Four graduate-level programs in the Department of Allied Health Sciences rank among the top five for public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report methodologies. In the rankings the department is eligible for, no other university placed more programs in the top 10. The 2021 rankings include the following:
Division of Physical Therapy
Doctor of Physical Therapy (#9)
Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences
Doctor of Audiology (#5)
Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology (#8)
Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Master’s in Occupational Therapy (#10)
Stephen R. Hooper, associate dean and chair of the DAHS, said the programs’ focus on education, research, and person-centered clinical care are hallmarks of the department’s overall mission, which provide a backdrop for success.
“We are proud of how these programs represent the Department of Allied Health Sciences and the UNC School of Medicine on a national scale,” Hooper said. “It is clear that our dedicated students, faculty, and staff are leaders in the health sciences, and I could not be more proud of each of these programs and the excellence they have achieved. We are grateful of this national recognition and appreciative to be surrounded by support from the UNC School of Medicine. ”
Doctor of Physical Therapy Ranked #9
“This top ranking confirms what we already know—that our dedicated students and faculty are leaders in physical therapy education, clinical care, and research. We are proud to also be among the best value for students who pursue this field.”
- Deborah Givens, director of the Division of Physical Therapy
Doctor of Audiology and Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology Rank in Top 10
“The rankings are an appreciated acknowledgement of the academic excellence of our programs, and of our commitment to our students and their futures. They are exemplary clinical practitioners, professors, and researchers in the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.”
- Sharon Wallace Williams, director of the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences
Master’s in Occupational Therapy Ranks in Top 10
“Our students and faculty are dedicated to producing outstanding occupational therapists and occupational scientists. Through an innovative, occupation-centered curriculum that embeds fieldwork and research, our graduates are prepared as leaders in their fields in our state and beyond.”
- Nancy Bagatell, director of the Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Stephen Hooper, PhD, has served as associate dean and chair since 2013. Deborah Givens, PT, DPT, PhD, is a professor in the division and joined the department in 2015. Nancy Bagatell, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, joined the division in 2013 and is an associate professor. Sharon Wallace Williams, PhD, joined the division in 2003 and is an associate professor.