Empowering Movement, Transforming Lives: Your Journey Starts Here!

The programs offered in the Department of Physical Therapy program at Carlow University encompass the Mercy mission to serve the community by promoting the dignity of every person, advocating for equity and inclusion to address matters of social justice. At Carlow, we believe that non-technical skills are equally essential to your health professional training as the technical skills. Our programs emphasize three important habits of healthcare practice: Heart (professional formation/responsibilities), Head (cognitive knowledge), and Hand (clinical skills). It is the training in the habits of the heart that will allow you to act above and beyond your technical responsibilities and advocate for your patients. We strive to graduate healthcare professionals who would use the following principles within their professional practice.

Healthcare equity is the cornerstone of a healthy society.
Health and wellness promotion for the population/community is essential in conjunction with individual patient care.
Every individual is a leader who must be prepared for a dynamic healthcare environment.
Clinical decision-making shall be based on the three pillars of evidence-informed practice (using the best available research evidence, applying clinical experience/expertise, and incorporating patients’/clients’ beliefs and values with empathy and compassion).
Physical therapy graduates and clinicians must be proficient in clinical competencies based on the contemporary standards of physical therapy practice.

Small

class sizes to provide individual attention

International

clinical experience opportunities

Engage

in experiential learning on Carlow campus

Faculty & staff

Our faculty comprises practicing clinicians with a wealth of experience in physical therapy, blending real-world insights with academic rigor. As experienced educators, they impart their passion for the profession to students, nurturing a commitment to clinical excellence. Join us to learn from the best and embark on your journey towards mastery.

Kunal Bhanot, PT, PhD, FAAOMPT Chair, Associate Professor

Navpreet Kaur, PT, PhD, DPT, Dip ACLM Associate Professor

Katie Shroyer PT,DPT, CBIS Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor

Chelsey Wojcik Larko, PT, DPT, NCS Assistant Professor

Accreditation

Effective 04/25/23, Carlow University, Doctor of Physical Therapy program, has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please email: dptprogram@carlow.edu. Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/ professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.

Department Points of Pride

Emphasis on Interprofessional education
Focus on community health and service learning
Inculcate the habits of the Heart, Head, and Hand
Develop healthcare leaders and entrepreneurs

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Make a difference in the world through the Carlow University Department of Public Health

Carlow’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology is committed to hands-on, inter-professional collaborative education. The program was inspired by the view that effective team collaborations improve the quality of clinical service delivery. It is our belief that frequent hands-on training transforms learning from theoretical knowledge into high-quality, evidence-based, person-centered care. Students train to prevent, assess, and treat communication and swallowing disorders within a clinically focused learning environment comprised of faculty, clinical educators, and students from several different professions including:

Education
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Physician Assistant
Respiratory Therapy

Unique to Carlow University, students learn the value of clinical application through extensive clinical skills labs that will prepare you with the knowledge and skills needed to enter professional practice as a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist working in any clinical environment.

undergraduate programs

minors

100%

of all Healthcare Management and Health Care Data Analytics Majors can earn a Minor with no additional time towards graduation.

distinct tracks are offered to Public Health Majors including 2 into graduate programs and 1 into 2^nd Degree Nursing.

Faculty & staff

Our faculty and staff have decades of real-world senior leadership experience, and constantly share that expertise with our students. You will be learning from people who have “been there” and “done that” at the highest levels. By learning from industry leaders our graduates have a tremendous advantage over other students. The Carlow Department of Public Health Professors will prepare you for life in the healthcare industry.

Kunal Bhanot, PT, PhD, FAAOMPT Chair, Associate Professor

Navpreet Kaur, PT, PhD, DPT, Dip ACLM Associate Professor

Katie Shroyer PT,DPT, CBIS Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor

Chelsey Wojcik Larko, PT, DPT, NCS Assistant Professor

Accreditation

All programs in the Department of Public Health are Middle States accredited, with the Respiratory Therapy program having additional certifications as required for that field of study.

Fostering collaborative excellence. Discover the advantages of a transformational educational experience in Carlow University’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Carlow’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology is committed to hands-on, interprofessional collaborative education. The program was inspired by the view that effective team collaborations improve the quality of clinical service delivery. It is our belief that frequent hands-on training transforms learning from theoretical knowledge into high-quality, evidence-based, person-centered care. Students train to prevent, assess, and treat communication and swallowing disorders within a clinically focused learning environment comprised of faculty, clinical educators, and students from several different professions including:

Education
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Physician Assistant
Respiratory Therapy

MS in speech-language pathology

Department of Speech-Language Pathology Clinic with woman wearing a medical device

in Best Healthcare Jobs and #10 in Best Jobs according to 2024 U.S. News & World Report

100%

Carlow SLP students said Carlow was the right fit for them

Faculty & staff

At Carlow, we are devoted to a teaching-learning climate of compassion, mutual respect, and ethical accountability as these elements are fundamental to cultivating a higher level of professional practice. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to delivering transformational educational experiences through innovation, close faculty mentorship, and diverse learning experiences.

Kunal Bhanot, PT, PhD, FAAOMPT Chair, Associate Professor

Navpreet Kaur, PT, PhD, DPT, Dip ACLM Associate Professor

Katie Shroyer PT,DPT, CBIS Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor

Chelsey Wojcik Larko, PT, DPT, NCS Assistant Professor

Accreditation

The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology (residential) at Carlow University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

Nursing student Alysa Fairman (Class of ’21), works with Campus Lab School kindergarteners, including Thierno Bah, second from right, and Tabitha Parisi, right, as they color, during a safety presentation on Carlow University’s campus, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. The nursing students used the five senses ato discuss safety information, as part of their pediatric clinical rotation. (Rebecca Droke/Carlow University)

mission, vision, goals & strategic plan

student outcome data

Discover the advantages of Carlow University’s Nursing Programs

As a graduate nursing department, we prepare exceptionally skilled providers, leaders and educators in doctoral, masters, and certificate tracks to meet the healthcare and health promotion needs of populations. Nursing graduate students have experiences with people nationally and internationally via didactic, clinical and study abroad opportunities. The School of Nursing educates practitioners of tomorrow and encourages a passion for evidenced-based practice, innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in the spirit of social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion.

We offer study in a hybrid face-to-face modality that incorporates twice monthly evening classes with online coursework to fit the needs of today’s full-time working nurse, while affording opportunities for 1:1 faculty engagement, and peer group networking and support.

A fully online program is also available, for students out of the Pittsburgh region, and/or for those desiring a non-synchronous education program.

View the School of Nursing’s program outcomes and accreditation information.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The high demand for qualified psychiatric nurse practitioners stems in large part from the increased normalization of mental health issues.

MASTERS programs

doctorate programs

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

$2.6M

in scholarships awarded every year to IMPACT FNP graduate students

competitive scholarships available to support the inaugural cohort of PMHNP MSN students.

200+

medical practices and clinics students can practice at facilitated by the Director of Clinical Education

Faculty & staff

Nursing, like all other health care professions, does not exist in isolation. Advanced practice nursing education must integrate other aspects of our humanity if the profession is going to truly do what it pledges to do from the outset of a nurse’s oath. A commitment to justice and mercy requires critical thinking and self-reflection. Carlow University has a rich tradition of service and a mission that flows from the Mercy Core Values. These values: Hospitality, Service, Discovery, and Sacredness of Creation, are embraced within a framework of reflective practice. We recognize that no single discipline can fully educate today’s advanced practice providers who care for families across the lifespan. We are a uniquely positioned university with the ability to fully utilize our colleagues in theology, art, pharmacology, biology, creative writing, and communications to guide discovery within our students. We are not only these disciplines, but more, together, each contributing to the development of a critically thinking, ethical, and merciful human being who will go into the community transformed, and ready to lead.

Kunal Bhanot, PT, PhD, FAAOMPT Chair, Associate Professor

Navpreet Kaur, PT, PhD, DPT, Dip ACLM Associate Professor

Katie Shroyer PT,DPT, CBIS Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor

Chelsey Wojcik Larko, PT, DPT, NCS Assistant Professor

Department Points of Pride

On June 26^th, 2023, Carlow University received over $2.6 million to increase the number of Family Nurse Practitioner graduates educated to provide primary care services, with advanced education in mental health, substance use disorders, and women’s and maternal health care. The Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) grant – funded through the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is aimed at increasing access to primary care providers for those living in medically underserved communities. The goal of the grant is to make a BIG IMPACT on students, preceptors, and the underserved population through “Impacting Diversity and Education of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses for Healthy Communities”. Current full time FNP students are eligible to apply for up to $23,000 in tuition reimbursement.
HRSA Nursing Faculty Loan Program to repay 85% of tuition costs with post-graduate employment in the role of nursing educator.
97% AANP & 100% ANCC certification exam pass rate for FNPs
“Very Strong” NCC certification exam pass rate for WHNPs
In 2023, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers Carlow University established a one-year pilot program, funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), to develop clinically sound evidence-based practicing NPs. FNP graduates have a year of residency (transition to primary care) after completion of an educational program at Carlow University.
Carlow Graduate Nursing Department is a CEU provider through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) for professional development training for preceptors, clinical faculty, and students.

Discover the advantages of Carlow University’s Psychology, Counseling, and Criminology Programs

Are you interested in a career that benefits from a strong understanding of human behavior and mental processes? At Carlow, we prepare students with the knowledge and skills for a wide variety of careers involved in working with people in diverse ways.

Our undergraduate majors provide students with foundational knowledge in psychology, neuropsychology, and criminology, with opportunities to specialize in such areas as Child Development, Counseling, Crisis and Trauma, and Applied Criminal Justice. There are opportunities for field placements or to participate in faculty-led research teams. Can’t decide on one major? We make it easy to double major or add a minor or a concentration to your major, so you can explore all your interests.

At the graduate level, Carlow offers programs that prepare students for careers in mental health-related fields, research, fraud and forensics, and more.

At Carlow, we understand the needs of a diverse student body. Some of our programs can be completed fully online, offering flexibility and opening doors for students who are otherwise unable to pursue a degree. In addition, we offer accelerated pathways that help save students time and money so that they can achieve their goals sooner at a more affordable cost.

Undergraduate programs

$4.9M

Grant awarded to Carlow to support a School-Based Mental Health program

$90k

in stipends available annually to Professional Counseling students

$1.9M

Grant awarded to the Carlow Underserved and Rural Engagement (CURE) program

Faculty & staff

Kunal Bhanot, PT, PhD, FAAOMPT Chair, Associate Professor

Navpreet Kaur, PT, PhD, DPT, Dip ACLM Associate Professor

Katie Shroyer PT,DPT, CBIS Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor

Chelsey Wojcik Larko, PT, DPT, NCS Assistant Professor

Accreditation

The PsyD in Counseling Psychology program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The MS in Professional Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP).

Discover the Carlow OT Difference!

The Carlow Difference is student focused, interprofessional, and service driven. We host small class sizes, in face to face, hands-on learning. The OT curriculum design, aligned with Catholic intellectual tradition and Mercy values, has an overarching mission of occupational justice, a foundation in health and wellbeing, and threads that support the structure and the path to transformational learning.

The bridge image conveys a journey of overcoming barriers to promote full participation and represents a path where one moves from old self to new self, writing the next chapter in the story of life. It is critical that students bridge classroom concepts to clinical practice and Mercy values to their civic engagement as socially responsible citizens. Our program is alive with transformative learning experiences in the “City of Bridges” as we explore the world around us and seek to be innovative pathfinders for occupational justice, access, and opportunity for all people, communities, and populations.

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

doctorate program

Faculty and Staff

Our faculty are devoted to the health and wellbeing of each student. We are intentional about ensuring the development of healthy occupations during graduate school, in order to create a healthy and sustainable career in healthcare. Our faculty are student-focused and develop instructional design practices that celebrate the diversity of learning styles, supporting the gifts and talents of each student. As faculty we recognize that our students are the future of the OT profession, and our connection is just beginning. We are all part of the Carlow family from the classroom to your first job and beyond!

Kunal Bhanot, PT, PhD, FAAOMPT Chair, Associate Professor

Navpreet Kaur, PT, PhD, DPT, Dip ACLM Associate Professor

Katie Shroyer PT,DPT, CBIS Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor

Chelsey Wojcik Larko, PT, DPT, NCS Assistant Professor

Accredited Entry-Level Doctoral degree level Occupational Therapy Program

The Carlow University entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program and entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program are FULLY accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-6611, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

View or download the Program Goals and Outcomes [pdf]

Program Outcomes

Program outcomes with regard to graduation rates and NBCOT certification exam results are updated and posted yearly. As a new program, we will be posting information when available. See the results on NBCOT for School Performance Home page.

Department Points of Pride

Elizabeth Sherman:
- Accepted to the National Intergroup Dialogue Institute – June 2024 at University of Michigan
- Carlow Cares: Sligo, Ireland faculty advisor
- Planning Committee Member for the Inaugural Greater Pittsburgh Food Systems Summit organized by the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council – Food Systems Summit — Pittsburgh Food Policy Council
Erin Phillips:
- Outstanding Alumni Award for 2024; Washington University Program in Occupational Therapy
Blythe Westendorf:
- Completed the AOTA Board Certification in Pediatrics

Devoted to the Future of Healing

When someone is struggling to breathe, taking steps to ease that struggle is the job of the respiratory therapist. Respiratory therapists provide care to patients who are experiencing difficulty breathing due to chronic respiratory diseases, heart failure, or other emergencies. They improve the care of patients at all stages of life, from premature infants whose lungs have not fully developed, to older adults.

Carlow University is devoted to the future of healing, and service to others is the foundation of the Respiratory Care profession. And with respiratory therapists in high demand, we offer programs that can get students working in the field quicker. The associate degree program is a gateway to a healthcare career, and students can be working in the field within two years. The three-year accelerated bachelor’s degree program is designed for those seeking leadership roles in the respiratory care field. Both degrees can be pathways to advanced degrees.

Degree:

Associate of Science Degree
3-Year Accelerated Bachelor of Science

Credits Required:

AS – 69 credits
BS – 120 credits

Campus:

Oakland

Delivery:

In person

Curriculum for Respiratory Therapy

The core curriculum for respiratory therapy is comprised of:
• Equipment I & II
• Patient Management
• Pharmacology
• Pathophysiology
• Mechanical Ventilation I & II
• Neonatal and Pediatrics

The bachelor’s degree program includes additional courses in:
• Research
• Leadership & Management
• Respiratory Care Education.

There are also four clinical practicums, totaling 840 hours in general floor, ICU, and specialty rotations through the pulmonary function lab, the sleep lab, hyperbaric oxygen, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and neonatal and pediatrics.

Quick Facts

Respiratory therapists can work in hospital emergency departments, ICUs, or general floors.
They can care for patients in any age range – from newborns and children through elderly adults.
They may work in such varied areas as ambulance and air transport, physician offices, diagnostic labs, or home care.
Respiratory therapist is ranked #9 in best healthcare jobs.
Changes in the roles and responsibilities of respiratory therapists are on the horizon, and pursuing an advanced degree is encouraged.

View Plan of Study for AS Program

View Plan of Study for BS Program

Career Opportunities for Respiratory Therapy

Employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow 13 percent through 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

The median RT income is $77,960 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Not only are the opportunities for RTs in the hospital setting multiple and varied, but there is job security, a sustainable living wage, and the opportunity to pursue growth within the healthcare industry.

Carlow’s partnership with UPMC affords students a number of potential benefits, such as tuition assistance and flexible part-time work while enrolled in school. Visit UPMC Careers for more information.

Accreditation

Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy Program

The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy Program, CoARC program number 200617, BS degree, Pittsburgh, PA is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy Program

The Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy Program, CoARC program number 210617, AS degree, Pittsburgh, PA holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial site visit), to be allowed to admit students. It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation.

Visit CoARC website

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.

View CoARC outcomes

Program goal for the AS program:

To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists.

Program goals for the BS program:

1. To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists.

2. To prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content with objectives related to the acquisition of skills in management, education, research, and evidence-based practice.

Admission Requirements and Application Process

Submit an application for admission. It is free to apply.

Request that official transcripts from all current and previous institutions you’ve attended are sent directly to the Carlow University Office of Admissions.

AS degree cost of attendance is $450/credit
Program scholarships are available for Fall 2025 for new BS and AS students

First-time, first-year undergraduate student:

Minimum 2.000 cumulative High School GPA
Minimum 2.500 cumulative GPA in science courses

Transfer student

Minimum 2.000 cumulative college GPA
Minimum 2.500 cumulative college GPA in science courses

Apply:

Any time

Start Terms:

Fall Only

Contact Admissions

Visit admissions @carlow.edu or call 412.578.6059 if you would like to learn more about the program by scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.

admissions@carlow.edu

+1 (412) 578 6059

April Butchki, MEd, RRT, CPFT Program Director/Instructor, Respiratory Therapy

Kimberly Haley, MEd Clinical Director/Instructor

Kathy Palombo MSN, RN, RRT, M-CTTS, NCTTP Respiratory Instructor

Christin Smerkol Administrative Assistant II

The Associate of Science Degree in Surgical Technology Program at Carlow University delivers unmatched learning and hands-on clinical experience.

In 78 weeks, graduates of the Associate of Science Degree in Surgical Technology Program will be prepared to have unparalleled training and experience to become a valued member of the surgical care team.

Throughout the learning experience, Carlow’s team of dedicated faculty provides a supportive student learning environment and prepares students to take a national certification examination to become a valued member of any surgical care team. Carlow graduates go beyond their technical duties and play an active role in fostering a just and merciful world.