GREENEVILLE, Tenn. and EMORY, Va. – Tusculum University students who are on a path for a bachelor’s degree in multiple fields will receive a guaranteed interview to be accepted into a select number of graduate programs at Emory & Henry University through a new agreement.
Dr. David Cook
Dr. Blake Justice
The two higher education institutions recently signed an articulation agreement to open this avenue for Tusculum students. Specifically, undergraduate Tusculum students in the biology, chemistry, psychology and sport science programs will be eligible for an interview with Emory & Henry’s School of Health Sciences. That interview could lead to admittance in Emory & Henry’s graduate programs in addiction counseling, clinical mental health counseling, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.
The agreement also opens the door to Tusculum alumni who earned bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, psychology and sport science.
“We are thrilled to enter into this agreement with Emory & Henry,” said Dr. David Cook, Tusculum’s provost and vice president of academic affairs. “Our students and alumni emerge from their undergraduate studies well prepared for master’s and professional programs, and Emory & Henry’s offerings in these fields will align nicely with their skill sets. Emory & Henry has a strong reputation in these areas, and we are pleased our students will be able to transition from a superb undergraduate program with us to excellent graduate programs at an institution we know well and trust.”
Representatives from Emory & Henry’s School of Health Sciences are likewise enthused about this partnership.
“This collaboration with Tusculum University exemplifies our ongoing commitment to expanding access to graduate education,” said Dr. Blake Justice, interim dean of the School of Health Sciences. “Students from Tusculum’s biology, chemistry, psychology and sport science programs will bring unique perspectives and experiences to our graduate programs, and we are delighted to offer them this opportunity to continue their academic and professional journeys with us.”
The agreement calls for Emory and Henry’s School of Health Sciences to hold as many as five guaranteed admission interview slots every year for each of the graduate programs. Tusculum’s designated administrator or faculty members will identify and recommend the Tusculum students and alumni for the interview. These Tusculum students and alumni must meet or exceed Emory & Henry’s admission standards and requirements.
While the agreement does not automatically mean acceptance into one of the graduate programs, Dr. Cook is confident of the Tusculum students’ and alumni’s prospects. He said the rigorous curriculum and active and experiential approach to education at Tusculum give students and alumni a leg up when they apply and interview for one of the slots at Emory & Henry.
All graduate programs at Emory & Henry’s School of Health Sciences offer comprehensive training for health care careers, with a strong emphasis on collaborative, interprofessional patient care. These programs are known for their exceptional board exam pass rates and high job placement outcomes, reflecting the quality and effectiveness of the education provided.
Tusculum brings to the table a robust undergraduate research program that includes examining potential new cancer medications and being published in the journals Dalton Transactions and Inorganic Chemistry. Many students have presented at local and national conferences, including a group of psychology students who traveled to Puerto Rico.
Nearly all sport science classes incorporate research through literature review work or actual personal projects. That work culminates in the senior seminar, where students complete a research project and apply the knowledge they have gained.
Many of the students in Tusculum’s biology, chemistry, psychology and sport science have landed in graduate and professional programs, including occupational therapy and physician assistant studies.
Dr. Michael Puglisi
Dr. Heather Henson-Ramsey
“Our students are mentored and receive one-on-one attention at Tusculum, and their interaction with their professors matches what many graduate schools offer,” said Dr. Heather Henson-Ramsey, the university’s assistant vice president of academic affairs. “Our health professions seminar course during their freshman year helps them better recognize their purpose and their calling and gives them a clearer focus on the direction of their studies. They are in a position to succeed when they reach graduate school or a professional school.”
The School of Health Sciences was launched in 2014. The goal was to prepare compassionate, patient-centered, highly skilled health care professionals who not only provide quality health care to their patients but also actively engage in leadership and service opportunities within their professional organizations and communities.
“We are excited to strengthen our partnership with Tusculum University and provide their students with a clear pathway to our graduate programs,” said Dr. Michael Puglisi, Emory & Henry’s provost and executive vice president. “This agreement reflects our shared commitment to cultivating the next generation of health professionals and to creating a seamless transition to advanced study. We look forward to welcoming Tusculum’s students into our School of Health Sciences.”
To learn more about Tusculum University, please visit www.tusculum.edu. Additional details about the Emory & Henry University School of Health Sciences are available at https://www.emoryhenry.edu/academics/school-health-sciences/.