Biomedicine Programs
Mitchell Scheiman, OD, PhD, FAAO, Program Director
Salus University offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and an embedded Master of Science (MSc) graduate research degree program in Biomedicine.
This fully accredited program allows students to specialize in any area of health science such as:
- Optometry
- Audiology
- Occupational Therapy
- Physician Assistant Studies
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Rehabilitation Sciences
- Biological Sciences
Master’s and Doctoral graduate students in Biomedicine will be trained and challenged to:
- Formulate a feasible, interesting, novel, ethical and relevant research question
- Use effective means of reviewing literature
- Develop a sound research plan including a statistical analysis plan
- Find and master the most specific and sensitive research techniques
- Produce and manage data with sensitivity to quality assurance
- Understand ethical and confidentiality mandates
- Publish findings using methods that maintain the integrity of the research and its interpretation
Flexible Learning Options (Distance/Online and On-Campus)
The distance/online learning option meets the needs of the University’s unique international and domestic student markets. In this 84-credit program, students take all courses online and link research projects with established mentors in successful research laboratories in the student’s community.
This program format allows the mid-level faculty member who requires a PhD for academic advancement and professional growth to remain embedded in his/her community. Most students continue to maintain full-time employment while completing this program in about four years.
Students selecting the on-campus option will need to relocate to the Philadelphia area. With this option courses are presented on-campus and research projects are arranged with established mentors in successful research laboratories either at Salus University or other sites in the Philadelphia community.
Program Goals
The main goal of the Office of Graduate Programs in Biomedicine is to provide students with the experiences and education needed for them to become independent scholars. Two options are available; a traditional, on-campus learning approach, and a non-traditional, distance learning option that allows a student to complete the program while remaining embedded in their own community and work. Both options are designed with a goal of efficiency, productive research training, strengthened personal intellect, and multiple experiences that enrich the student’s confidence and facilitate a more seamless transition into the academic or clinical workplace.
To support this goal, the program emphasizes publications, presentations, and the ability to develop and execute rigorous research plans. Student mentors are expected to take on an aggressive role in guiding the student through the process. The interaction between mentors and their students is a crucial component of the Salus program. The mentor is responsible to be an advisor, a teacher, a role model, and even, if need be, a disciplinarian.
Program Overview
Both degree programs are designed for those individuals who:
- Hold various bachelors or master’s degrees or terminal clinical degrees (such as OD, AuD, OT, SLP) and wish to secure either a doctoral or master’s research credentials
- Currently work (or intend to work) in the health sciences in medicine, optometry, audiology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, audiology, physician assistant, rehabilitation, and related fields, or basic medical or vision lab-based research.
The Master of Science (MSc) degree program is designed to have research completed under normal circumstances in 18 full-time months and provide an additional six months for completion of the dissertation for the MSc degree program. (Part-time programs also are permitted).
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree program is designed to have research completed under normal, full-time circumstances in three full-time years, and provide one additional year for completion of the dissertation and passing of the Oral Defense (viva) examination for the PhD program. (A part-time program is allowed and will generally consist of six years of research and one year for the writing of the dissertation and oral defense (viva) examination).
MSc Program in Graduate Biomedicine
PhD Program in Graduate Biomedicine