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Allied Health

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Allied health is often defined as those health professions that are distinct from nursing, medicine, and pharmacy.  Allied health professionals work in health care teams to provide a range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic and direct patient care and support services that are critical to other health professionals and to patients.  Allied Health professionals are involved with the delivery of health or related services pertaining to the identification, evaluation and prevention of diseases and disorders, dietary and nutrition services, rehabilitation and health systems management, among others. Allied health professionals include dental hygienists, diagnostic medical sonographers, dietitians, medical technologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, radiographers, and respiratory therapists, to name a few.
  • 60% of the U.S. healthcare workforce may be classified as allied health
  • allied health professionals play an essential role in the delivery of health care and related services

Clarion offers two program options to enable allied health professionals to get started on the road to career advancement. 

Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Leadership

This online degree completion program is designed for credentialed allied health professionals who have earned an associate degree, certificate or diploma in a properly accredited allied health educational program and who seek career advancement as health care managers/administrators, health care educators, or in medical sales.  Distance education (online classroom) accommodates the busy lives of students who are balancing work and family obligations.

This program may be a good fit for:

  • Dental professionals
  • Diploma nurses
  • Medical assistants
  • Medical imaging professionals
  • Medical office professionals
  • Occupation therapy technicians
  • Ophthalmic medical technicians
  • Paramedics
  • Pharmacy technicians
  • Physical therapy technicians
  • Surgical technologists

Graduates of the program are well-positioned to enter Clarion University's online Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree program. 

The degree requires completion of 120 credits from a combination of allied health, business, liberal studies, and clinical coursework.

Expedite earning your degree:

Clarion University offers six academic terms each year that allows students to expedite the earning of their degree. Students may take online courses during the 15-week traditional fall and spring semesters and also complete coursework in shortened academic terms offered in summer and winter.

REQUIREMENTS|MAPS|OUTCOMES

associate of science in allied health

The associate degree enables allied health professionals to get started on the road to career advancement. Clarion University recognizes the value of an allied health professional's clinical education and acquired professional expertise and therefore awards up to 30 credits for completion of a formal, accredited educational program in an allied health field.  The remaining 30 credits of science and general education course work must be earned from Clarion University and can be completed online.

This program may be a good fit for:

  • Dental professionals
  • Diploma nurses
  • Medical assistants
  • Medical imaging professionals
  • Medical office professionals
  • Occupation therapy technicians
  • Ophthalmic medical technicians
  • Paramedics
  • Pharmacy technicians
  • Physical therapy technicians
  • Surgical technologists

This degree is for individuals who are already credentialed allied health professionals.

Other Programs

Course work completed in other accredited allied health educational programs will be evaluated for transfer on a case-by-case basis by Clarion University's Department of Department of Nutrition, Health and Sport Sciences and must meet the following criteria:

  1. The educational program must be for an allied health profession that is recognized by Clarion University's Department of Nutrition, Health and Sport Sciences.
  2. The allied health educational program from which the applicant has graduated must meet one or both of the following criteria:
    • The educational program must hold accreditation in good standing with a formal national programmatic accrediting agency widely acceptable to the specific allied health profession and formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
    • The educational program must be offered in a post-secondary institution of higher learning that has accreditation in good standing with a U.S. regional accreditor formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education such as the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

*The allied health educational program from which the applicant has graduated must have entailed a minimum of 450 contact hours.

For an evaluation to determine if an accredited educational program in allied health will meet the above criteria, please email the Department of Nutrition, Health and Sport Sciences.

Admission Criteria and Application

Admission to the AS, Allied Health degree program requires students to meet the standard admission criteria of Clarion University and meet eligibility requirements.

Evaluation of Clinical Course Work

Credits for completion of clinical course work will be considered on a case-by-case basis by Clarion's Department of Nutrition, Health and Sport Sciences and will be based on the following criteria:

  • The allied health educational program from which the applicant has graduated must meet one or both of the following criteria:

The educational program must:

      • hold accreditation in good standing with a formal national programmatic accrediting agency widely acceptable to the specific allied health profession and formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
      • be offered in a post-secondary institution of higher learning that has accreditation in good standing with a U.S. regional accreditor formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education such as the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
      • must have entailed a minimum of 450 contact hours

REQUIREMENTS|MAPS|OUTCOMES

 
Questions?

Renee Bloom, PhD, RT(R)
Program Coordinator
Clarion University - Venango

Debra Weaver
Clerical support
222 Ralston Hall
814 393 2051

Last Updated 12/8/21