Misericordia University

At Misericordia University you learn from faculty who are leaders in their fields, who challenge you intellectually and creatively, and who do everything in their power to bring out your best. Plus, classes are small, ensuring the personalized attention you deserve. Classes usually feature fewer than 30 students and oftentimes fewer than 10 in advanced areas of study. Undergraduates regularly participate in research and other meaningful projects and opportunities that aren’t always available at larger institutions.

Biology, chemistry programs open many doors for graduates
Misericordia University’s biology, chemistry, and biochemistry programs offer students the opportunity to pursue virtually any career in the health sciences. Our biology curriculum gives you a strong foundation in genetics, molecular biology, ecology, marine biology, and neurobiology, while small class sizes guarantee personal attention during research and classroom instruction. Students in the program are exposed to modern organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry, along with instrumental analysis and chemical literature. A blend of mathematics and physics completes the program. Graduates of these programs go on to graduate school and become physicians, veterinarians, dentists, and optometrists.

A leader in nursing for more than 60 years
Misericordia University has been educating nurses since 1949 in the longest established program in northeastern Pennsylvania. In 2012 the program received the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Innovations in Professional Nursing Award and in 2013 was granted 10 years of accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. MU offers students who are interested in nursing several different options, including the B.S.N., M.S.N., post-master’s certificate in family nurse practitioner, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice. MU features an ultramodern nursing lab and computer simulator.

Medical imaging program fosters success
Misericordia University medical imaging students benefit from the relationships this program has with clinical sites, which enable our students to apply their classroom knowledge in a professional setting. MU prepares its medical imaging majors with thorough training in the technical aspects of these jobs and a solid background in the liberal arts. Our on-campus energizing laboratory facilities, along with experienced faculty who practice in the field, have helped our graduates earn a 100% pass rate on the national registry exam for the last 27 years. The major also features two fifth-year options for students, including a master’s degree in organizational management and a certificate in diagnostic medical sonography.

Physician assistant studies
Balancing strong preparation in the life sciences with intensive clinical education, the physician assistant department at MU offers a five-year sequence where students complete a bachelor’s degree and progress into two years of graduate study. The program engages students in a sequence of specialized, medically based courses in preparation for work as a physician assistant. Faculty teaching in the program include the eminent surgeon and research scientist Stanley J. Dudrick, M.D.; veteran physician assistants; and gifted researchers and teachers from the University’s biology and chemistry/biochemistry departments. A new patient assessment lab on lower campus enhances resources for PA students.

Doctor of Physical Therapy program
Our fully accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program provides students with the tools and opportunities necessary to become competent and caring physical therapy practitioners in as little as six and a half years. MU’s D.P.T. program guarantees its freshman students will progress to the graduate level as long as they maintain academic standards. During their first three and a half years, students take courses for their doctorate while completing the requirements for a bachelor’s degree of their choice, oftentimes biology, biochemistry, chemistry, communications, health care management, philosophy, psychology, or sport management. Students begin the professional curriculum and clinical training in their fourth and fifth years of study. In their sixth year, students can expand their studies to specialize in pediatrics, sports physical therapy, or geriatrics. Students participate in four 10-week clinical educational experiences at many medical facilities and independent physical therapy centers in 20 states.

Occupational therapy majors receive broad-based education
Our fully accredited five-year master’s degree program in occupational therapy combines a strong foundation of liberal arts and sciences, professional courses, clinical experience, and international service learning opportunities. Students begin their practical training in the third year of school. Besides clinical opportunities, graduate students can participate in a service learning trip abroad, where they apply their skills and gain real-world experience in a culturally diverse setting. All of our occupational therapy faculty members are current practition-ers, bringing their years of practical experience to the classroom. Students will gain valuable knowledge in the areas of pediatrics, geriatrics, assistive technology, mental health, and orthopedics. Successful completion of course work and field assignments prepares students for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Examination. MU also offers a post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy.

Facilities, clinic enhance speech-language pathology program
Students enrolled in the five-year master’s degree program in speech-language pathology have the benefit of new academic and research facilities. The program features its own Speech-Language and Hearing Center, which provides graduate students practical clinical experience and services to regional clients. It is one of the few programs that allow students to earn a master’s degree in five years of full-time study. The program trains students in every area of speech-language pathology to diagnose and treat people with autism, articulation problems, developmental language disorders, fluency and voice disorders, and severe communication disorders.  

College of Health Sciences building offers high-tech facilities, technology
Passan Hall, the renovated College of Health Sciences building, is a 37,000-sq. ft. facility outfitted with the latest laboratories and technology for students in the nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology programs. The state-of-the-art facility includes both physical therapy and speech-language and hearing clinics, where students gain practical experience while residents of the community receive low-cost medical services.