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Prepare to work in cardiac surgery with a MS in Cardiovascular Perfusion
Carlow’s MS in Cardiovascular Perfusion will equip you to pursue a career in a much-needed medical specialty. The rigorous science curriculum will give you a thorough education on the cardiovascular system, perfusion, hematology, surgery, pulmonary anatomy, pathology and more.
You will learn to prepare the cardiopulmonary bypass and auxiliary equipment used during surgery, as well as the principles and practices of clinical perfusion management.
You will learn the skills needed to oversee the function of the heart and/or lungs during medical procedures and how to administer heart-stopping drugs, monitor the physiological and metabolic demands of patients, and operate equipment during open-heart surgery.
Credits Required:
60 credits
Cost per credit:
$902/credit
Time to degree:
As few as 20 months
Delivery:
On campus, some online
MS in Cardiovascular Perfusion curriculum
The MS in Cardiovascular Perfusion program is offered in cooperation with the UPMC School of Cardiovascular Perfusion.
Courses cover biological, chemical and physical topics pertaining to the cardiovascular system and include Introduction to Cardiovascular Surgery, Electrophysiology, and Perfusion Procedures — Clinical II/Clinical II Continued.
Quick Facts
- Complete 18 months of clinical training at UPMC School of Cardiovascular Perfusion
- Study in one of the oldest cardiovascular perfusion programs in the United States
- Sit for the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) Perfusion Basic Science Examination (PBSE) upon graduation
Career opportunities for cardiovascular perfusionists
Most perfusionists work in medical operating rooms. With the MS in Cardiovascular Perfusion, job opportunities include educators and managers within departments of perfusion, or researchers and workers for perfusion equipment manufacturers.
The American Society for Extracorporeal Technology expects hospitals to hire more perfusionists in coming years to compensate for the aging American population.
Admission requirements and application process
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Proof of job shadowing (include place, date, number of hours, type of procedure observed, printed name and signature of perfusionist)
- Two letters of recommendation that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
An undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher is required, as is a 3.5 GPA in the sciences (no exceptions).
Apply
anytime
Start terms:
Fall, Spring & Summer
Students must have the following prerequisites completed in order to be considered for the program:
- General Biology I and II, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, Physics I and II, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Calculus and Medical Ethics
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Learn fraud prevention, fully online: MS in Fraud and Forensics
Acquire in-demand, up-to-date skills in Carlow University’s IACBE-accredited online Master of Science in Fraud and Forensics. One of the first of its kind in the nation, the program is consistently ranked as one of the top forensic accounting programs.
Become a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with a Master of Science Degree in Professional Counseling
Carlow University offers two counseling program tracks — Clinical Mental Health and Addictions Counseling. The program will prepare you for a career as a licensed professional counselor and provide the education and training required to pursue professional licensure in Pennsylvania.
Grounded in the Sisters of Mercy heritage, Carlow’s LPC degree program emphasizes social justice and advocacy within counseling, cultivating respect for the uniqueness of all individuals. You will be prepared to address the social, cultural and economic challenges that may negatively affect psychosocial development and help clients realize their potential.
Credits Required:
60 credits
Cost per credit:
$902/credit
Time to degree:
As few as 30 months
Delivery:
On campus, some online
Master’s in counseling curriculum
The licensed professional counselor program infuses multicultural and social justice competencies in the general curriculum. All LPC degree students take the same core courses (51 credits), with the remaining 9 credits determined by the student. Addictions counseling students must take the designated 9 credits for the Addictions Counseling program track.
Graduates of this program will meet the educational requirements to be eligible for licensure in Professional Counseling (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania. In addition to the educational requirements, graduates must receive a passing score on the National Counselors Exam (NCE) or The Advanced Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Counselor Examination (AAODA) and complete 3,000 supervised clinical experience to obtain the LPC.
Quick Facts
- Prepare for a career as professional counselor
- Learn socially just practices
- Take advantage of graduate assistantships
Alternate degree completion option
Accelerated
Fast track your way into this master’s program by taking graduate courses as a Carlow undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.
Career opportunities for Licensed Professional Counselors
MS in Professional Counseling programs prepare you to work with diverse clients in a variety of settings. Employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors is projected to grow 25% from 2019 to 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During that time frame, employment of school and career counselors is projected to grow 8%, and employment of marriage and family therapists is expected to grow 22%.
Professional counseling graduates may work in outpatient and residential mental health facilities, individual and family services, substance abuse centers, colleges and universities, private practices, government agencies, and corporations
Additional resources
- “Why become a professional counselor?“, CACREP
- View the Professional Licensure Disclosure for this program
Accreditation
The Professional Counseling program is currently seeking CACREP accreditation.
Additional program information:
- Learn about the program (program description, mission statements and program objectives)
- Graduate statistics (NCE pass rates, completion rates and job placement rates)
Admission requirements and application process
The graduate program admissions process happens on a rolling basis. You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
Once your application is received, the program director will schedule an interview with you.
Apply
anytime
Start terms:
Fall, Spring & Summer
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Earn your master’s in addiction counseling
The master’s in addiction counseling will train you to work with adults and adolescents experiencing one or more addictions (alcohol, prescription drugs or illicit drugs) in a variety of community settings, including addiction/recovery centers, community mental health centers, hospitals and employee assistance programs. You’ll be able to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, including addiction, using a variety of interventions and methods.
You will be eligible to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and get the 180 hours of required addiction-specific coursework to become certified as an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC).
On this path to a career helping others, you’ll learn about addiction theories, biological factors and co-occurring disorders.
Credits required:
60 credits
Cost per credit:
$902/credit
Time to degree:
As few as 30 months
Delivery:
On campus, some online
Addictions Counseling degree curriculum
You must take a three-course sequence for the Addictions Counseling track in addition to the LPC degree core courses. The courses cover counseling theories, the biological basis for addiction, and counseling clients who have substance abuse and psychiatric disorders.
Quick Facts
- Accumulate 180 hours of addiction-specific coursework needed for Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) certification
- Complete a graduate assistantship if desired
Alternate degree completion option
Accelerated
Fast track your way into this master’s program by taking graduate courses as a Carlow undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.
Career opportunities for Addiction Counselors
Employment of substance abuse and mental health counselors is projected to grow 25% from 2019 to 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
View the Professional Licensure Disclosure for this program.
Admission requirements and application process
The graduate program admissions process happens on a rolling basis. You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
Once your application is received, the program director will schedule an interview with you.
Apply
anytime
Start terms:
Fall, Spring & Summer
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Develop skills to help people: Master’s in mental health counseling
The master’s in mental health counseling program will train you to work with children, adults and families in diverse settings such as schools, hospitals, correctional facilities and mental health agencies. You will tailor your degree by choosing a clinical concentration such as child and adolescent, trauma-informed or forensic counseling.
Credits required:
60 credits
Cost per credit:
$902/credit
Time to degree:
As few as 30 months
Delivery:
On campus, some online
Mental health counseling degree curriculum
The child and adolescent concentration for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree includes three courses that address specific interventions, assessment and play therapy. If you choose to concentrate on those who have suffered chronic and/or acute trauma in their lives, you’ll receive training in crisis management, trauma assessment and interventions. You can choose the forensic concentration if you want to work in legal or correctional settings, studying the interaction of mental health with the justice system, the roles of practitioners in the legal system and the unique concerns of this population.
Quick facts
- Choose your own counseling concentration
- Meet educational requirements for Pennsylvania licensure in professional counseling
- Complete a graduate assistantship if desired
Alternate degree completion option
Accelerated
Fast track your way into this master’s program by taking graduate courses as a Carlow undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.
Career opportunities for mental health counseling degree
You can work in schools, hospitals, correctional facilities, community mental health agencies and private practice. Employment of mental health and substance abuse counselors is projected to grow 25% from 2019 to 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
View the Professional Licensure Disclosure for this program.
Admission requirements and application process
The graduate program admissions process happens on a rolling basis. You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
Once your application is received, the program director will schedule an interview with you.
Apply
anytime
Start terms:
Fall, Spring & Summer
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Become a versatile, in-demand professional: MS in Physician Assistant
Carlow University offers a new and innovative cohort-based physician assistant program. The program is designed for adult learners seeking a holistic and supportive academic environment that provides transformational, clinical educational opportunities that stretch beyond the Pittsburgh region. It consists of a three-phase curriculum, grounded in Carlow’s mercy values, taught in a multidisciplinary environment alongside other healthcare professionals. This environment equips students with integral skills including ethical leadership, compassionate care and interprofessional collaborative competencies.
Upon graduation, students are prepared to take the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) and pursue a versatile and in-demand career as a physician assistant.
Carlow University has announced that the timeline for launching its new Physician Assistant Program has been revised. Carlow University will not be matriculating students during the 2020-2021 application cycle. We are currently in the process of ongoing program development in accordance with the 5th Edition of ARC-PA Standards.
You may request information about the program at anytime.
Credits required:
102 credits
Cost per credit:
$950/credit
Time to degree:
6 semesters
Delivery:
On campus
Physician Assistant academic curriculum
Students progress through the physician assistant’s curriculum as members of a cohort in three phases: didactic, clinical experience and transition to practice. Interprofessional collaboration, a founding concept of the physician assistant profession, is at the core of each phase; providing students the opportunity to learn collectively with multiple healthcare disciplines. This collaborative education experience encourages meaningful alliances and ultimately prepares students to practice high-quality clinical care as a member of a healthcare team.
Learn in our simulated hospital environment
The Celtic Simulation Center for Innovative Learning (CSCIL) is a simulated hospital environment designed for student experiential learning. Primarily during the didactic phase, physician assistant students, alongside other healthcare disciplines, experience predetermined scenarios to practice clinical decision-making, diagnosis, procedures, and patient communication and interaction in a safe and realistic environment.
Quick Facts
- Phase 1: Didactic: An intense period of instruction meant to impart clinical knowledge, skills and attitudes in preparation for clinical practice
- Phase 2: Clinical experience: An experiential phase of education whose purpose is to apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for patient care in a supervised environment, includes:
- 8 clinical rotations in areas including family practice, internal medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, behavioral health, women’s health, pediatrics and elective of choice
- 5 weeks, full-time (average of 40 hours per week)
- Sites are practices and healthcare systems located in southwestern Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh, as well as across the country
- Phase 3: Transition to practice: The final period of the formal education program intended to prepare graduates for successful entrance into the profession and clinical practice
What is a Physician Assistant?
“Physician assistants (PAs) are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications and often serve as the patient’s principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. PAs practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving health care access and quality.” American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
Additional resources can be found on the AAPA website including the history of the profession, scope of practice and ethical conduct.
PA jobs are projected to rise 30% through 2028. A career as a Physician Assistant provides one of the most versatile and flexible opportunities in healthcare, with the ability to work in any medical or surgical specialty or sub-specialty. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, PA jobs are projected to rise 30% through 2028 with a median pay of $112,260.
A number of state and national organizations provide PAs with advocacy, education, and support including:
Accreditation
Carlow University has applied for Accreditation – Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The Carlow University Physician Assistant Program anticipates matriculating its first class in August 2022, pending achieving Accreditation – Provisional status at the March 2022 ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation – Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. The program will not commence in the event that provisional accreditation is not received.
Students who graduate from a program with provisional accreditation or continuing accreditation status are eligible for certification and licensure after successfully passing the PANCE. All programs, regardless of accreditation status, pose a potential risk of losing accreditation. All programs, including provisional accreditation programs, must go through a rigorous process to keep and maintain their accreditation status. Accreditation remains in effect until a program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the ARC-PA Standards. If a program loses its status while students are enrolled, they are unable to take the PANCE and are no longer eligible for certification upon graduation.
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit.
Speech-Language Pathology, Master of Science
Carlow’s unique interprofessional curricular design will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to enter into professional practice as a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist working in any clinical environment.
What makes Carlow’s program different?
Carlow’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology is committed to interprofessional collaborative education and was inspired by the view that effective team collaborations improve the quality of clinical service delivery.
Students will train to prevent, assess, and treat communication and swallowing disorders within a learning environment comprised of faculty, clinical educators, and students from several different professions including:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Education
- Nursing
- Physician assistant
- Respiratory care therapy
Students will learn the value of interprofessional collaborative practice in leading high-quality, evidence-based, person centered care across a variety of communication and swallowing disorders.
Credits required:
60 credits
Cost per credit:
$989
Time to degree:
5 semesters
Delivery:
On campus
How will I gain clinical skills?
Carlow’s program is different from other graduate programs in speech-language pathology because of its focus on the development of clinical skills. Beginning in your first semester, each of your core courses will be accompanied by a dedicated skills laboratory to ensure you are able to translate theoretical knowledge learned in the classroom into hands-on practical clinical skills under the mentorship of program faculty. In addition, you will advance your clinical skills through a variety of learning platforms including:
- Safe and supportive lifelike simulated case scenarios
- Access to both on-campus clinic and school based settings
- Local and out of state outpatient, healthcare, and school based externship settings
Students will use various labs and campus facilities including:
What is the Carlow experience?
Carlow places high value on a teaching-learning climate of compassion, mutual respect, professionalism, and ethical accountability as these elements are fundamental to cultivating a higher level of professional practice. The program is dedicated to providing transformational educational experiences through innovation, close faculty mentorship, diverse learning experiences, and interprofessional collaborations.
Career Opportunity for Speech-Language Pathologists
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for speech-language pathologists, a job that often requires a master’s degree, is expected to grow 25% over the next 10 years, largely driven by the medical needs of an aging population.
Accreditation
The Master of Science (MS) education program in Speech-Language Pathology at Carlow University is currently an Applicant for Candidacy by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, +1(800) 498-2071 or +1 (301) 296-5700.
Admission requirements and application process
As of July 15, 2020, Carlow University is accepting applications for review with plans to enroll graduate students for the Fall 2021 semester. We will continue to accept applications for review beyond the February 15, 2021 deadline. However, preference will be given to those that applied by the February 15, 2021 deadline. All applications should be submitted through CSDCAS, a centralized application service endorsed by the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Science and Disorders (CAPCSD). No additional application materials should be sent to the program.
Apply
anytime
Start term:
Fall semester
Faculty
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Samantha Dalessio, Program Director | sdalessio@carlow.edu |
| Blaise Kepple, Administrative Assistant | bkepple@carlow.edu |
| Kelsey Mandak | kmandak@carlow.edu |
| Amanda Truitt-Smith | ajtruitt-smith@carlow.edu |
Stay connected with us!
We’ll host events for you to learn about our program and meet our faculty. Follow us on social media to stay up to date.
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an enrollment event.