The University of Cincinnati's College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS) has recently scored noteworthy positions in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Graduate Schools rankings, according to an article published on the university's website. The rankings, which provide a peer-reviewed assessment of more than 2,000 graduate programs, are based on surveys conducted in the fall of 2024 and early 2025.
In an effort to stay relevant and competitive, CAHS has implemented several changes to its programs, including curricular restructuring and the addition of experiential learning opportunities. Charity Accurso, Ph.D., dean of CAHS, expressed the importance of the rankings as a metric for enhancement. "Whenever we’re assessed in some way, whether our rankings move up or down, it gives us an opportunity to look at how we could be more innovative," Accurso told the University of Cincinnati's news service.
The college has focused on shortening program lengths in response to concerns about rising student debt. For instance, the Doctor of Audiology program was condensed from ten to nine semesters, enabling students to graduate a year earlier. "We shortened the time frame, but we also became much more efficient," Katie Russell, AuD, associate professor and audiology program director, said, according to an interview with the University of Cincinnati's news service.
On-campus clinics, such as the UC Speech and Hearing Clinic and the DPT Clinic, allow students to refine their skills and gain real-world experience. This hands-on approach is designed to yield clinicians who are well-prepared and exceed the required clinical hours. "Our on-campus clinic plays a pivotal role in the learning journey because it ensures that students develop baseline knowledge and skills that they can grow as they work with patients off-campus during their practicum rotations," Russell explained via the University of Cincinnati news.
Looking ahead, CAHS is preparing to launch three new doctoral-level programs to create comprehensive learning pathways for its students. This includes online Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science, Clinical Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology, and transitioning its occupational therapy program from a master’s to a doctorate program. "We’re often looking at how we can keep Bearcats being Bearcats," said Accurso via UC News. These initiatives underscore the college's commitment to fostering an environment where students can advance their learning and professional careers.
