Become a knowledgeable respiratory therapy leader

Accelerate your respiratory care career with a bachelor’s in respiratory therapy. Our degree completion program ensures you’re ready to deliver high-quality patient care for all and assume leadership positions in the field.

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) concentration

You’ll learn to keep patients safe during surgeries in the challenging and rapidly growing field of behavioral neuroscience with the Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring concentration. 

You will gain an in-depth understanding of the functioning and anatomical structures of the nervous system through this major. You will be trained to be a surgical neurophysiologist, recording the electrical activity of neurons in real time to protect the functioning of the nervous system during surgery.

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has been shown to significantly reduce the occurrence of neurological damage during high-risk surgeries in adults and children.

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring curriculum 

The Behavioral Neuroscience major is an interdisciplinary program in neuroscience, building upon the strengths of Carlow University’s biology, psychology and chemistry programs. You will complete the IONM concentration with instructors at the UPMC Procirca Center for Clinical Neurophysiology.

Candidates must satisfy all requirements for the bachelor of science degree in Behavioral Neuroscience, meet UPMC Procirca Center for Clinical Neurophysiology’s admission requirement and Carlow University’s prerequisites for approval and recommendation. They must also be recommended by a science faculty member and/or advisor. 

Quick Facts

• Experience highly specialized hands-on training
• Observe and assist in up to 150 surgical cases
• Accumulate the clinical hours necessary to take the ABRET’s Certification in Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring (CNIM) Exam to be a certified surgical neurophysiologist

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Alternate degree completion options

3-Year Degree

Finish your bachelor’s degree in three years by following a 3-year academic plan. Courses are taken across fall, spring and summer terms with summer courses completely online. When applying, indicate your interest in the 3-Year Degree option.

Accelerated

Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.

Admission requirements and application process 

Earn a Behavioral Neuroscience degree in neuropsychology

The neuropsychology program will give you new insights into how the brain thinks, reasons, formulates and processes.

You will prepare to work in neuropsychology and clinical psychology, where neuropsychological assessments are an important part of clinical work. With the behavioral neuroscience degree, you will gain knowledge of the biological and physiological mechanisms that drive the nervous system and better understand the relationship between the brain and behavior.

The Behavioral Neuroscience major is an interdisciplinary program that builds on the strengths of Carlow University’s biology, psychology and chemistry programs.

Neuroscience degree curriculum

Carlow’s neuroscience program allows undergraduates to take courses in neuropsychology as well as to learn under scholar-practitioners. The curriculum includes a genetics course in which students investigate the maintenance, inheritance, transfer and expression of genetic information at the molecular, cellular, organismal and population levels. The cognitive psychology course explores its basic concepts and contemporary topics, such as will perception, attention, pattern recognition, consciousness, memory, the representation of knowledge, language, cognitive development, thinking and artificial intelligence.

Quick Facts

• Gain hands-on learning experiences
• Leverage Carlow’s relationships with nearby research centers 
• Be prepared for graduate work in psychology and neuropsychology

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Alternate degree completion option

3-Year Degree

Finish your bachelor’s degree in three years by following a 3-year academic plan. Courses are taken across fall, spring and summer terms with summer courses completely online. When applying, indicate your interest in the 3-Year Degree option.

Admission requirements and application process

Explore the breadth of the biological sciences: Biology Major at Carlow

Learn the principles of plant and animal life studying as a Biology major. The curriculum covers the entire scope of the biological sciences from the structure and function of genes, proteins and cells to the ecology and evolution of organisms. 

You will gain a solid biology foundation while afforded ample opportunities to delve deeply into your chosen specialty.

Bachelor’s in biology curriculum

The senior capstone experience includes a research project that may lead to publication, a critical qualification for graduate school, or the opportunity to complete a professional internship. At least two of the advanced biology electives plus Junior Seminar and Senior Experience must be in residence at Carlow University.

Biology majors can specialize in cardiovascular perfusion, cytotechnology, environmental science and management, and human biology.

Quick Facts

• Pursue a concentration that interests you
• Build a foundation for graduate studies
• Apply for an early acceptance program with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

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Alternate degree completion option

Accelerated

Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.

Admission requirements and application process

Accelerated bachelor’s and master’s in Biology: Cardiovascular Perfusion

You can combine a liberal arts education with hands-on clinical experience with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and track into an accelerated master’s degree program in Cardiovascular Perfusion. 

You will learn how to operate the heart-lung machine during surgery. As you work toward your bachelor’s degree in Biology, you will complete requirements at UPMC Shadyside, while beginning your clinical training.
In this accelerated Cardiovascular Perfusion program, you will pursue Biology within the tradition of the liberal arts while accumulating the technical proficiency and professional skills required of health care professionals.

Cardiovascular Perfusion program curriculum

You will complete your bachelor’s degree in Biology directly through Carlow University. The Master of Science in Cardiovascular Perfusion is offered in coordination with the UPMC School of Perfusion. Up to 20 students per year are accepted into the master’s program.

Quick Facts

• Gain 18 months of clinical training at UPMC Shadyside
• Graduate with BS and MS degrees in under 5 years
• Prepare for an in-demand health care career

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Academic Requirements Placeholder Title

Play a vital role in disease detection with a Cytotechnology degree

Cytotechnologists prepare microscope slides, study the cellular architecture of the specimens and mark questionable areas for a pathologist to examine.

In Carlow’s cytotechnology program, you will build a solid foundation in cellular and molecular biology, with relevant biomedical information and practice with biotechnology commonly used in medical and research laboratories.

Cytotechnology degree curriculum

In this 3+1 Cytotechnology degree program, you will complete three years at Carlow University, then enroll for the fourth year in the cytotechnology program at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. You will prepare to take the national certification examination of the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC).

At UPMC, you will receive instruction in preparing patient samples and interpretation of material, perform clinical rotations in UPMC hospitals, and train with state-of-the-art imaging systems used in the field.

Quick Facts

• If admitted, you will complete 32 credits at Magee’s Anisa I. Kanbour School of Cytotechnology  in a one-year clinical experience that runs from early July through June 30
• Upon completion, you will be awarded a BS in Biology with a specialization in cytotechnology

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Admission requirements and application process

During your junior year, you will apply directly to the Anisa I. Kanbour School of Cytotechnology at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. If accepted, you will be required to pay $1,000 to reserve your spot.

Earn an environmental master’s degree in five years

You will graduate career-ready with this dual-degree program that offers a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management. You will study how biological processes impact the environment and how to manage environmental issues in this 3+2 program in collaboration with Duquesne University’s Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

Environmental science degree curriculum

You will complete required biology/organismal biology and ecological courses in residence at Carlow University. You can apply to the master of science degree program in your third year, and if accepted, complete your fourth and fifth years at Duquesne.

Bachelor of science courses in Biology: Environmental Science and Management include General Biology, Zoology and Animal Physiology. Examples of courses taken in the master’s degree component include Environmental Microbiology, Environmental Toxicology, Air Quality, Business Ethics, Environmental Management and Environmental Law.

Quick Facts

• Earn a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Carlow at the end of your fourth year
• Earn a master of science degree in Environmental Science and Management from Duquesne at the end of your fifth year
• As a collaborative program graduate, have the same credentials as other biology students

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Admission requirements and application process

Gain a strong foundation in human biology: Human Biology concentration

As a Human Biology major, you will receive a solid foundation in the study of life. Through this holistic and interdisciplinary scientific study, you will examine and understand the complexities of  humans through a variety of diverse fields.

Human Biology major studies will prepare you to enter professional training in all areas of health care, including medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, physician’s assistant, physical therapy, pharmacy and podiatry. 

Human Biology curriculum

Two required courses, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, are designed for the biology major preparing for careers in perfusion technology, the health professions or forensic science.

The required genetics course investigates the maintenance, inheritance, transfer and expression of genetic information at the molecular, cellular, organismal and population levels. This course also provides a brief introduction to genetic engineering and biotechnology.

Quick Facts

• Choose elective courses
• Experience opportunities for research and scholarship near campus
• Pursue careers in research, health care and education

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Alternate degree completion options

3-Year Degree

Finish your bachelor’s degree in three years by following a 3-year academic plan. Courses are taken across fall, spring and summer terms with summer courses completely online. When applying, indicate your interest in the 3-Year Degree option.

Accelerated

Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.

Admission requirements and application process

Build a strong foundation in the chemical sciences: Chemistry Major

As a Chemistry major, you will learn the theory and research skills needed by chemists. You will study the composition, structure and properties of substances at the atomic and molecular levels and learn the interactions and transformations of matter, and how to apply this knowledge to develop new and improved products.

Chemical technologies enrich our lives by providing new solutions to problems in health, materials and energy usage and products to enhance our lifestyles. In this program, you will receive hands-on training in the use of the most modern chemical instrumentation that complements and enhances theory taught in the lecture courses.

Chemistry major curriculum

The program provides instruction in each of the four major subdisciplines of chemistry: organic, analytical, physical and inorganic. 

Laboratory skills are emphasized throughout. The curriculum is consistent with guidelines published by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Quick Facts

• Complete required support courses in mathematics, biology and physics
• Complete a senior experience that may consist of an independent research project
• Continue your studies in the 4+1 MEd in Secondary Education program for students interested in teaching high school chemistry

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Alternate degree completion option

Accelerated

Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.

Admission requirements and application process

Get on track to become a physician assistant: 3-Year Degree 

Carlow’s Pre-Physician Assistant program positions you to become a PA faster. By accelerating your undergraduate studies, you’ll be ready to continue on to a master’s degree or pursue employment in a health-related field sooner.

Physician assistants (PAs) practice medicine on teams with physicians, surgeons and other health care professionals. As a physician assistant, you will examine, diagnose and treat patients, often serving as a patient’s principal health care provider. PAs typically need a master’s degree from an accredited program to practice.

In this program, you will develop compassionate and responsible leadership traits and learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed in the field. 

Upon completion, you will meet the curricular prerequisites for admission consideration into Carlow’s physician assistant master’s program. 

Health Sciences: Pre-Physician Assistant curriculum 

The Pre-Physician Assistant curriculum includes fundamental health sciences information. Courses are taken across fall, spring and summer terms. All summer courses are available completely online. The program includes labs, internships and a practicum.

Quick Facts

• Save time and money
• Gain a direct path to a physician assistant master’s program
• Find earlier entry into an in-demand physician assistant position or immediate employment in a health-related field

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Admission requirements and application process