The MU School of Health Professions is the University of Missouri system’s only school of health professions and the state’s only public health program located on a health sciences campus. Its mission is to improve the health and well-being of others. Every day, Health Professions faculty, staff, and students work towards changing lives through the integration of teaching, service and discovery.

With programs in rehabilitation, diagnostic and imaging sciences, public health, and social work, graduates of the School of Health Professions fill critical roles in health care. The school is comprised of eight departments and 13 disciplines, each with their own specialized accreditation processes. The school also hosts a satellite program of the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Pharmacy.

Jobs in health care are expected to grow much faster than any other occupational group. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 16 percent increase in health care jobs from 2020 to 2030.

The school is an important member of the University of Missouri Health System. Other members include the Sinclair School of Nursing, the School of Medicine, University Hospitals and Clinics and University Physicians.

Growth and success

The School of Health Professions has experienced extraordinary growth. As of Fall 2021, enrollment is approximately 3,500 students, and health science is the most popular major at MU. As a four-year degree, the Bachelor of Health Science provides students with the knowledge and skills to pursue study in professional programs or gain employment in healthcare, government, nonprofit, sales or research settings.

Students of the School of Health Professions rank among the best and brightest at MU. Health Professions students consistently excel on national examinations, placing them in the top tier of candidates. The School of Health Professions granted 850 degrees in May and August 2022.

Serving our state and community

The School of Health Professions is a major provider of Missouri’s health care workforce with 82 percent of recent alumni working or continuing their education in Missouri. In addition, the school and its departments operate multiple outreach services or facilities and offer numerous other service learning projects, allowing students and faculty to engage in comprehensive, interdisciplinary education and research. Our students participate in 80,150 clinical or patient hours per year for all programs.

School of Health Professions graduates are improving health and well-being for individuals and communities across the globe. You can find our 16,000-plus alumni innovating, influencing and serving in schools, clinics, government agencies, NGOs, universities and more. Several have even returned to the classroom to teach the next generation of health professionals.

Friends around the world

The School of Health Professions continues to form strong strategic alliances on and off campus. These activities offer faculty members and students the opportunity to engage in comprehensive, interdisciplinary education and research.

SHP continues its strong relationship with the University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa. In addition, the school is one of only two U.S. universities to have formalized an international relationship with the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. The primary field of interest is in the area of physical therapy and interdisciplinary outreach services.