Processing

All documents submitted to the University in support of an Application for Admission become the permanent possessions of the University and cannot be returned to the applicant under any circumstances. Students are, therefore, urged to make copies of important documentation and maintain their own files.

Applications for Admission

College of Rehabilitative Sciences

MS-SLP

Prerequisites

Required ASHA basic prerequisite coursework (completed with a grade of C or better) is as follows:

• 3 semester credits of biology
• 3 semester credits of chemistry or physics
• 3 semester credits of statistics
• 3 semester credits of behavioral or social science

Leveling/Bridge Courses

Leveling courses are a specific type of prerequisite. USAHS has designed leveling courses to provide a summary of learning objectives and serve as a pathway to the MS-SLP program. Applicants who hold bachelor’s degrees in fields other than Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), or the equivalent must complete leveling CSD courses per admissions guidelines. Applicants with a CSD or SLP degree may also need to complete one or more leveling courses if the transcript of the undergraduate program does not include the required prerequisite leveling coursework. An undergraduate degree is required to enroll in USAHS leveling courses.

Required prerequisite leveling courses for all applicants include the following:

• Introduction to Audiology
• Aural Rehabilitation
• Speech Anatomy and Physiology
• Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders^*
• Phonetics
• Normal Speech & Language Development

Note: Students taking SLP leveling courses may not register for more than nine credits/term. The recommended number of credits per term is six; however, no more than nine credits/term of SLP leveling courses are permitted.

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university. The bachelor’s degree need not be limited to the fields of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), or equivalent. 
• Official transcripts from each college or university previously attended. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
• Transcripts showing the completion of prerequisite coursework preferably no more than five years old with a recommended minimum GPA of 3.0 calculated on prerequisites and a required grade of C or better earned in each prerequisite course.

  • Applicants with certain pending prerequisites may submit an application provided they acknowledge their understanding of and agreement to the pending prerequisites policy outlined above prior to enrollment (see Pending Prerequisites).

• GRE scores are not required for admission to the MS-SLP program.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae. 
• A minimum of 25 guided observation hours in a speech-language therapy setting with an ASHA-certified SLP is required.
  • Volunteer opportunities and work experiences do not meet the requirement.
  • MS-SLP applicants can move forward for interviews with zero (0) observation hours completed if the applicant presents one of the following provisions:
  1. Proof they are currently enrolled in a course that has been approved by the Program Director (PD) or Assistant Program Director (APD) that will fulfill the observation hours required on or prior to the orientation date. The applicant must provide documentation of fulfilling the 25 guided observation hours by the end of the course and proof of final grade received for the course no later than the orientation date; or
  2. Attestation to not having completed the full 25 guided observation hours as of the date of signing the MS-SLP Pending Observation Hours Acknowledgment Form and agreement to complete and track the required observation hours on the log form provided by USAHS on or before the orientation date. This form requires the supervising SLP’s signature and ASHA number. Admissions will confirm the SLP is certified through ASHA.

Any prospective student applying with less than 25 guided observation hours (pursuant to #1 or #2 above) must acknowledge and agree to completing the guided observation hours to have their application moved to the next stage. USAHS sends an acknowledgment form to the prospective student for signature. Successful completion of these guided observation hours is a condition to continue in USAHS’ MS-SLP program. The 25 guided observation hours must be completed by the prospective student on or before their orientation date to proceed in the program.

• Two letters of professional recommendation (e.g., professor, supervisor, or employer) preferably on professional letterhead.
• A writing sample of two, double-spaced pages in 12-point, Times New Roman or Arial font answering the question Why do you think you can make a difference in Speech-Language Pathology?
• Virtual (via Zoom) interviews as needed.

Upon acceptance, students must complete a comprehensive background check requiring fingerprints and a drug screen to be administered at the applicant’s expense prior to matriculation. See Background Checks, Fingerprints, Drug Screens, and Criminal Records for detailed requirements and time frames for completing comprehensive background checks.

Applicants must apply through https://csdcas.liaisoncas.com/ using USAHS Institution Code 2300.

MOT, MOT Flex

Prerequisites

Required prerequisite coursework (completed with a grade of C or better) is as follows:

• 8 semester credits of anatomy and physiology (lab required)
• 3 semester credits of sociology or anthropology
• 3 semester credits of developmental psychology
• 3 semester credits of abnormal psychology
• 3 semester credits of statistics
• 1 semester credit of medical terminology

Unless candidates have current work experience in a health sciences field, it is recommended that their prerequisites be no more than five years old—especially anatomy and physiology.

Note: Prerequisite substitutions can be considered with the approval of the Program Director.

Application 

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university.
• Official transcripts from each college or university previously attended. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
• Transcripts showing the completion of prerequisite coursework preferably no more than five years old with a recommended minimum GPA of 3.0 calculated on prerequisites and a required grade of C or better earned in each prerequisite course.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Two letters of recommendation from occupational therapy professionals or academic contacts willing to endorse the applicant’s skills and abilities.
• Statement of purpose. A short statement of why the applicant wishes to pursue occupational therapy as a career and why he/she chose USAHS for that pursuit.
• OT Supplemental Questions. Provide five short answers to help the program learn more about the applicant.
  • An occupational therapist enables people to engage in occupations they want to do, need to do, or are expected to do. What is an occupation you enjoy engaging in, and what positive impact does this have on you? (200 words max)
  • Occupational therapists enable people to do what they want to do. Can you explain when you have enabled others through occupation?  (200 words max)
  • Please share how you have participated in volunteerism to be a force for good in your community. (200 words max)
  • List two attributes you have that you consider crucial to being an effective occupational therapist. (200 words max)
  • How would your former professors describe you? (200 words max)

The University highly recommends that all applicants observe occupational therapy in at least two areas of practice in order to support the application essay and to help applicants ensure they are well suited for this field of study.

Upon acceptance, students must complete a comprehensive background check requiring fingerprints and a drug screen to be administered at the applicant’s expense prior to matriculation. See Background Checks, Fingerprints, Drug Screens, and Criminal Records for detailed requirements and time frames for completing comprehensive background checks.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/ using GRE code 5325 or by going to www.otcas.org and using GRE code 7352.

OTD, OTD Flex

Prerequisites

Required prerequisite coursework (completed with a grade of C or better) is as follows:

• 8 semester credits of anatomy and physiology (lab required)
• 3 semester credits of sociology or anthropology
• 3 semester credits of developmental psychology
• 3 semester credits of abnormal psychology
• 3 semester credits of statistics
• 1 semester credit of medical terminology

Unless candidates have current work experience in a health sciences field, it is recommended that their prerequisites be no more than five years old—especially anatomy and physiology.

Note: Prerequisite substitutions can be considered with the approval of the Program Director.

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university.
• Official transcripts from each college or university previously attended. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
• Transcripts showing the completion of prerequisite coursework preferably no more than five years old with a recommended minimum GPA of 3.0 calculated on prerequisites and a required grade of C or better earned in each prerequisite course.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae. 
• Statement of purpose. A short statement of why the applicant wishes to pursue occupational therapy as a career and why he/she chose USAHS for that pursuit.
• OT Supplemental Questions. Provide five short answers to help the program learn more about the applicant.
  • An occupational therapist enables people to engage in occupations they want to do, need to do, or are expected to do. What is an occupation you enjoy engaging in, and what positive impact does this have on you? (200 words max)
  • Occupational therapists enable people to do what they want to do. Can you explain when you have enabled others through occupation?  (200 words max)
  • Please share how you have participated in volunteerism to be a force for good in your community. (200 words max)
  • List two attributes you have that you consider crucial to being an effective occupational therapist. (200 words max)
  • How would your former professors describe you? (200 words max)
• Two letters of recommendation from occupational therapy professionals or academic contacts willing to endorse the applicant’s skills and abilities.
• OTD essay: An 800–1000-word, double-spaced essay exhibiting the applicant’s understanding of an issue and its potential impact on occupational therapy practice. Applicants select one essay topic from the following:
  • Working with marginalized populations in healthcare
  • Working with other professions as an occupational therapist
  • Telehealth and occupational therapy
  • The rising cost of healthcare and access to occupational therapy
  • Healthcare disparities and access to occupational therapy
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare
  • Ethical dilemmas in the rehabilitation fields
  • US health trends that will impact occupation in the future
  • Addressing the needs of vulnerable populations in occupational therapy
  • The use of technologies in the delivery of occupational therapy

The University highly recommends that all applicants observe occupational therapy in at least two areas of practice in order to support the application essay and to help applicants ensure they are well suited for this field of study.

Upon acceptance, students must complete a comprehensive background check requiring fingerprints and a drug screen to be administered at the applicant’s expense prior to matriculation. See Background Checks, Fingerprints, Drug Screens, and Criminal Records for detailed requirements and time frames for completing comprehensive background checks.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/ using GRE code 5325 or by going to www.otcas.org and using GRE code 7352.

PPOTD

Prerequisites

No additional prerequisites required.

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A baccalaureate or master’s degree in occupational therapy from an accredited institution.
• Official transcripts from each college or university previously attended. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Two recommendations from professional colleagues.
• Applicants should be a licensed occupational therapist or be eligible for licensing and should be employed as an occupational therapist or have a minimum of one year’s experience as an occupational therapist. USAHS MOT graduates may enter the program without a license but must be licensed and employed as an occupational therapist at the beginning of the second term of the program.
• Official copy of foreign credentialing evaluation if applicable. Entry-level coursework taken at an institution in a foreign country must be evaluated for degree credentialing from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). See Additional Requirements for Domestic, International, and/or Foreign-Educated Students.
• Foreign-trained candidates who do not require a student visa to participate in University courses and/or degrees will be considered for admission.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/.

DPT, DPT Flex

Fall 2022 Prerequisites

Required prerequisite coursework (completed with a grade of C or better) is as follows:

• 8 semester credits of general college chemistry (lab component recommended)
• 8 semester credits of general college physics, biomechanics, or anatomical kinesiology (lab component recommended)
• 6 semester credits of human-based, general college biology
• 8 semester credits of anatomy and physiology (lab component recommended) 
• 3 semester credits of human growth and development across the lifespan
• 1 semester credit of medical terminology
• 6 semester credits of social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, or anthropology)

Spring 2023 Prerequisites

• 8 semester credits of general college chemistry (lab component required)
• 8 semester credits of general college physics, biomechanics, or anatomical kinesiology (lab component required)
• 6 semester credits of human-based, general college biology
• 8 semester credits of anatomy and physiology (lab component required)
• 9 semester credits of social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, or anthropology)
• 1 medical terminology course – may be fulfilled with traditional academic credit, continuing education units, certification, or USAHS noncredit experience with evidence of successful completion.

Unless candidates have current work experience in a health sciences field, it is recommended that their prerequisites be no more than five years old—especially anatomy and physiology.

Note: Prerequisite substitutions can be considered with approval by the Program Director.

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university.
• Official transcripts from each college or university previously attended. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
• Transcripts showing the completion of prerequisite coursework preferably no more than five years old with a recommended minimum GPA of 3.0 calculated on prerequisites and a required grade of C or better earned in each prerequisite course.
• GRE scores sent directly to the University by Educational Testing Service. GRE must not be more than five years old. Recommended combined minimum GRE score of 294 for verbal and quantitative sections. Analytical score is also evaluated.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae. 
• A minimum of 80 volunteer or observation experience hours (volunteer hours, work hours, observation hours, etc.) in a physical therapy setting.
• References from either two licensed physical therapists (preferred) or one physical therapist and one faculty member or academic advisor.
• Statement of purpose. A short statement of why the applicant wishes to pursue physical therapy as a career and why he/she chose USAHS for that pursuit.

Upon acceptance, students must complete a comprehensive background check requiring fingerprints and a drug screen to be administered at the applicant’s expense prior to matriculation. See Background Checks, Fingerprints, Drug Screens, and Criminal Records for detailed requirements and time frames for completing comprehensive background checks.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/ or by going to www.ptcas.org and using GRE code 2209.

tDPT^*

Prerequisites

No additional prerequisites required.

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A baccalaureate or master’s degree in physical therapy from an accredited institution.
• Official transcripts from the degree conferring institution. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Professional license.
  • It is expected that all applicants are licensed or eligible for licensure in the United States; however, those international students who are not planning to pursue licensure in the United States are exempt from this requirement. If the student plans to complete a clinical residency, he or she must be a licensed physical therapist in the state where the residency is located.
  • Candidates applying for licensure (if foreign trained) through FCCPT may substitute an FCCPT type 1 review that indicates substantial equivalency satisfying minimum content requirements and length of study as defined by CAPTE.
• Official copy of foreign credentialing evaluation if applicable.
• Entry-level coursework taken at an institution in a foreign country must be evaluated for degree credentialing from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). See Additional Requirements for Domestic, International, and/or Foreign-Educated Students.
• Physical Therapists who graduated from a physiotherapy program accredited by Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (PEAC) do not need to submit a credentialing evaluation as part of the application.
• Foreign-trained candidates who do not require a student visa to participate in University courses and/or degrees will be considered for admission.

Applicants may apply by going to https://rfptcas.liaisoncas.com/. 

* This program is not currently enrolling new students. 

College of Health Sciences

MHA

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A baccalaureate or master’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university.
• Official transcripts from all schools from which the student earned a baccalaureate degree or higher and schools from which required prerequisite courses were completed if applicable. Additional transcripts are required only when transfer credit was utilized to award the degree. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae. 
• One recommendation from a professional colleague.
• Statement of Purpose: Essay of approximately 500 words describing the applicant’s short- and long-term career goals and plans to achieve those goals.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/.

MHS^*

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses are required.

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university—preferably in the health sciences.
• Official transcripts from all schools from which the student earned a baccalaureate degree or higher and schools from which required prerequisite courses were completed if applicable. Additional transcripts are required only when transfer credit was utilized to award the degree. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae. 
• One recommendation from a professional colleague.
• Essay of approximately 500 words describing the applicant’s short- and long-term career goals and plans to achieve those goals.
• Applicants interested in the Athletic Training Specialization, residents of the United States, Canada, and Ireland will need to provide evidence that the applicant is a Licensed Athletic Trainer (LAT), and/or a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), a Canadian Athletic Therapist (CAT) or an Athletic Rehabilitation Therapist Ireland (ARTI).

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/.

*This program is not currently enrolling new students.

EdD

Prerequisites

No additional prerequisites required.

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A master’s degree or clinical doctorate degree from an accredited college or university.
• Official transcripts from all schools from which the student earned a baccalaureate degree or higher and schools from which required prerequisite courses were completed if applicable. Additional transcripts are required only when transfer credit was utilized to award the degree. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Writing assessment.
• References from two professional colleagues.
• Copy of professional license, if applicable.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/.

MSPAS

The planned start date for the first cohort of the MSPAS program is Spring 2024 term. Admissions information and application requirements can be found at the MSPAS Program Information  page.  

Graduate Certificates

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses are required.

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A baccalaureate or master’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (if student is successful in the certificate courses and decides to move into the degree program, the minimum GPA for acceptance into the MHA degree program will be waived).
• Official transcripts from all schools from which the student earned a baccalaureate degree or higher and schools from which required prerequisite courses were completed if applicable. Additional transcripts are required only when transfer credit was utilized to award the degree. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
• If the applicant completed his or her education in a foreign country, the applicant must submit an original copy of a degree credentialing evaluation, with transcripts utilized for evaluation, from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). The evaluation must indicate previous education at the minimum level of a baccalaureate degree earned at an accredited college or university in the United States.
• TOEFL scores sent directly to the University if an applicant completed his/her education in a country where English is not the primary language or if the applicant is from a non-English speaking country or is deemed necessary by the Director of Admissions.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/.

School of Nursing

MSN

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses are required.

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.
• Official transcripts from all schools from which the student earned a baccalaureate degree or higher and schools from which required prerequisite courses were completed. Additional transcripts are required only when transfer credit was utilized to award the degree; however, additional transcripts may be requested if the following science coursework is not reflected in the transcript of the degree conferred:
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Pathophysiology
  • Microbiology
  • Physical assessment
  • Pharmacology
• Evidence of an unrestricted/unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license in the state of residence, which must be maintained throughout the program. Nurses working in a federal facility, such as a Veterans Administration Medical Center, and completing their practica in that facility need to hold an RN license deemed appropriate by that facility.
• Professional resume or curriculum vitae showing an equivalent of one full-time year of experience (2,000 hours) as a registered nurse by the start of the first practicum.
• Two professional references submitted electronically from a nurse educator, preceptor, or immediate supervisor; professional references from peers or personal relationships are not acceptable.
• Essay of approximately 500 words describing the applicant’s short- and long-term career goals and plans to achieve those goals.
• An interview if requested.
• If the applicant completed his or her education in a foreign country, the applicant must submit an original copy of a degree credentialing evaluation from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). The evaluation must indicate previous education at the minimum level of a baccalaureate degree earned at an accredited college or university in the United States.

Upon acceptance, students must complete a comprehensive background check requiring fingerprints and a drug screen to be administered at the applicant’s expense prior to matriculation. See Background Checks, Fingerprints, Drug Screens, and Criminal Records for detailed requirements and time frames for completing comprehensive background checks.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/.

DNP

• DNP (BSN-entry)
• DNP (MSN-entry)
• DNP (USAHS MSN Alumni)

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses are required.

Application (BSN-entry and MSN-entry)

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN-entry) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN-entry) from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Official transcripts from all schools from which the student earned a baccalaureate degree or higher and schools from which required prerequisite courses were completed if applicable. Additional transcripts are required only when transfer credit was utilized to award the degree.
• Evidence of an unrestricted/unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license in the state of residence, which must be maintained throughout the program. Nurses working in a federal facility, such as a Veterans Administration Medical Center, and completing their practica in that facility need to hold an RN license deemed appropriate by that facility.
• Professional resume or curriculum vitae showing an equivalent of one full-time year of experience (2,000 hours) as a registered nurse by the time the first practicum course begins. 
• Two professional references from a nurse educator, preceptor, or immediate supervisor; peers or personal relationships are not acceptable.
• Essay of approximately 500 words demonstrating scholarly writing and describing short- and long-term career goals and plans to achieve those goals.
• An interview if requested.
• If the applicant completed his or her education in a foreign country, the applicant must submit an original copy of a degree credentialing evaluation from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
  • BSN-entry: The evaluation must indicate previous education at the minimum level of a baccalaureate degree earned at an accredited college or university in the United States for the DNP (BSN-entry) program.
  • MSN-entry: The evaluation must indicate previous education at the minimum level of a master’s degree earned at an accredited college or university in the United States for the DNP (MSN-entry) program.

Upon acceptance, students must complete a comprehensive background check requiring fingerprints and a drug screen to be administered at the applicant’s expense prior to matriculation. See Background Checks, Fingerprints, Drug Screens, and Criminal Records for detailed requirements and time frames for completing comprehensive background checks.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/.

Application (USAHS MSN Alumni)

In order to streamline admission of USAHS MSN graduates to the DNP program, an abbreviated application process has been developed. This abbreviated process will be applicable only if the USAHS MSN graduate applies for admission to the USAHS DNP program within one year from their MSN graduation date. Exceptions to this time limit will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Director of the School of Nursing.

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• An email endorsement from the student’s USAHS faculty advisor.
• An email from the Registrar stating that the student is in good standing and expected to graduate on a specific date.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Evidence of an unrestricted/unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license in the state of residence, which must be maintained throughout the program. Nurses working in a federal facility, such as a Veterans Administration Medical Center, and completing their practica in that facility need to hold an RN license deemed appropriate by that facility.
• An official request to the USAHS Registrar to have the official transcripts from the USAHS MSN program added to the admissions application for the DNP program.

Note: If the applicant fails to graduate from the MSN program, admission to the DNP program will be rescinded.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/.

Post-Graduate (PG) Nursing Certificates

• Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
• Nurse Educator Certificate
• Nurse Executive Certificate
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses are required.

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• A Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Official transcripts from all schools from which the student earned a masters degree or higher. Additional transcripts are required only when transfer credit was utilized to award the degree. 
• Professional resume or curriculum vitae showing an equivalent of one full-time year of experience (2,000 hours) as a registered nurse by the start of the first practicum.
• Two professional references submitted electronically; one from a nurse educator, preceptor, or immediate supervisor. Professional references from peers or personal relationships are not acceptable.
• Verified professional nursing license; licensure status must be maintained throughout the entire program.
  • FNP, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Executive: Evidence of an unrestricted/unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license.
  • Psychiatric Mental Health NP: Evidence of an unrestricted/unencumbered RN license (MSN-entry) or APRN license (DNP-entry)  
• Essay demonstrating scholarly writing of approximately 500 words describing the applicant’s short- and long-term career goals and plans to achieve those goals.
• If the applicant completed his or her education in a foreign country, the applicant must submit an original copy of a degree credentialing evaluation from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). The evaluation must indicate previous education at the minimum level of a masters degree earned at an accredited college or university in the United States.
• TOEFL scores must be sent directly to the University, if an applicant completed his/her education in a country where English is not the primary language or if the applicant is from a non-English speaking country or is deemed necessary by the Director of Admissions and registration services.

Upon acceptance, students must complete a comprehensive background check requiring fingerprints and a drug screen to be administered at the applicant’s expense prior to matriculation. See Background Checks, Fingerprints, Drug Screens, and Criminal Records for detailed requirements and time frames for completing comprehensive background checks.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://online.usa.edu/.

Orthopaedic Certifications

• Clinical Orthopaedic Residency
• Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship

Prerequisites

Clinical Orthopaedic Residency

• Applicants must be either licensed or eligible for licensure and licensed before starting the program.

Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship

• Must be licensed or eligible for licensure in the state of the clinic assignment
• Completion of an APTA-accredited orthopaedic residency program OR successful score on the orthopaedic certified specialist exam 

Application

To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following:

• Official transcripts from all schools from which the student earned a baccalaureate degree or higher and schools from which required prerequisite courses were completed if applicable. Additional transcripts are required only when transfer credit was utilized to award the degree. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
• Physical therapy state license.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae, which lists continuing education and professional publications.
• Two references from professional colleagues.
• Essay.
• Current photograph.

Applicants may apply free of charge at https://rfptcas.liaisoncas.com/.

Additional Requirements for Domestic, International, and/or Foreign-Educated Students

All instruction at USAHS is provided in English. International applicants from a country where English is not the primary language, who did not complete their undergraduate degree in English, or if deemed necessary by the Director of Admissions, must provide an official TOEFL score report.

• The minimum Internet-based TOEFL score requirement is 89 (including sectional minimums of 26 in speaking, 24 in writing, 21 in reading, and 18 in listening). The date of the reported test must fall within two years of the application deadline.

• For tDPT^*, a minimum score of 550 (paper-based testing), 210 (computer-based testing), or 80 (Internet-based testing [IBT]) is required. If candidate is licensed in the United States a TOEFL is not required. Note: a score of 89 is required if the candidate is pursuing FCCPT evaluation. 

• For PPOTD, students who are foreign trained and educated but have become a licensed rehabilitation practitioner in the United States are not required to submit TOEFL scores unless deemed necessary by the Academic Program Director. Any student may be required to complete a skills assessment to determine the level of professional communication proficiency at the discretion of the Academic Program Director.

• For MOT/OTD, students who are foreign trained and educated but have become a licensed rehabilitation practitioner in the United States are not required to submit TOEFL scores unless deemed necessary by the Academic Program Director. Any student may be required to complete a skills assessment to determine level of professional communication proficiency at the discretion of the Academic Program Director.

If the applicant completed his or her education in a foreign country, the applicant must submit an original copy of a degree credentialing evaluation from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). If the NACES-approved evaluation service includes a copy of the evaluated official transcripts with the evaluation, and the transcript is in English or accompanied by an English translation, USAHS will consider these transcripts as official. The evaluation must indicate previous education at the minimum level of a baccalaureate degree (or master’s degree, if required for the program) earned at an accredited college or university in the United States. The following are among agencies approved for this purpose; additional evaluators can be found on www.naces.org.

Note: The University does not disclose reasons for nonacceptance of a candidate.

* The tDPT program is not currently enrolling new students. 

International Students Applying for Admission

Foreign-trained candidates who do not require a student visa to participate in university courses and/or degrees can be considered for admission. The residential, entry-level Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy programs in San Marcos, California; Austin, Texas; St. Augustine, Florida; and Miami, Florida, are approved by the Immigration and Naturalization Service to admit international students who require an F-1 student visa. While the U.S. immigration service (SEVIS) has fees associated with visa applications, USAHS does not charge any fees for student visa services. There are a number of countries that are currently on the US government’s sanctions program, and there is no guarantee that students from any of the sanctioned countries will be able to enter the United States. Affected students are advised to contact immigration resources in their area for specific information on how the sanctions may apply to their individual situation. If a student visa is not required for attendance, non-US citizens might be able to participate in other degree programs, depending on the level of sanctions, if any, on their country of residence. In addition to the items listed above, the following must be submitted prior to issuance of the I-20:

• Financial statement/letter indicating commitment (from parents, government, etc.) to financially support tuition and living expenses for the duration of the degree program.

USAHS distance education programs and the MS-SLP program are not approved to admit international students who require an F-1 student visa. Foreign-trained candidates who do not require a student visa to participate in university courses and/or degrees will be considered for admission.

Additionally, all international students should note that many countries have their own accrediting and licensing bodies, and degree recognition and licensure differs from country to country. Further, there are a number of countries that do not recognize online degrees for employment or promotion purposes, particularly government agency employment or promotion. University programs are designed to meet accreditation, licensure, and other requirements in the United States. It is important that students residing outside the United States, review and understand the requirements of their country of residence to confirm licensure requirements as well as recognition of the student’s program of study for purposes of employment or promotion in those countries.

Alternative Prerequisite Credits

Credit by Exam

College course credit awarded for Advanced Placement (AP) or through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) can be considered to fulfill program prerequisites. In most instances, CLEP credit that aligns with USAHS program prerequisites and that is included on an undergraduate or graduate transcript is sufficient to fulfill the prerequisite requirement. Some programs allow the use of CLEP taken independent of college enrollment to fulfill admission prerequisites; however, others do not due to programmatic accreditation standards that restrict such use (e.g., MS-SLP program). It is strongly recommended that applicants consult with an enrollment advisor prior to scheduling or taking a CLEP examination. If endorsed by the program and approved by the Admissions department, CLEP credit used to meet a prerequisite requirement is considered passed but is not utilized in the calculation of applicant GPAs.

AP credits are reviewed when they appear on an official college transcript from an accredited undergraduate degree-granting institution and show course code, title, and college credits earned. 

CLEP results on an unofficial score report or transcript from the College Board are acceptable for admissions review provided satisfactory scores were attained. Students must still submit an official transcript to verify satisfactory completion of the course. See clep.collegeboard.org for information on college credit by examination.

American Council on Education (ACE)

USAHS does consider credit recommendations from ACE to fulfill program prerequisites provided the coursework is applicable and deemed acceptable by the program (MS-SLP program excluded). Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their USAHS Enrollment Advisor prior to engaging in ACE endorsed educational experiences to ensure acceptability by USAHS in fulfillment of admission prerequisites. Candidates with military experience should submit their transcripts for review. If endorsed by the program and approved by the Admissions department, credit used to meet a prerequisite requirement is considered passed but are not utilized in the calculation of applicant GPAs. See the ACE website for information on ACE credit recommendations.

USAHS may, at times, offer discounted tuition, scholarships, or other benefits to eligible students or prospective students enrolling in USAHS. Pursuant to the standards of the Executive Branch, it is the student’s responsibility to consult his or her employer prior to receiving such a discount, scholarship, or other benefit to confirm with the student’s employer to ensure he or she is in compliance with any policies or procedures required by an employee in that position. Further, Veterans Affairs (VA) employees are prohibited from being involved in any recommendations, decisions, approvals, or disapprovals that could affect USAHS. 

VA employees who administer VBA educational benefits are required to obtain a waiver from their employer in order to take classes from a For-Profit Educational Institution (FPEI), such as USAHS. For all other VA employees, a waiver is required if they own an interest in, receive a salary or wage from, or receive gifts from an FPEI. As such, students are advised to consult with their employer to obtain any required approvals prior to enrolling in the University or accepting any discounts, scholarships, or other benefits. Failure to receive the required governmental approvals prior to acceptance could result in corrective action by the student’s employer and/or other penalties, and it could impact the student’s ability to remain enrolled in the University. USAHS makes no representation or guarantees that a student’s or prospective student’s enrollment or acceptance of a discount, scholarship, or other benefit offered by the University is in compliance with standards of the Executive Branch.

Non-Degree-Seeking Students

USAHS offers a range of courses for individuals who wish to apply as a non-degree seeking (NDS) student. 

Admissions

Students in NDS status must have a bachelor’s degree and where indicated they may need to be a properly credentialed professional and meet the appropriate prerequisite requirements. When credentialing/licensure is required, it will be noted as a prerequisite requirement in the Catalog/Handbook.

Students in NDS status are required to submit an application to take courses at USAHS. The NDS application can be found on our website. International students in NDS status are subject to the same TOEFL requirements as degree-seeking students. 

The ability to take courses as a student in NDS status does not indicate acceptance into the University. Furthermore, the successful completion of one or more courses does not indicate acceptance into the University or guarantee a more favorable review of an applicant seeking acceptance into a degree program. Students in NDS status who want to undertake a degree program are required to apply and be admitted to a specific degree program.

Registration

Students in NDS status cannot register for more than 15 credits per term.^* Students in NDS status will register for classes on a space-available basis and regular degree-seeking students will receive registration priority. Students in NDS status are not permitted to enroll in courses that involve clinical or internship experiences.

Students in NDS status are given grades and may request academic records. Students in NDS status will be prohibited from enrolling in additional courses if they receive two unsuccessful grades. An unsuccessful grade is a D+, D, F, or W. Students are also subject to all policies governing student conduct as found in the Catalog/Handbook.

Credits earned by students in NDS status at USAHS may be transferred to a degree program at USAHS and are subject to the rules outlined by the University credit transfer requirements. Please note that no more than 25% of an academic degree may be transferred from courses completed as a student in NDS status.

*Students taking SLP leveling courses may take up to nine credits per term, although six is recommended. Foreign-trained PTs seeking licensure may take up to 21 credits per term.

Financial Aid/Bursar

Students in NDS status are not eligible to receive Title IV federal financial aid and tuition must be paid prior to the course beginning. Students in NDS status may be eligible for private loans.

Licensure

The successful completion of courses taken by foreign and domestic trained therapists does not guarantee licensure in the United States. Individuals must meet the entry-level requirements of the respective state to be licensed in that state.

University Student Services

Access to the following student services is included as part of the per-credit tuition rate for students in NDS status.

• Academic Advising
• Writing Center
• Registrar
• Counseling
• Library
• New Student Orientation portal and materials
• Technology services and support

Orientation

All new entry-level students are required to attend an in-person orientation as well as complete an online orientation. Orientation activities include an introduction to the Student Services and Financial Aid departments, clinical education at USAHS, and online learning in the University’s learning management system as well as a review of key policies in the Catalog/Handbook, including satisfactory academic progress, professional misconduct, and the student dress code.

Prior to beginning online courses, all new Post-Professional students receive a username, password, and directions for logging into the course platform. Students should sign in to the MyUSA portal, Post-Professional tab and view a short tutorial on navigating the Blackboard learning portal. This will provide the student with general information about online learning and assist in navigating the platform software used to complete online courses, and additional online support is available at iLEARN. The Academic Program Advisor sends additional information about the Graduate Learning Orientation and preparatory materials to students.

Records, Registration, and Degree Requirements

Records

The Registrar’s Office is responsible for maintaining the official academic records for all students who enroll in academic degree programs. Student records and transcripts are maintained electronically and are kept indefinitely. Holds may be placed on students’ records, transcripts (CA residents excluded), grades, or registration because of financial or other obligations to the University. The satisfaction of the hold is required before a release can be given.

Personal Information

Students must ensure all personal information is current and correct to enable USAHS to authenticate identity and provide authorized administrative and support services to students. Students can update their personal information, such as phone number, social security number, date of birth, personal email address, permanent address, local address, and emergency contact, through the MyUSA portal, My Info tab.

Address Changes

It is important to have a local address on file for all campus-based students in the event of emergency situations as well as for administrative purposes, such as validating enrollment at the campus where the student’s program is offered and ensuring students are located in a state where USAHS is able to offer their respective program

Although a student’s legal home or permanent address (mailing address) is provided on the Application for Admission and subsequently on the returned, completed Enrollment Agreement, students are required to update their local address before the first day of class each trimester.

Students whose legal home or permanent address (mailing address) is the same as their local address are also required to update their local address before the first day of class each semester.

Students who move for a clinical placement must update their local address in the MyUSA portal, My Info tab before the first day of the clinical rotation.

Students are advised to visit usa.edu to check their program-specific web page prior to relocation to another state to ensure they are aware of any limitations on the University’s ability to operate and/or place students in clinical experiences in that state.

Alumni should email address changes to registrar@usa.edu.

Name Changes

Requests for a change in the name as it appears on the respective student’s academic record must be made in writing and accompanied by a copy of one of the following: social security card, drivers’ license, passport, military ID, divorce decree, or professional license bearing the student’s new name. The name change form may be found on the MyUSA portal, Student Services tab, under Forms.

Health Records (OT, PT, SLP, and Nursing)

The University sets guidelines and monitors student medical data at matriculation and during the student’s enrollment. Each student is required to provide a completed Student Medical Record Form to be kept on file by the Clinical Services department by the date provided each term. Detailed instructions regarding required medical records are sent to new students prior to registration. Failure to submit the Student Medical Record Form will prevent the student’s participation in practicum, internships, fieldwork, and clinical experiences. Completion of these documents is required and is the responsibility of the student. The student is responsible for all associated costs.

Liability Release and Claim Waiver

Students are asked to sign a general Liability Waiver Form on behalf of the University prior to their participation in any athletic or extracurricular event while enrolled as a student. A copy of this form is located on the MyUSA portal, Students tab, Forms link. These forms are maintained in the University’s files for record-keeping purposes.

Student Information and Records Notification of Rights Under FERPA

Student educational records at USAHS are governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

FERPA affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution.) These rights include the following:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day USAHS receives a request for access. A student should submit to the Registrar, Dean, head of the academic department, or another appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the school official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the school to amend a record should write the school official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants to be changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested, the school will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to provide written consent before the University discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The school discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the USAHS in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position; a person serving on the board of directors; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of USAHS who performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent, or a student volunteering to assist another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for USAHS.  Additionally, on occasion, USAHS may be asked to supply student PII data as part of general regulatory reporting requirements, including with respect to the student financial aid process and other legal requirements.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by USAHS to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is as follows:

Student Privacy Policy Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-8520

Release of Student Information

USAHS complies with the provisions of Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, in reference to student records.

Students must consent to the release of any student information other than directory information to any person or agency. This consent must be in writing, signed, and dated. The consent must specify the information to be released, the reason for the release, and the names of the individual or agency to whom the information is to be released. The Registrar’s Office is responsible for fulfilling requests for student information.

Registration

All students in an entry-level program (MOT, OTD, DPT, and MS-SLP) who are clear of registration holds on their account are block registered for regularly scheduled courses according to the program’s plan of study by the Registrar’s Office before each term. Any student not following the planned curriculum should work with his or her advisor and submit an advisor-approved alternative schedule to the Registrar’s Office as early as possible for next term’s registration. Delays in the submission of the alternate schedule may delay financial aid packaging. Additionally, holds preventing registration must be resolved before financial aid can be dispersed.

All post-professional and certificate students (MHA, MHS, MSN, DNP, EdD, tDPT, PPOTD, and Certificate programs) self-register for coursework online. Students must log into the MyUSA portal, Student Services tab, Registrar link, then Post-Professional Registration. From there, students are able to register for coursework with step-by-step instructions. If assistance is required regarding registration, consult the Program Coordinator.

To register for Continuing Education seminars for CEU credit, please go to the Continuing Education website. If assistance is needed please call 1-800-241-1027 x1400. 

Course Schedules

It is the student’s responsibility to review all information provided in each course syllabus. Students are advised to check the syllabus and confer with faculty for complete information on course schedules, assignment due dates, exam dates, withdrawal deadlines, and other information pertaining to the course. In an online accelerated course, students are expected to complete assignments at an accelerated pace and must complete the course within the time frame provided by the course instructor.

Grade Reports

Grade Posting

In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), grades are not publicly posted. Students have access to grades online as faculty members make them available.

All grades including course assignments, exams, and other assessments will appear in the online grade book located in the course platform. Many grades may be recorded automatically (such as completion of an online examination) and be visible before the instructor has an opportunity to review the assessment; therefore, such grades are subject to revision. Students should consult with their instructor or review the course announcement page for information about any changes that may occur to a grade after posting.

At the time of course completion, the final course grade will be transferred to the University’s record system and become a permanent part of the student’s transcript. Grades cannot be given out via email or telephone.

Accessing Grades

At the MyUSA portal, My Info tab, students may access grades, print unofficial transcripts of grades, access/change personal student information, and keep track of all current course information. Students are responsible for monitoring their final grades through the MyUSA portal rather than through the online grade book in the course platform. Students are required to keep this information safe and secure and to keep personal information up to date. 

Grade Changes

The course instructor or the Program Director may initiate grade changes within the first four weeks of the subsequent term. The instructor must first submit the grade change form to the Program Director for initial approval. The Registrar’s Office posts approved grade changes to the student’s official academic record.

A student has the right to appeal a final grade received for a course within the first week of the subsequent term. The request must be made in writing to the course instructor. If the course instructor approves a grade correction, a Grade Change Form must be completed by the instructor and submitted to the respective Program Director. Upon the Program Director’s approval, the Registrar records the corrected grade in the student’s academic record and a revised copy can be viewed by the student on the MyUSA portal, My Info tab.

Students may appeal the instructor’s decision by following the process for minor academic appeal issues as outlined in the Academic Appeals Process .

Course Withdrawal

Students wishing to withdraw from a course must submit the Course Withdrawal Form to the Registrar’s Office at registrar@usa.edu to obtain the required signatures. Course Withdrawal Forms are available in the MyUSA portal, Student Services tab, under Forms.

It is the student’s responsibility to work with their advisors to verify the availability of a course in subsequent terms and to continue a path to completion. Because some courses are not offered every term, course withdrawal could significantly impact a student’s time to completion and satisfactory academic progress. In certain programs, such as MS-SLP, every course is a required prerequisite before progressing in the program, and in some programs, such as MS-SLP, certain Flex programs, and the Dallas DPT program, courses are offered only once per academic year and are subject to space availability.

Students should also contact the Financial Aid Office  and refer to the Financial Aid Terms and Conditions, located at https://www.usa.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid/, when withdrawing from a course to assess the impact to the student’s financial aid.

DPT, MOT, OTD, MS-SLP

Students may drop a course within the first seven (7) days of each term under the Refund Policy . If a student drops a course via written request within the first seven days of the term (the add/drop period), the course is not subject to tuition or fees and does not appear on the student’s transcript. All course withdrawals submitted after the end of the add/drop period (first seven days of the term) are subject to tuition and fees, as well as the corresponding refund policy, and appears on the transcript as a course withdrawal. All course withdrawals are included in the calculation of maximum course withdrawals allowed in a student’s program. The deadline to withdraw from a course is three weeks before the last day of classes (not including finals). Please refer to the 2022-2023 Academic Calendar  for the date of the withdrawal deadline in 15-week courses.

Students are allowed only one withdrawal in any course and only two withdrawals in total throughout the duration of the program. The Registrar’s Office notifies students after two course withdrawals in a program. A third withdrawal results in dismissal from the program. Students may request a third withdrawal within a program if extenuating circumstances merit an exception, which must be approved by the Program Director prior to the student initiating the withdrawal.

Any appeals related to the course withdrawal process should be directed to the Dean/Associate Dean.

MHA, MHS, EdD, MSN, DNP, tDPT^*, PPOTD, Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates

Students may drop a course within the first seven (7) days of each term under the Refund Policy . If a student drops a course via written request within the first seven days of the term (the add/drop period), the course is not subject to tuition or fees and does not appear on the student’s transcript. All course withdrawals submitted after the end of the add/drop period (first seven days of the term) are subject to tuition and fees, as well as the corresponding refund policy, and does appear on the transcript as a course withdrawal. All course withdrawals are included in the calculation of maximum course withdrawals allowed in a student’s program. After the add/drop period, the withdrawal period starts one week after classes begin and ends three weeks before the last day of classes (not including finals). The date of the withdrawal deadline varies depending on the length of the course and is listed in the course syllabus.

Students are allowed only one withdrawal in any course and only three withdrawals in total throughout the duration of the program. After receiving the third W grade during the program, the student is referred to the AAC.

Iowa Residents

Students should refer to the Iowa Refund Policy  for specific information regarding the add/drop period and refund policy for students residing and receiving instruction in Iowa.

* This program is not currently enrolling new students. 

Leave of Absence Policy

USAHS expects its students to maintain continuous registration in an academic program. However, the University understands that situations may arise during a student’s time at USAHS that may warrant a break in registration. To accommodate these situations, the University has developed the following Leave of Absence (LOA) policy. To be considered for a leave of absence, students must submit a signed, dated request for LOA that includes the reason for the LOA and the expected date of return as well as any required documentation; LOA forms are available at MyUSA, Forms. Except in verified cases of emergency, students who fail to submit the required documentation and be approved for an LOA are withdrawn two weeks after the University becomes aware that the student has stopped participating. Students on an LOA must return within 180 days and at the start of a subsequent trimester.

There are four types of LOA:

1. Short-Term Emergency (up to two weeks)
2. Long-Term (full or remainder of the trimester)
3. Military
4. Administrative

Common reasons for a Short-Term Emergency or Long-Term LOAs include the following:

• medical emergency (student or immediate family member)
• bereavement (death of an immediate family member)
• financial hardship (job relocation, job termination, loss of housing)
• military short-term LOA (not to exceed two weeks)

Types of appropriate supporting documentation include the following:

• doctor’s note
• hospital release form
• proof of job relocation
• proof of job termination
• eviction notice
• military orders
• obituary or death certificate

Immediate family member is defined as a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild; a spouse’s parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild; and a child’s spouse. Appropriate documentation is defined as official documents supporting or describing the reason for the request and is subject to approval by the University.

Students returning from a medical emergency LOA due to injury or illness must also submit documentation from a medical professional indicating the student is able to return to school.

Short-Term Emergency LOA

Students may request a Short-Term Emergency LOA by contacting their advisor and/or program director. The LOA Form (MyUSA, Forms) should be completed and submitted to the Registrar’s Office as soon as possible to properly account for the student’s absence. If the request is not received within two weeks of the date the student stops attending, the student is withdrawn from the University.

Two weeks of emergency leave allows a student to resume their coursework with the support of the faculty and program director. If the leave is taken at the end of a trimester, arrangements acceptable to both parties must be made to complete final exams or remaining coursework prior to the beginning of the subsequent trimester. Students who are unable to complete the exams prior to the beginning of the next trimester are given grades of W and are required to repeat those courses in the next term before progressing in the program.

A Short-Term Emergency LOA request must be accompanied by appropriate documentation of the emergency. Students who do not submit the required documentation will be withdrawn from the program under the Withdrawal Policy . 

Long-Term LOA

Students may request a Long-Term LOA (full trimester or the remainder of trimester not to exceed 180 days) by contacting their Advisor and/or Program Director. The LOA Form should be completed and submitted to the Registrar’s Office as soon as possible to properly account for the student’s absence. If the request is not received within two weeks of the date the student stops attending, the student is withdrawn from the program under the Withdrawal Policy .

A Long-Term LOA request must be accompanied by appropriate documentation of the need for the LOA and results in a grade of W for all currently enrolled courses. Grades of W that result from an approved LOA will not be calculated in the maximum number of course withdrawals. Students who do not submit the required documentation receive are whithdrawn from the program under the Withdrawal Policy . 

Students must return to classes at the beginning of a subsequent trimester and must submit a completed Return from LOA Form (MyUSA, Forms) to the Registrar’s Office to activate the student account and register the student for classes. Students who fail to return the following trimester are withdrawn from the University.

Long-Term LOA is not to be used in lieu of the failure of coursework.

Military LOA

Current students called to active military service are required to follow the same procedures for requesting any other LOA. Acceptable supporting documentation for this type of request is military orders. Students who begin Military LOA during a trimester are refunded their tuition for that trimester. A Military LOA may be for the duration of military service and is not limited to the leave time frame set forth in the Short-Term, Long-Term, or Planned Educational LOA guidelines.

Administrative LOA

The University reserves the right to place students on Administrative LOA for reasons such as the inability of the University to secure a clinical site, noncompliance of University policy, or to maintain the health and/or safety of the University community. Students may not request Administrative LOA; it is used solely at the University’s discretion. Students who have any hold that prevents registration (e.g., clinical education hold) and who have not cleared the hold prior to the end of the add/drop period cannot be placed on Administrative LOA and are withdrawn from the program under the Withdrawal Policy.

Students placed on Administrative LOA must return within 180 days and at the start of a subsequent trimester. Students who are unable to return within 180 days are subject to withdrawal from the program. 

Issues to Consider Prior to Requesting an LOA

For loan purposes, an LOA is a temporary interruption in a student’s program of study. LOA refers to the specific period during a program when a student is not in attendance. USAHS offers trimester-based programs. A Long-Term LOA taken mid-trimester is considered a withdrawal from the program for Title IV purposes and reported as such by the Registrar to the NSLDS Clearinghouse.

Return from LOA

Students must submit the Return from LOA form, which is available on the MyUSA portal, Student Services tab, under Forms. Students returning from a health-related LOA must also submit documentation from a medical professional indicating the student is able to return to school.

Failure to Return from LOA

One possible consequence of not returning from an LOA is that a student’s grace period for a federal and private loan might be exhausted. When a student fails to return from an LOA or a student does not return to the school at the expiration of an approved LOA (or a student takes an unapproved LOA), the student’s enrollment status is considered withdrawal, and for loan deferment purposes, the withdrawal date is considered the date the student began the LOA.

Prior to requesting an LOA of any type, the University strongly encourages students who are currently receiving Title IV funding or who have received it in the past to contact the Office of Financial Aid to fully understand the impact of an LOA on their funding and/or repayment terms.

Scholarship Students

Depending on the specific scholarship guidelines, students on an LOA may have to forfeit their scholarship funds upon their return. Scholarships are not affected for students who are on a Short-Term Emergency LOA.

Students with Private Education Loans

Students with private education loans who request an LOA of any type must consider how it will impact their loan status. Specifically, students should consider how the LOA impacts the grace period for repayment of the loan. Prior to requesting an LOA of any type, the University recommends that students receiving private education loans contact their lender.

Students Receiving Title IV Funds

Students receiving Title IV Funds (Federal Student Loans) should be aware that an LOA from the University may impact their financial aid. A University-approved LOA may not qualify a student for a loan repayment deferral as it relates to federal financial aid. The student must consult with the Office of Financial Aid prior to submitting the LOA request form. Students receiving Title IV funds and considering a Planned Educational LOA or a Long-Term LOA lasting longer than 14 calendar days (two weeks) must be aware of the following:

• The LOA, together with any additional leaves of absence, must not exceed a total of 180 days in any 12-month period. The 12-month period begins on the first day of the initial LOA.
• Title IV students who are withdrawn from the University due to failure to return from an LOA may have affected their student loan repayment terms, including the expiration of the student’s grace period.
• Students approved for an LOA are required to complete exit counseling prior to the beginning of the leave.

International Students

International students must meet with an advisor before submitting an LOA Request Form to ensure compliance with their visa status.

General Notice to Students Considering an LOA

• All students requesting an LOA are subject to space availability upon return. If a cohort has reached or exceeded its enrollment cap as set forth by accreditors or regulators, the student may be required to wait to return until space is available in the program. The University makes every effort to accommodate a student’s return but cannot guarantee it.
• Students who fail to return from an LOA are withdrawn from the University. The student’s withdrawal date is the date the student began the leave and stopped attending classes.
• Students who are withdrawn or dismissed for failure to return from an LOA may reapply to USAHS as a prospective student.
• A long-term LOA cannot exceed 180 days in any 12-month period (excluding Military LOA). The 12-month period begins on the first day of the initial LOA. Students requiring an additional break from coursework (within a 180 day period) may want to consider the program withdrawal and reinstatement process. 
• The University reserves the right to decline or conditionally approve student’s resumption of classes if he or she is unable to meet the essential functions with reasonable accommodations.
• Upon returning from an LOA, a student who has previously received reasonable accommodations must reapply to the Director of Disability Services to have accommodations reinstated.

Program Withdrawal

Students wishing to withdraw from a program should consult first with their faculty advisor. Students who decide to withdraw from a program must complete the Program Withdrawal Form located on MyUSA and submit it to the Registrar’s Office. Depending on the date of the withdrawal, the student may be responsible for all coursework, tuition, and fees for the current semester, if enrolled in courses (see Course Withdrawal and Refund Policy ).

Upon submitting the Program Withdrawal Form to the Registrar’s Office, the University takes the following action:

• Withdraw the student from all courses, the program, and the University.
  • Current Courses: Students who withdraw from a program prior to the course withdrawal deadline receive a W grade on their transcripts for all enrolled courses in that term. Students who withdraw from a program after the course withdrawal deadline receive the grade earned in each enrolled course at the time of withdrawal with all outstanding assignments calculated as zeros, which could result in failing grades (see Course Withdrawal  and Refund Policy ).
  • Future Courses: The student’s registration for subsequent terms is canceled, if applicable.
• Process a refund, if applicable (see Refund Policy ).

Students who formally withdraw from a program but who subsequently wish to be reinstated may be eligible under the Reinstatement  policy. Students may request reinstatement from program withdrawal one time within their program. Reinstatement after program withdrawal does not extend the time to completion  limit of any degree program.

Students who wish to change programs or campus locations rather than withdraw from the University entirely should refer to the Program/Specialty Change and Location Change policy.

Program/Specialty Change and Location Change

All program change requests are considered on an individual basis and are contingent on space availability.

Incoming Students–Program Change

Incoming (new) students who want to request a change of their admission to another degree program must make a request in writing (email is acceptable) to the Director of Admissions at least six weeks prior to the start of the trimester. To be considered, the student must have successfully completed all the required prerequisites for the program to which he or she is requesting to change. The Director of Admissions notifies the student via email of the outcome of the request. Note: The start and completion dates may be extended for students who change degree programs.

First Term and Beyond Students–Program Change

Program Change Request Forms (MyUSA, Forms) must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office (registrar@usa.edu) by midterm of the trimester prior to the effective date of the program change. Program change requests not received by the midterm deadline are considered during the subsequent trimester. To be considered, the student must have successfully completed all the required prerequisites for the program to which he or she is requesting to change.

In order to be considered for a program change, a student must be in good academic standing at the time of the request; program change requests are not considered from students who are currently remediating or retaking coursework, who are under review for appeal or professional misconduct, or who are on academic probation. Program change requests from students who are on an approved leave of absence may be considered if all other criteria are met. Note: Program completion dates may be extended as a result of a program change. Students are required to sign and return a new Enrollment Agreement prior to beginning the new program.

MOT/OTD Students–Program Change

Students who enter USAHS in the MOT program and wish to transfer to the OTD program must consult with their advisor and their Program Director regarding the opportunities for this change at which time the following criteria are considered: 

• Availability of a seat in the OTD program as determined by the program director.
• Students must have completed a statistics course as a prerequisite.
• Students must be in good academic standing.

Students who enter USAHS in the OTD program and wish to transfer to the MOT program must consult with their advisor and their Program Director regarding the opportunities for this change at which time the following criteria are considered.

• Availability of a seat in the MOT program as determined by the program director.
• Students must be in good academic standing.

If it is determined that there is availability in the requested program, a Program Change Form must be completed by the student and submitted to the registrar no later than midterm of Term 2 (Term 3 for Flex). The deadline for submitting the change is determined by the curriculum sequencing of each program when the courses begin to differ.

Requests for an exception to this policy can be made by appeal to the Associate Dean of Occupational Therapy. 

Post-Professional Specialty Track Change

Post-Professional Specialty Track Change Forms (MyUSA, Forms) must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office (registrar@usa.edu) by midterm of the trimester prior to the effective date of the specialty track change. Specialty change requests not received by the midterm deadline may be considered during the subsequent trimester. To be considered, the student must have successfully completed all required prerequisites for the specialty to which he or she is requesting to change.

To be considered for a specialty change, a student must be in good academic standing at the time of the request. Specialty change requests are not considered from students who are currently remediating or retaking coursework, who are under review for appeal or professional misconduct, or who are on academic probation. Specialty change requests from students who are on an approved leave of absence are considered. Note: Program completion dates may be extended for students who change specialties. Students are required to sign and return a new Enrollment Agreement prior to beginning the new specialty.

Location Change

Students who wish to change to another campus location to complete their program must submit a Campus Location Change Request Form (MyUSA, Forms) to the Registrar’s Office (registrar@usa.edu) by midterm of the trimester prior to the requested change. Such requests are considered on an individual basis and are contingent on space availability and the student must be in good academic standing. Campus location changes are not considered from students who are currently remediating or retaking coursework, who are under review for an appeal or professional misconduct, or who are on academic probation. The student is notified of the outcome of the location change request via email from the Registrar’s Office. Note: Program completion dates may be extended for students who change campus locations. Students are required to sign and return a new Enrollment Agreement prior to beginning at the new location.

Campus Exchange Program (MOT, DPT)

Students who wish to study at a USAHS campus other than their home campus for one trimester may apply to do so provided their program is available at another campus and they meet qualifications described below.

A student who wishes to exchange must meet the following criteria:

• A student must be in good academic standing.
• A student must not have any misconduct issues in his or her record.
• A student must receive his or her Program Director’s approval.
• A DPT student must be willing to exchange in Term 3, 4, or 6 (due to clinical experiences, scheduling, graduation, and other factors). Flex DPT students should consult with the Associate Program Director to discuss options.
• An MOT student must be willing to exchange in Term 3 or 4 (due to fieldwork experiences, scheduling, graduation, and other factors). Flex MOT students do not currently have this opportunity unless they are requesting a transfer to a campus-based program.
• A student must be willing to guarantee his or her own travel and lodging arrangements. (Students may want to visit housing.usa.edu or contact their new campus’ student association leaders to see which students may have room occupancies available due to internships or other factors.)

A student who believes he or she meets the criteria must complete the following process in order to become an exchange student:

1. Fill out the Campus Exchange Application found on the MyUSA portal, Student Services tab, Forms link.
2. Submit the completed application (and application fee) to the student’s home campus Program Director no later than the end of the fourth week of the trimester preceding the trimester the student wishes to exchange.
3. Await Program Director’s approval (students should note that although they meet the criteria, they may not be approved due to classroom seat availability or other factors).

For students who participate in an exchange, the following apply:

• If a student receives a grade while on the exchange that requires repeating a course, the student is expected to repeat the course at his or her home campus in the following trimester.
• A temporary advisor on the host campus is assigned to the exchanging student during the trimester in which the student is exchanging.
• Academic progression for the student occurs on the host campus on which the student exchanges for the trimester the student is on that campus.
• Professional misconduct issues are handled on the campus at which the incident took place.
• The appeal process is handled through the student’s home campus appeals committee.
• Tuition remains at the home campus rate.

At this time the Campus Exchange Program is not available to OTD and MS-SLP students.

Reenrollment Timelines

A USAHS MOT, OTD, DPT or MS-SLP program graduate who decides to seek admission to another USAHS entry-level degree program must enroll within three years of his or her graduation date or he or she may be required to retake foundational (HSC) coursework and complete additional internship/fieldwork experiences. To be considered for admission to another entry-level degree program, a USAHS graduate must submit a completed Application for Admission; however, transcripts and GRE score reports do not need to be resubmitted with the new application.

Enrollment Certifications

National Student Clearinghouse is the University’s authorized agent for providing enrollment verifications through its Student Self-Service program. Students can print enrollment verification certificates free of charge through the MyUSA portal, My Info tab, under My Verification, which provides a link to Clearinghouse Self-Service.

Transcripts

To ensure the confidentiality of student records, the University issues official transcripts of academic information only by written or electronic signature from the student or graduate using Parchment. Students must pay a $3.00 convenience fee for each request submitted and an additional $2.25 fee for each paper transcript requested. For electronic transcript delivery, only the $3.00 convenience fee is charged.

EFFECTIVE MAY 8, 2023: The fee for electronic transcripts is $8.50. The fee for paper transcripts is $10.00.

For more information on ordering transcripts, please visit the MyUSA portal, My Info tab, My Transcripts link. Alumni may order transcripts by going to usa.edu/about/alumni/.

Transferability of Course Credit

NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSFERABILITY OF CREDITS AND CREDENTIALS EARNED AT THIS INSTITUTION: The transferability of credits students earn at USAHS is at the complete discretion of an institution to which a student may seek to transfer. Acceptance of the degree earned at USAHS is also at the complete discretion of the institution to which the student may seek to transfer. If the degree earned at this institution is not accepted at the institution to which the student seeks to transfer, the student may be required to repeat some or all of his or her coursework at that institution. For this reason, students should make certain that their attendance at this institution will meet their educational goals. This may include contacting an institution to which a student may seek to transfer after attending USAHS to determine if the degree will transfer. The University actively pursues a policy of requesting other graduate programs to accept our credits for transfer. However, the University has not entered into an articulation or transfer agreement with any other college or university.

Washington State Residents

The transferability of credits earned at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is at the discretion of the receiving college, university, or other educational institution. Students considering transferring to any institution should not assume that credits earned in any program of study at USAHS will be accepted by the receiving institution. Similarly, the ability of a degree, certificate, diploma, or other academic credential earned at USAHS to satisfy an admission requirement of another institution is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Accreditation does not guarantee credentials or credits earned at USAHS will be accepted by or transferred to another institution. To minimize the risk of having to repeat coursework, students should contact the receiving institution in advance for evaluation and determination of transferability of credits and/or acceptability of degrees, diplomas, or certificates earned.

Degree Completion/Graduation

The following requirements must be met for a student to be eligible for graduation:

• Each student must satisfactorily complete all courses and be in academic good standing.
• All financial obligations to the University or its subsidiaries must be paid in full.
• The student must submit an application for graduation by the deadline for the term in which he or she wishes to graduate.
• The student must attend at least one approved professional conference (OT, PT, SLP).

Should a student be unable to successfully complete one of the final courses but has successfully met all other degree requirements, the student may be allowed to walk at commencement with the respective cohort class. The candidate must sign an acknowledgment regarding participation in the ceremony. The candidate is hooded during the ceremony but does not receive a diploma. If the coursework is completed within the first seven days of the subsequent term, the diploma and transcript notation reflects the cohort’s conferral date. Should the coursework be completed after the first seven days of the subsequent term, the diploma is issued and the transcript notation is dated to reflect the subsequent conferral date upon degree completion.

All degree requirements must be completed before approval to graduate is given by the respective Program Director. Formal commencement ceremonies take place three times per year at the conclusion of each trimester on each campus.

Confirmation of a degree is posted to the official academic record on the last day of the term. Degrees are not conferred until all academic and financial obligations have been successfully met. The graduation fee is paid at the time the student submits the Application to Graduate Form.

Honors designation is given to students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50–3.64. High Honors designation is given to students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.65–4.0. The cumulative GPA is calculated through the final trimester of coursework and is not rounded.

Note: Acceptance to the University and payment of tuition (on a trimester-by-trimester or course-by-course basis) is not a contract assuring that the student will graduate with a degree.

Awards

College of Rehabilitative Sciences

Outstanding OT, PT, SLP Student Awards

The MOT, OTD, DPT, and SLP programs recognize an outstanding student of the respective graduating class. This award is based on the criteria listed below and is given to the graduating student whose characteristics most support the OT, PT, or SLP program mission statement. The outstanding OT and SLP student awards are chosen by a combined vote of his or her fellow classmates and program faculty. The PT student award is chosen by a vote of the program faculty.

Outstanding Student Awards Criteria

Stanley V. Paris and Catherine E. Patla Award

The Paris and Patla Award is presented to a DPT graduate in recognition of excellence in spinal and extremity manual therapy in professional physical therapy education.

Scholastic Achievement Award

The Scholastic Achievement Award is presented to the PT, OT, and SLP graduate who has achieved the highest cumulative GPA. Grades from both foundational science courses and professional courses are included in the cumulative grade point computation.

Post-Professional Awards

Excellence in Scholarship Award

The Excellence in Scholarship award is granted to a graduating student whose culminating project demonstrates excellence in the scholarly areas of discovery, integration, application, and teaching.

Excellence in Interprofessional Collaboration Award

The Excellence in Interprofessional Collaboration award is granted to a graduating student whose performance across the program, including in the classroom, the healthcare setting, and the professional community, demonstrates excellence in interprofessional collaboration.

Excellence in Dissertation Research Award

The Excellence in Dissertation Research Award is granted to a graduating student whose dissertation demonstrates excellence in one of the following areas of scholarship: discovery, integration, or application.

Other Awards

Patricia King Alumni Award for Professional Excellence

The Patricia King Alumni Award is presented to an alumnus of the University’s Post-Professional programs in recognition of commitment to professional development and achievement in the advancement of clinical practice.

Recognition for the Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy

The University’s Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy is credentialed by the American Physical Therapy Association. This postgraduate program includes a minimum of one year of clinical mentoring as well as didactic learning.

Recognition for the Fellowship in Manual Physical Therapy

The University’s Fellowship in Manual Physical Therapy is credentialed by the American Physical Therapy Association and recognized by the American Academy of Manual Physical Therapists. This postgraduate program includes a minimum of one year of clinical mentoring as well as didactic learning.

Replacement Diploma

Replacement diplomas may be obtained by contacting the Registrar’s Office at 800-241-1027 ext. 1600 or registrar@usa.edu. The fee is $25.00 plus $5.00 for shipping.

Licensure Forms

The Registrar’s Office completes all forms required for state licensure for new graduates and alumni at no cost. Form requests may be emailed to registrar@usa.edu or mailed to USAHS Registrar, 1 University Blvd. St. Augustine, FL 32086 or 700 Windy Point Dr., San Marcos, CA 92069.