Florida-based Adventist University of Health Sciences (ADU) announces in separate news releases that it has renewed its online educational partnership with Pearson, and has received accreditation for its new Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

ADU, a Seventh-day Adventist institution that specializes in healthcare education, notes in a media release that Pearson, a learning company, is the executive partner for ADU ONLINE providing student support, retention, and recruitment.

Four degree programs are currently offered via ADU ONLINE, according to the release: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences, and an Executive Master of Healthcare Administration. ADU plans to offer additional online programs in the future to meet the needs of the evolving healthcare industry.

With this continued partnership, ADU ONLINE and Pearson will customize a learning experience that enables healthcare students to not only succeed but also mirror the caring aspects of their work that will sustain them throughout their careers, the release notes.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Pearson to offer competitive online degree programs to those interested in pursuing a career in healthcare,” says David Greenlaw, DMin, president of ADU, in the release.

“It is our goal to give our students the very best, and with this continued partnership we strive to produce healthcare professionals that will provide exceptional care,” he adds.

In other ADU news, the university announces that the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education has granted candidacy for accreditation to its Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, making this the first doctorate degree offered by the university.

“It is a privilege to be the first doctoral degree program at ADU and to provide yet another example of ADU fulfilling its mission to develop leaders in healthcare,” states Jennifer Collins, PT, EdD, MPA, chair of ADU’s Department of Physical Therapy, in the release.

The university has begun recruiting applicants for its inaugural DPT class, which will begin in May 2016. Up to 23 students will be accepted, and they all will be required to participate in an international experience where they will learn to work with a diverse group of individuals.

In designing the DPT program, ADU collaborated with healthcare entities, like Florida Hospital, to give the students clinical opportunities and hands-on learning, per the release.

For more information, visit Adventist University of Health Sciences.

[Source(s): Adventist University of Health Sciences, PR Newswire]