General Information

(251) 445-9250

College of Allied Health website
https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/alliedhealth

Allied Health Administrative Staff

Faculty/Staff

Title	Name
Dean	Susan Gordon-Hickey
Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs & Faculty Development	Elizabeth M. Adams
Associate Dean for Community Engagement	Charles Erwin
Director of Academic Advising, Allied Health	Brittney Day
Academic Advisor II	Nancy Dunn

The Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions is dedicated to the provision of the highest quality in basic medical sciences and health professional education to meet healthcare needs and to contribute to new knowledge through research. Our programs vary in specialization and are either clinical or health science focused.

Clinical Programs and Accrediting Agency

• Emergency Medical Services Paramedic & EMT Programs:
  Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP) and the Committee on Accreditation for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP)
• Occupational Therapy (Master of Science in Occupational Therapy & Doctor of Occupational Therapy):
  ​Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
• Physical Therapy (Doctor of Physical Therapy):

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

• Physician Assistant (Master of Health Sciences):
  Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)
• Radiologic Sciences (Bachelor of Science Program):
  Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
• Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Programs (Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Doctor of Audiology):
  Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)

The clinical programs are accredited by their national specialized accreditor and lead to certification and licensure in the United States. Upon graduation from a professional/clinical program, students are eligible to sit for their respective certification and licensure board examinations to enter professional practice in their chosen specialization.

The clinical programs in the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions are provide the scientific education and clinical education opportunities needed for clinical practice. Coursework and clinical placements for these programs are full-time. Students must be able to manage full-time clinical placements appropriate to the profession. Clinical placements may be weekdays or on the weekend. Students may need to be placed at clinical sites between semesters. Additionally, students are not guaranteed clinical placements in Mobile and should be prepared to commute.

Through University approval, and when deemed to be in the best interest of the students, the faculty of the College reserves the right to alter curricula and regulations as considered necessary.

Health Sciences Programs

• Biomedical Sciences (BS)
• Biomedical Sciences (MS)
• Communication Sciences and Disorders (PhD)
• Professional Health Sciences (BS)
• Speech and Hearing Sciences (BS)

The health sciences programs prepare students for the health care workforce or for graduate-level clinical/professional programs.

Academic Advising

Students are encouraged to take full advantage of the academic advising services provided in the College of Allied Health Professions. The academic advisors are available throughout the academic year to assist undergraduate students and other persons seeking information about Allied Health Professions programs. Freshmen (i.e., students with fewer than 30 completed credit hours and students with college credit from high school who are in their first full-time semester of college) are advised in the Academic Advising and Transfer Services (AATS) office located in the Academic Services Center. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are advised in the College of Allied Health Professions' Advising Office. The Allied Health academic advisors are located on the third floor of the Health Sciences Building, room 3028 (HAHN 3028). You may contact the Allied Health Advising Office at (251) 445-9260 or ahpadvising@southalabama.edu or schedule an appointment via Navigate South. Undergraduate students in the professional component of their program and graduate students are advised by their respective departmental faculty advisors.

Computer Access Requirement

All students enrolled in the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions are required to have access to a personal computer. This access must include a current version of the Microsoft Office^® software suite including Word^® and Excel^®, access to the University's e-mail system and access to the Internet for research purposes. Individual programs may have additional requirements specific to their curriculum.

General Requirements for Immunizations, Health Insurance, Background Checks, and Drug Screening

Students in clinical programs are required to provide documentation of immunizations. Confirmation of immunization and/ or documentation that the immunization process is underway (e.g. multiple shot immunization process) is required prior to matriculation. Additionally, some immunizations will be confirmed annually (i.e. flu shot). Students will be required to meet the immunization requirements of clinics at which they are completing clinical rotations. Some clinical sites may require updated paperwork and/or additional immunizations. Specific immunization requirements are found in program handbooks.

Students in clinical programs are required to have continuous health care coverage. As such, students in clinical programs are required to maintain health insurance throughout the program of study and bear all costs associated with their health care. Students applying for admission to clinical programs will need to provide proof of health insurance coverage before matriculation to the program and every year after matriculation.

Students in clinical programs are required to submit background checks and drug tests prior to matriculating into a clinical program. For clinical programs, acceptance, admission, and retention in the applicable program are contingent upon an acceptable background check for the profession. Drug tests may be randomly administered while in clinical programs. Students are informed of these requirements minimally in the application process, during orientation, and in program handbooks. The College of Allied Health Professions policies on drug testing and background checks are found in the CAHP Policy and Procedures Manual on the website. Students are responsible for becoming familiar with individual requirements and regulations specific to their programs.

Students must adhere to the policies of the site at which they are completing clinical education experiences/rotations. This includes, but is not limited to, the immunization/vaccination policies, policies on reporting changes in background check status, and drug testing/result requirements. Change in the student's status should be reported by the student to their program director/department chair and to their direct supervisor at the clinical site. The site may choose to disallow the student's participation in clinical education activities at their site based on these results and/or change in status.

Departments of Instruction

Admission to Professional Programs

The Dean of the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions oversees the establishment and monitoring of the admission standards for the professional clinical degree programs. Each student must meet the admission standards of the program for which they are applying. However, because of limited capacities, admission is on a competitive basis. Notice of actions on applications for admission is provided by the respective departments. Any other correspondence between students and faculty members, department chairs, and/or administrative officers does not constitute nor does it imply admission to any specific program.

Application forms and other information may be obtained from each department's website or by contacting the department directly.

College Requirements

Undergraduate

Admission to Professional Programs

The Dean of the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions oversees the establishment and monitoring of the admission standards for the professional clinical degree programs. Each student must meet the admission standards of the program for which they are applying. However, because of limited capacities, admission is on a competitive basis. Notice of actions on applications for admission is provided by the respective departments. Any other correspondence between students and faculty members, department chairs, and/or administrative officers does not constitute nor does it imply admission to any specific program.

Application forms and other information may be obtained from each department's website or by contacting the department directly.

Undergraduate Promotion Policies

For professional component undergraduate students in Radiologic Sciences, a minimum grade of "C" is required in each professional component course. This minimum grade of "C" reflects only the letter grade since many courses will require an 80% or 90% competency in order to be considered passing level. Students receiving less than a "C" in a professional course in Radiologic Sciences will not be allowed to proceed in the program (i.e. dismissed). Students not meeting this minimal requirement may apply for reinstatement by petitioning the respective departmental Student Evaluation and Promotions Committee. The student must petition in writing through the office of the Department Chair no later than five days prior to the beginning of the semester for which reinstatement is requested. If for any reason, a student must withdraw from the professional component of a program, readmission will require approval of the appropriate Department Chair and the Dean of the College. Undergraduate students majoring in Speech and Hearing Sciences must complete each SHS course with a grade of "C" or better.

Transient Course Work Credit

All students enrolled in the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions must receive prior approval from their academic advisor, the Chair of the Department and the Dean before taking courses at another institution. Failure to obtain prior approval may result in loss of credit for the course work.

Graduate

Graduate Degree Programs

The Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Communication Sciences and Disorders; three clinical doctoral degrees, the Doctor of Audiology (AuD), the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), and the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT); and 4 Masters degrees, the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MS BMD), Master of Health Sciences (MHS), Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS OT), and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS SLP). These degrees are administered through the Department, the College, and the Graduate School. Program requirements for all graduate programs can be found under the respective departmental information.

Admission to Graduate Programs

In addition to the minimum requirements set by the Graduate School, students applying to the graduate programs in the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions must meet the application requirements of the individual program. Submission of the GRE score and minimum GRE score required to apply for admission to each graduate program is established by the specific program's admissions committee. Interested students should check the specific requirements for the specific program.

Admission to the graduate programs in the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions is competitive. The programs are limited access and students are admitted based on their credentials. Students are encouraged to refer to the departmental website for admissions criteria and information.

Documents Required for Admission

All documents required for admission review such as transcripts and test scores must be official. Transcripts must be transmitted from the home institution to the department. Scores from testing agencies must be sent directly to the University. These documents become the property of the University of South Alabama. Programs may use a Centralized Application System or other admissions process. Students may be asked to upload transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation to this system as well. If a student decides to apply to another program, a new application and processing fee must be submitted.

Grade Standards

The grading system for graduate-level includes final grade options of "A", "B", "C", and "F". A minimum overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 must be maintained throughout the program. In accordance with USA Graduate School grade standards, any term in which a graduate student drops below an overall 3.0 GPA, the student is placed on probationary status and has a period of two terms to attain an overall 3.0 GPA or be dismissed. In graduate programs within the PCCCAHP, a maximum of eight semester credits of courses with the grade of "C" may be counted toward a degree program. Additional details are provided in the Academic Dismissal section below. Students may, with approval of the departmental faculty, repeat a course in which a "C" has been earned. In graduate clinical programs, any grade lower than a "C" in any course will result in academic dismissal from the program. Academic programs may establish more stringent grade requirements for program retention.

Academic Dismissal

In accordance with USA Graduate School grade standards, any term in which a graduate student drops below an overall 3.0 GPA, the student is placed on probationary status and has a period of two terms to attain an overall 3.0 GPA or be dismissed.

Students in graduate clinical programs who receive more than 8 credit hours of "C" in courses will be dismissed from their program. The student may appeal the dismissal following the CAHP Appeals Process for Academic Dismissal. If the appeal is granted, a remediation plan, which may include additional and/or repeating coursework, may be implemented. In this case, the student's anticipated timeline for graduation may be extended. If the student is allowed to remain in the program by retaking a course or courses, any "C" grades in the repeated course(s) and future courses will also result in automatic dismissal from the program. Individual programs may have more stringent grade standards than the USA Graduate School and the Covey College of Allied Health Professions standards.

In graduate clinical programs, any grade lower than a "C" will result in academic dismissal. A student who is academically dismissed from a program will not be allowed to re-apply to the same program.

Students may appeal dismissal in accordance with the CAHP Appeals Process for Academic Dismissal, but reinstatement is not automatically granted and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Academic Misconduct

A student dismissed from a graduate program as the result of an academic misconduct penalty will be automatically dismissed from the College and will not be eligible to apply for readmission.

Final Grade Grievance Policy

A student may initiate an inquiry under procedures set forth in The Lowdown (www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/).

Appeal Procedure

Students may appeal academic dismissal, academic misconduct dismissal and final grade grievance decisions under specified circumstances. Information concerning this procedure may be obtained from the office of the Dean of the College.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of twelve (12) semester hours of approved transfer credit from another institution is allowed for a master's degree, and a maximum of one half of the minimum hours required for the doctoral degree is normally allowed as transfer credit. Exceptions are allowed under unusual circumstances, but in no case will the number of transfer credit hours exceed two thirds of the minimum hours required for the degree. The decision to accept transfer credit resides with the program faculty and department chair. Programs in the College may accept transfer credit from a regionally accredited university and/or programs with specialized accreditation; however, programs may set a limit to the total transfer credit accepted and programs are not required to accepted transfer credits. Prior approval of the Chair of the department and College Director of Graduate/Professional Studies is required. For specific information concerning Transfer Credit see appropriate section under Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions or contact the Chair of the specific program. Only courses with "A" or "B" grades are acceptable for transfer.

Student Responsibility

While the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions will endeavor to provide timely and accurate advisement, it is the responsibility of the student to know and satisfy the degree requirements of the academic program, to be aware of the University and College academic calendar and to understand and comply with University and College academic policies and procedures.