Why It Matters
Southern Utah University and Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions have created a streamlined pathway that allows students to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees in physical therapy and occupational therapy in less time. The partnership addresses rising education costs and workforce shortages in healthcare by enabling students to enter clinical practice sooner while reducing overall degree completion time and expenses.
What Happened
The two Utah institutions announced a co-enrollment agreement that permits students to begin graduate coursework at Rocky Mountain University after completing prerequisite requirements at Southern Utah University. Under the arrangement, students’ first year of graduate study at RMU transfers back to SUU and counts as senior-year undergraduate credits. This structure allows participants to complete both degrees more efficiently than traditional sequential programs.
James Sage, SUU Associate Provost, said the collaboration provides an accelerated pathway for students to earn graduate degrees and enter the workforce as physical and occupational therapists. Dr. Malissa Martin, RMU Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, described the partnership as removing barriers for students while strengthening the healthcare workforce.
By the Numbers
Rocky Mountain University students complete more clinical hours than required by national accreditation standards for physical therapy and occupational therapy programs. Both programs hold national accreditation and emphasize hands-on clinical experience. The accelerated pathway reduces time to degree completion, though specific timeframe reductions were not disclosed in the announcement.
The partnership comes as changes to federal student loan programs and rising education costs prompt institutions nationwide to explore cost-effective alternatives. Recent Utah Legislature efforts have encouraged development of accelerated educational pathways to address workforce shortages.
Zoom Out
Healthcare workforce shortages have prompted similar public-private partnerships across the country as universities seek to expand graduate program capacity without requiring students to extend their time in school. Physical therapy and occupational therapy remain high-demand fields with growing employment projections as the U.S. population ages.
The agreement represents a growing trend of institutions creating bridge programs that allow undergraduate students to begin graduate coursework early, reducing both time and financial investment required to enter professional practice.
What’s Next
The pathway is now available to Southern Utah University students who meet prerequisite requirements for Rocky Mountain University’s physical therapy and occupational therapy programs. Students completing the accelerated track will graduate with both undergraduate and graduate credentials while entering the healthcare workforce ahead of peers in traditional programs.