The College of Health Sciences, established in 1996, consolidated instruction and research in basic health sciences, dental hygiene, medical laboratory technology, physical therapy, and speech pathology and audiology.  The creation of the College of Health Sciences allowed for a more coordinated and aggressive approach to planning health sciences education by bringing together these previously free-standing programs and allowing for the development of new ones. 

The College of Health Sciences is now comprised of 7 departments and programs:  Athletic Training, Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Science, Exercise Science, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, and Speech Pathology & Audiology. The College is dedicated to improving health by educating excellent and ethical health care professionals through a program of teaching, research, and service.

After the establishment of the College of Health Sciences, a number of programs were reorganized, renamed, or closed.

• The Department of Biomedical Sciences was formerly a unit within the School of Dentistry, where it was known as the department of basic sciences or basic health sciences.  It was still known as the Department of Basic Health Science until the 1999-2000 academic year, at which time it was renamed the Department of Biomedical Sciences.  While the department is officially a part of the College of Health Sciences, it still maintains its ties with the School of Dentistry and other programs, providing courses in preparation for a wide variety of health care or health-related careers.

• The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology was originally affiliated with the College of Speech and its successor, the College of Communication, Journalism, and Performing Arts, as well as that program's successor, the College of Communication.  Speech Pathology and Audiology has been a part of the College of Health Sciences since the 1996-1997 academic year.

• The Medical Laboratory Technology program became the Department of Clinical Laboratory Science effective for the 1998-1999 academic year.  The program aims to qualify students for employment as Clinical Laboratory Scientists (medical technologists) in hospital laboratories.  

• The Program in Exercise Science debuted in the 1999-2000 academic year, providing an academic curriculum for the student interested in exercise, fitness and athletic training.  The Athletic Training Program, a program within the Department of Exercise Science, also emerged in the 1999-2000 academic year.

• The Department of Physician Assistant Studies emerged as a new program in the summer of 1997, dedicated to preparing students for careers as physician assistants.

• The Dental Hygiene Program, which opened in 1922, closed at the end of the 2004 academic year.

Deans of the College of Health Sciences:

• Jack C. Brooks, 1996-present

Arrangement:  This record group is currently arranged into one main series.  Additional series will be added in the future to reflect records that have been transferred to University Archives.

• The Website Snapshots series (Series 4), consists of snapshots of the College of Health Sciences website.  The records are accessible on CD for viewing in the archives reading room.

Restrictions:  Access to these records is unrestricted. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of these records.