About

History and milestones

History

The School of Health Professions, now College of Health Sciences, became an independent academic unit by action of the University of Missouri Board of Curators on Dec. 14, 2000. The school’s programs have a long and distinguished history, some dating back to the early 1900s, and have produced many well-respected and nationally recognized professionals.

At the time of its establishment, the school consisted of five programs: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Medical Technology, Radiologic Technology, and Respiratory Therapy. Addressing the increasing health care needs of Missouri and across the nation, the school has continued to grow in programs to prepare professionals in health care, public health and social work.

As Missouri’s only state-supported college of health sciences on a campus with an academic health center, we are uniquely positioned to educate highly qualified health care, public health and social work professionals. Students gain valuable experience through our college’s clinics and community outreach programs. They also train at more than 800 fieldwork sites across the nation.

In addition to becoming skilled practitioners, our graduates will assume leadership responsibilities as faculty, researchers, and administrators in their respective disciplines. Our commitment to improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities through teaching, research and service has never been stronger.

Milestones

2023

The School of Health Professions is renamed the College of Health Sciences following a Board of Curators vote in September 2022. The new name reflects the growing range of academic programs, services and research in multiple areas.

The master of health administration, graduate certificate in informatics for public health, and Center for Health Policy join the College of Health Sciences.

2022

The School of Health Professions begins offering a bachelor of science in fitness programming and management.

2021

The School of Health Professions turns 20, with an enrollment of more than 3,300 students and 16,000 alumni worldwide.

2020

The School of Social Work faculty petition to join the School of Health Professions. Provost Latha Ramchand approves this change in November 2020.

2019

The school launches an interdisciplinary research-focused PhD program in Health and Rehabilitation Science — the only program of its kind at a public institution in Missouri. Several new degree programs are approved, including the occupational therapy assistant major and the master’s degree in clinical and diagnostic sciences.

The Department of Occupational Therapy announces the conversion of the master of occupational therapy to the occupational therapy doctorate. The last MOT class graduated in 2022, and the first OTD class graduates in 2024.

The Department of Public Health is created, shared by the School of Health Professions and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The school offers a newly restructured bachelor’s degree in clinical and diagnostic sciences with an emphasis on diagnostic medical ultrasound. It is one of few programs nationwide to offer training in all ultrasound areas for undergraduate students.

2018

The master of public health degree with an emphasis in veterinary public health becomes the first fully online program of its kind nationwide.

The Department of Communication Science and Disorders is renamed the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. The new name more accurately describes the breadth of study and research in the department.

2016

The school debuts a bachelor of health science in public health.

2014

The Department of Cardiopulmonary and Diagnostic Sciences changes its name to the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences. The new name more accurately describes the programs housed under the department and aligns with a change to have all the department undergraduate programs have a single degree, bachelor of health science in clinical and diagnostic sciences with emphasis areas.

In response to the documented need for affordable mental health care in Missouri, School of Social Work faculty launch the Integrative Behavioral Health Clinic. Since then, social work graduate students and counseling psychology students have gained valuable real-world experience working with clients while under the direct supervision of licensed clinical social workers.

2013

Dean Oliver retires. Kristofer Hagglund, who had served as associate dean since 2001, takes the reins. Enrollment has grown to nearly 2,700 students in total, with 1,300 Health Science majors.

2012

Enrollment in the School of Health Professions is 2,500 students.

2011

The Department of Health Sciences is created, bringing together faculty affiliated with the health science major.

PhysZOU is created as a student-run, volunteer pro bono clinic associated with the Department of Physical Therapy. In 2013, the clinic is formally integrated into the curriculum to provide additional hands-on learning for physical therapy students.     

2010

The master of public health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, making it the first of its kind at a public university in Missouri.

The first doctor of physical therapy class graduates.

2009

The health science major launches with an enrollment of 227 students. Three students who had been taking classes in the proposed degree program graduated in May 2009. The program is projected to have 250 students after 5 years; after 5 years, it will have 1,200 students. Today, it is the most popular major on campus.

2008

RehabCare Group Inc. of St. Louis donates $1.3 million to the School of Health Professions to advance education in occupational therapy and physical therapy. It was the largest gift to the school to date.

2007

The master of public health program begins. The College of Veterinary Medicine is a key collaborator for the veterinary public health emphasis.

2006

The Accent Modification and Pronunciation program (AMP) opens. It is operated by the Department of Communication Science and Disorders.

The Department of Physical Therapy announces the conversion of the master of physical therapy to the doctorate in physical therapy, with the last master’s class to graduate in 2009.

2005

The Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders is founded under the leadership of Janet Farmer, professor of health psychology, with participation from other School of Health Professions faculty.

A pediatric occupational therapy clinic is established, offering hands-on clinical opportunities for student practitioners; an adult clinic is added one year later. The clinics are later renamed Tiger OT.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy opens a satellite location in Columbia in collaboration with the School of Health Professions to help address the state’s pharmacist shortage.

The Medical Technology program is reactivated through a partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Within the next two years, the program is renamed Clinical Laboratory Science.

2001

The Board of Curators and Coordinating Board for Higher Education approve a new bachelor’s degree in diagnostic medical ultrasound. Students start in the program the next year, with the first class graduating in 2003.

2000

The University of Missouri Board of Curators votes on Dec. 14, 2000, to make the School of Health Related Professions an autonomous academic unit at the University of Missouri, removing the word “Related” from its name and making the director a dean. Richard Oliver goes from being director of the school within the School of Medicine to dean of the School of Health Professions. There are four departments within the new school: Cardiopulmonary and Diagnostic Science, Communication Science and Disorders, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy. Degrees are offered at the bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels. Enrollment stands at 509 students.

The Department of Health Psychology is formed — with psychology faculty from the MU Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation — and joins the school.

The Robert G. Combs Language Preschool opens for children ages 2 to 5 years with speech and language difficulties. Students participate as clinicians-in-training under the direct supervision of clinical faculty with certification and state licensure in speech-language pathology.

1998

SHRP faculty meet with MU Chancellor Richard Wallace to request a restructuring of the school as an autonomous unit at the University of Missouri.

1995

The Medical Technology program is deactivated.

1994

Degree programs in the School of Health Related Professions are: Clinical Laboratory Science – Medical Technology and Cytotechnology, Communicative Disorders, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Radiologic Science – Radiography and Nuclear Medicine, and Respiratory Therapy.

1989

Enrollment is at 804 students, and the school has now produced 2,456 graduates since its inception.

1986

Richard Oliver, who had been director of the Medical Technology Program, is named director of the School of Health Related Professions. He moves to Clark Hall.

1983

Roger Harting named director of the School of Health Related Professions

1981

Richard Oliver, in his role as chairman of the SHRP Planning Committee, sends a memo to SHRP director Herbert Goldberg about the growth and viability of its programs. Oliver recommends the SHRP change from a two-year upper division degree format to a four-year school while retaining its affiliation with the School of Medicine.

1980

Mizzou’s Speech Pathology and Audiology program, including the MU Speech and Hearing Clinic, moves to the School of Health Related Professions. Degrees are offered at the bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels.

1978

The School of Health Related Professions is created within the MU School of Medicine and administered by a director, Herbert Goldberg. The name “Health-related Professions” is appropriate because the school has a single educational mission – allied health. It contains five programs: Medical Technology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Radiologic Technology, and Respiratory Therapy. The bachelor of health science (BHS) was established as the official degree of the school. Some offices are housed in Lewis and Clark Hall; others remain located in the School of Medicine.

Mid-1970s

The Nuclear Medicine program begins. It is the only baccalaureate-level program of its kind at a public institution of higher education in Missouri.

1969

A subcommittee on long-range planning recommends the establishment of a school of allied health professions.

1967

The Respiratory Therapy program is established in 1967 and credited as one of the country’s first baccalaureate degree programs in respiratory therapy. At the time, the program is called Inhalation Therapy.

1963

The Physical Therapy program starts at Mizzou, with its first students graduating with a joint bachelor’s degree from the College of Education and the School of Medicine.

1961

The Medical Technology program starts in the School of Medicine with a bachelor of science in medical technology. The Radiography program starts as a joint venture between the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Radiology within the School of Medicine.