About the College of Health Sciences at Rush University

For questions about admissions please send e-mail to the Rush University Office of College Admissions Services at RUAdmissions@rushu.rush.edu .
For general questions about the College of Health Sciences please send e-mail to RUInfo@rushu.rush.edu .

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences (formerly Medical Technology)
- Vascular Ultrasound

Master of Science Programs (M.S.)
- Clinical Laboratory Management
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences (formerly Medical Technology)
- Clinical Nutrition
- Health Systems Management
- Medical Physics
- Occupational Therapy
- Perfusion Technology
- Speech-Language Pathology

Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Health Care Ethics

Doctoral Programs
- Audiology (Au.D.)

Certificate Programs (nondegree)
- Health Care Ethics

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The College

The College of Health Sciences, founded in 1975, is responsible for education and research in the allied health professions; including management. More than six of every ten health care workers in the United States is in allied health. Over fifty separate categories of professionals comprise this largest segment of the health care workforce.

The faculty of the College of Health Sciences serve the Medical Center as practitioner-teachers. Nearly all have patient care or service responsibilities while concurrently filling academic roles as teachers and investigators. Through the faculty, therefore, the students have access to the latest treatment and practice patterns of skilled clinicians and managers in a dynamic academic health center.

Mission

The College of Health Sciences sponsors high quality academic programs in the health professions in support of Rush-Presbyterian-St.Luke's Medical Center. The primary purposes of the College are as follows:

To educate and train high quality health professionals to meet national needs as well as those of the Rush system
To advance health care knowledge by fostering applied and clinical research that also enhances patient care
To enhance the patient care services of the Rush System for Health
To contribute to the communities of which the Medical Center is a member
To foster the individual growth and satisfaction of the faculty, students and staff of the College

Organization

The organization of the College of Health Sciences centers around nine departments, each headed by a department chairperson. The chairpersons report to the college dean. The senior representative policy body of the College is the Faculty Council, comprised of two faculty members from all of the departments and students from the College at large. Meetings of the Council are ordinarily held each month. Faculty and students may propose agenda items, and guests are welcome by invitation.

The nine departments of the College, each described later in this section, include Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Vascular Ultrasound, which offer bachelor of science degrees. Seven departments offer master of science degrees---Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Communication Disorders and Sciences, Clinical Nutrition, Health Systems Management, Medical Physics, Occupational Therapy, and Perfusion Technology. The department of Audiology also offers a doctoral degree. In addition, the College includes the Department of Religion, Health and Human Values, which offers internships in clinical pastoral education and a certificate program in health care ethics and health care and sprituality. The Section of Ethics is also organized as part of this department.

Alumni Activities

The College encourages the development of strong ties with its graduates. All graduates are considered alumni of Rush Univerisity, and no dues are levied. Each of the programs in the College of Health Sciences has its own alumni association.

Academic Policies
(Additional policies are listed on the Academic Information page and in the program descriptions).

Credit Hours. Rush University is on a quarter system. Each quarter is at least ten weeks in length. An examination period is provided at the end of each term and most instructors give a final examination during this time. The quarter hour is the unit used by the College of Nursing, the College of Health Sciences, and The Graduate College to determine credit for courses taken. As a general rule, one quarter hour represents contact time of one lecture hour, two hours of small group discussion or three laboratory or clinical hours per week.

Transfer of Credit. Undergraduate courses taken at an accredited college or university that fulfill the prerequisites for admission may be applied toward the baccalaureate degree.

Graduate credit earned elsewhere may be applied to the master of science degree requirements for Rush, subject to the approval of the department chairperson. Before this credit may be approved to meet degree requirements, a transfer credit approval form must be completed. The form should be completed during the first quarter of enrollment in the degree program.

After matriculation, students who plan to request credit for courses taken elsewhere must either complete a transfer credit approval form or register for concurrent enrollment. Information regarding either of these options is available in the Office of the Registrar. Prior approval of the department chairperson is required.

Credit by Examination. A student who passes a proficiency examination at Rush University will earn academic credit toward the degree. The credit will equal the credit value of the course as listed in the current Rush University Bulletin. Information that is posted on the transcript is the course prefix and number, title, credit value, and a K grade. A transcript guide that accompanies all transcripts issued by the office of the registrar explains that the K grade means credit was earned through proficiency examination. Credit for the course will appear in the quarterly and cumulative totals as credit earned. The credit is not calculated into the student's grade point average (GPA).

Full-time and Part-time Enrollment. Twelve quarter hours is considered full-time enrollment. Registration for fewer than twelve hours constitutes part-time enrollment.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses. With permission, undergraduate students may register for graduate level courses. Any credit earned in this manner will automatically apply toward the baccalaureate degree. Should an undergraduate student later apply for and gain admission to a graduate program at Rush University, the student may request that the graduate credit earned be applied toward the master's degree. A transfer credit approval form should be completed.

Credit will transfer in this manner only if the student has enough cumulative credits. A student must earn a minimum of 180 quarter hours to receive the bachelor of science degree. If a student actually earns 187 quarter hours for example, and seven quarter hours are at the graduate level at Rush, seven quarter hours could potentially be credited toward the master's degree.

Incomplete Grades. The grade of incomplete (I) is normally given only when circumstances beyond the control of the student prevent completion of course requirements and the student has received permission to defer completion of these unmet course requirements. The course director shall determine what work will be required to remove the incomplete and shall establish a specific time frame within which the student must complete such work.

An incomplete grade does not reflect upon the quality of the student's performance, and upon completion of the unmet course requirements, this grade will be replaced by the new grade. (See Academic Information section for additional requirements.)

Undergraduate Students. Students receiving grades of incomplete are responsible for asking the instructor for the exact work required to remove the incomplete. The "I" grade must be removed by the end of the next quarter or it will revert to a failing (F or N) grade unless otherwise negotiated by the course director and student. If the student is not enrolled in other courses while completing the incomplete, the enrollment fee is imposed (see Financial Affairs section).
Graduate Students. Graduate students may request an incomplete from the course director. An incomplete grade not removed by the end of the next quarter will revert to a final grade as determined by the course director. If the student is not enrolled in other courses while resolving the incomplete, the enrollment fee is imposed (see Financial Affairs section).

Absences. Students are responsible for all material presented in class sessions. Faculty members are not obligated to provide extra help to students who miss or arrive late to classes. When illness or other special circumstances prevent attendance, the student is responsible for contacting the instructor (in advance, if possible) to plan for meeting the objectives on an individual basis. Students absent from an examination are responsible for notifying the course director according to the guidelines specified in the course syllabus. Failure to do so will result in a zero for that examination or an incomplete for the course as determined by the course director.

Examination Policy. The examination policy is the responsibility of the individual course director who will inform students of examination requirements for that particular course. A period at the end of the quarter is provided for examinations. This period may be used as the course director chooses.

Dean's List. Undergraduate students earning a 3.5 (A=4.0) or higher GPA for at least twelve credits of classroom course work are given recognition by having their names placed on the Dean's List. The Dean's List is published at the beginning of each new quarter for work completed in the previous quarter.

Thesis. Several programs in the College of Health Sciences either require or have an option for a thesis project. Completing one's thesis is a significant academic accomplishment and acknowledges that the student has conducted an independent scientific investigation that will add to the knowledge in his/her field. All students are required to have their theses registered with University Microfilms, Inc. This process includes the publication of the thesis abstract, the microfilming of the thesis, and the copyrighting of the work. In addition, the original copy of the thesis is bound and becomes a permanent part of the collection of the Library of Rush University. The director of the Library of Rush University coordinates the process.

Leave of Absence. A student who must interrupt his/her studies for reasons of sustained ill health or compelling personal situations may apply for a leave of absence for a stated period of time, usually not to exceed one year. Leave of absence requests must be submitted in writing to the department chairperson or his/her designate. If approved by the department chairperson and dean, the student must satisfy the conditions of the leave before reentering and must comply with all policies, requirements, and course sequences in effect at the time of reentry. The student shall provide, to the administrator(s) who granted the leave, written notice of his/her intent to return. The student will pay tuition and fees at the rate in effect at the time of reenrollment.

Readmission. Any student who has withdrawn from a program or has not been enrolled for two consecutive quarters or any dismissed student may apply for readmission by submitting an application for this purpose to the chairperson of the department to which he/she is applying. Applications for reenrollment must be received at least three months before the planned return. An interview may be required. A reentering student must meet the conditions for reenrollment stated in his/her dismissal or reentry acceptance letter and all policies, requirements, and course sequences in effect at the time of reentry. Previously enrolled students may be considered as part of the pool of new applicants and are not guaranteed admission. The student will pay tuition and fees at the rates in effect at the time of reenrollment.

Student Appeals Process. A student wishing to appeal an academic decision should follow the process summarized below, in the sequence indicated.

1. Discuss and attempt to resolve the issue with the faculty member in question.
2. Discuss the issue with the department chairperson (or with the program director, if applicable).
3. Submit a written appeal to the student progress and promotion committee of the department.
4. Submit a written request for a hearing to the University Committee on Faculty and Student Appeals. The recommendation of this committee will be forwarded to the College Council and the dean for review and final determination.

College of Health Sciences Committees

College Council. The senior representative governing body of the College of Health Sciences is the College Council. The College Council membership is comprised of both faculty members and students. The dean of the college serves as chairperson. Faculty members represent all departments and ranks. Students represent both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Committee on Senior Faculty Appointments and Promotions. This committee recommends all promotions and appointments of faculty to senior ranks. It is elected by the faculty and has representatives from all departments in the college.