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The University of Tampa announced today that it has partnered with Gannon University to offer eligible UT graduates a direct pathway to graduate-level health programs in speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

The health profession programs have been offered at Gannon’s Ruskin, FL campus since 2015. These pathways for UT graduates begin this fall.

Gannon University, a private university based in Erie, PA established a satellite campus in Ruskin in 2014 in response to the increasing demand for high-quality graduate education in disciplines that serve Florida’s expanding healthcare sector. UT students who meet admission requirements which include graduating with a bachelor of science in allied health in the last three years will receive preferential consideration for entry into the program.

Pictured above from left to right for UT is Paul Greenwood, dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences, David Stern, provost and vice president of academic affairs, and for Gannon is Sarah Ewing, provost and vice president for student experience and Kim Cavanagh, interim dean for the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences. Photo by Marsha Kemp

The agreement guarantees admission of up to five qualified UT graduates to enter each of the following three Gannon graduate programs per academic year.

•   Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

This two-year program provides holistic, evidence-based speech, language, and hearing education to develop highly skilled, compassionate speech-language professionals.

• Occupational Therapy Doctorate

 This three-year bachelor’s to doctorate program offers opportunities for in-depth study of, and clinical experiences with, clients of all ages who have limited capacity to perform to their expectations in their everyday lives or are at risk of developing a limiting condition.

• Doctor of Physical Therapy

This three-year doctorate program is a leader in educating autonomous physical therapists who participate in integrative and collaborative practice while emphasizing leadership, inclusiveness and social responsibility.

Ronda Sturgill, professor of health sciences and human performance at UT and coordinator of the allied health program, will serve as UT’s partnership liaison.

“The agreement between UT and Gannon University is an attractive opportunity for current and prospective UT students,” said Sturgill. “This partnership will provide academic coordination between the institutions and will assist with attracting qualified candidates to both UT’s allied health program and Gannon University’s graduate health professions programs.”

Among UT’s 200+ academic programs, the bachelor of science in allied health consistently falls within UT’s top 10 most popular undergraduate majors and offers concentrations in medical sciences, occupational therapy sciences and physical therapy sciences. Since 2022, the allied health major has consistently held more than 500 students.

“This partnership stemmed from a shared desire to provide students with a transformative education leading to in-demand careers in healthcare that meet the needs of our community,” said Sarah Ewing, provost and vice president for student experience at Gannon University. “Together we want to recruit talented students who will develop as the next generation of talented, knowledgeable and socially responsible healthcare providers.”

All Gannon University graduate health programs are accredited or pending accreditation in their respective disciplines, including the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), and a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Applications for each program will be accepted starting this fall.

To learn more or to apply, contact Sturgill at rsturgill@ut.edu.