Salus University
Description of Salus University
- Location: Cheltenham, USA,
- Founded: 1919,
- Number of students: about 1200,
- Language of instruction: English,
- Type of study: blended.
Salus University is a private university that offers professional postgraduate degrees in health and health sciences. About 1200 students study here, choosing a convenient format for them to complete the programs: full-time or remote.
Named after the Latin word for health and well-being, Salus University brings together a diverse group of students, faculty, and staff who are similar in their commitment to improving the well-being of populations around the world. Salus University bases its curriculum on the following principles:
- Commitment to interprofessional education and interdisciplinary education,
- A primary care philosophy and a holistic approach that evaluates the whole patient for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation,
- An exceptional sequence of clinical education that begins in the very first semester of study and includes internships in various medical institutions,
- Innovative learning strategies that include small group learning, interactive and self-paced learning, clinical problem solving.
- Integration of new technologies that enable students to use and understand modern cutting-edge technologies while preparing them for an ever-evolving profession,
- Commitment to continuous professional and personal development and success.
The foundation for the current university was the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, opened in 1919. The university received the name that Salus University bears now in 2008 along with its three colleges. In June 2023, it was announced that Salus University would soon join Drexel University, an institution of art, science, and industry.
The institution's Elkins Park campus now offers post-baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degrees in optometry, audiology, health sciences, education, and rehabilitation.
Faculties and colleges
Currently, Salus University consists of three colleges:
- Pennsylvania College of Optometry,
- Osborne College of Audiology,
- College of Health Sciences, Education, and Rehabilitation.
Programs and prices, tuition fees in Salus University
Doctor's Programs
- Age — from 23 years old,
- The duration of the training is three to four years.
The university offers several specialized programs for obtaining a doctoral degree:
- Optometry
- Audiology
- Occupational therapy
- Physician Assistant Research,
- Rehabilitation Sciences,
- Biological Sciences,
- Clinical Medicine.
Students have the opportunity to complete their chosen program in three or four years, depending on whether they receive a scholarship.
Residency Programs
- Age — from 26 years old,
- The duration of study is up to two years.
All residency programs are conducted at the Eye Institute, a patient care facility, and include consideration of topics such as:
- Primary Eye Care, Study of Eye Diseases,
- Pediatric optometry, vision therapy;
- Rehabilitation of the visually impaired,
- Cornea and contact lenses,
- Neuro-ophthalmic diseases.
The courses offer challenging clinical education and training in eye diseases and/or primary care in a variety of practice forms. A broad and complex patient population, nationally recognized faculty excellence, and resources available to support the program all contribute to the quality education of professionals.
Residents are given 40 to 44 hours of classes per week, including clinical assignments, weekend self-study, and didactic activities at conferences. Activities are supervised by a highly qualified clinical faculty, which includes optometrists, general and special ophthalmologists, and narrow specialists in other related disciplines.
Master's Programs
- Age — from 21 years old,
- The duration of training is from two years.
Some of the Master's specializations presented at Salus University are:
- Rehabilitation of the visually impaired,
- Orientation and mobility,
- A teacher for the visually impaired,
- Restorative Vision Therapy,
- Occupational Therapy,
- Clinical Audiology,
- Assisting the doctor,
- Orthopedics and prosthetics,
- Speech and language pathology,
- Studies of blindness and low vision.
Post-Baccalaureate Programs
- Age — from 21 years old,
- The duration of the training is 30 weeks.
There are two post-baccalaureate level programs available at Salus University :
- Health Sciences,
- Speech and language pathologies.
The 30-week traditional Health Sciences Postgraduate Program will help each student develop scientific skills and foundational knowledge in the basic health professions, exposing them to the experience of caring for patients in a variety of settings.
Students who participate in the certification program will receive:
- Introduction to patient care and the opportunity to monitor them in Salus University clinical facilities,
- Career guidance services that will help them achieve their ultimate professional goals.
The biggest benefit of completing the program is that it makes the student a competitive candidate for whatever health professions program they are applying for.
Accommodation, meals, prices
Due to the location of the campus in a residential area and the developed public transport infrastructure, students have the opportunity to find suitable accommodation near the study area. Staff can assist in finding options based on estimated cost and distance from campus: flats, apartments, student residence rooms, or even private homes – a wide range of housing options is one of Pennsylvania's specialties. Pupils will also be assisted with finding a roommate to rent together if necessary.
The University Café offers students snacks and drinks, hot and cold meals for breakfast and lunch. Café staff are an integral part of campus life and remember not only the names of the students, but also their culinary preferences. Students can be found in the dining area even after hours, and the area outside the café is often used by student organizations or academic programs to showcase projects, activities, and recreation.
The University Café is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Activities Salus University
Most of the events, thematic meetings and hobby clubs are managed by the Office of Student Affairs and the Student Council. These organizations are responsible for the well-being, comfort and provision of students with everything they need, including innovative equipment – group members regularly communicate with representatives of the university, discussing possible improvements.
With a variety of clubs and organizations, a close-knit and diverse student community, and a picturesque town just a short walk away, life at Salus University is virtually unrestricted. From humanitarian groups to student chapters of national organizations, every student will find a team of interest:
- American Sign Language Club,
- Christian Fellowship,
- Speech Therapy and Audiology,
- International Society of Optometry,
- Cardiac Episode Prevention Club,
- Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates,
- Private Practice Club,
- Association of Orthopaedists and Prosthodontists,
- Club for the provision of voluntary medical services.
Sports have always been a part of Salus University's history, dating back to basketball teams in the 1920s. Today, the Student Athletic Committee prides itself on offering diverse and exciting sports. Each year, students form teams with creative names and compete in basketball and volleyball championships at the Hafter Community Center. Basketball teams are made up of either men or women, while volleyball teams can be mixed. Outdoor sports programs include kickball and flag football, with enough student interest, new sections can be added.
Almost every week in the school year is accompanied by several thematic events: music and dance performances, concerts, drama performances, sports competitions or scientific debates. Students can either take part or organize the event on their own.
Advantages
- Senior Optometric College in North America,
- Accreditation from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Department of Education, the U.S. College Association Commission on Higher Education,
- Optometry, audiology, assist, occupational therapy and speech pathology programs are accredited by the governing bodies of these professions,
- Three specialized colleges consisting of,
- Use of the latest technologies in the process of education and gaining practical experience during internships,
- Some programs are also available to international students,
- Collaboration with several institutions, including Edinboro University, Chestnut Hill College, Saint Joseph's University, and more.
Facilities and equipment at Salus University
The Salus University campus occupies an area of 11 acres of Elkins Park, located in the small town of Cheltenham, a suburb of Philadelphia. The learning area includes two major academic buildings with clinical laboratories and research facilities, the Learning Resource Center, and the Hafter Student Community Center. The university also operates seven clinical facilities that serve local residents and provide students with clinical experiences:
- The Eye Institute (TEI), located in the Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia,
- TEI's two satellite offices in Chestnut Hill and Norristown,
- The William Feinbloom Center for Vision Rehabilitation, located at the Eye Institute,
- The Pennsylvania Institute of Hearing, located on the Elkins Park campus,
- The Institute of Speech and Language, located on the Elkins Park campus, and others.
The education takes place in a variety of rooms prepared for lectures and practical exercises. The campus is equipped with many places for recreation and self-study.
- Laboratories: Daily Life, Audiometric Principles, Clinical Evaluation and Procedures, Electrophysiology and Hearing Technology, General Anatomy, Orthopaedics and Prosthetics, Standardized Patient Modeling, and others.
- Lecture halls with projectors, interactive whiteboards,
- Campus Shop,
- Cafeteria
- D'Arrigo Family Gallery,
- Feinbloom Center for Low Vision,
- Hafter Student Community Center
- Library
- Lombardi class,
- Sensory Garden
- Vestibular laboratory.
Admission dates and extra charges
The academic year consists of autumn, winter and summer quarters, and a spring quarterly session. Classes are held on weekdays, weekends are Saturday, Sunday and days of national and international holidays.
An approximate list of additional costs will include:
- Registration fee upon admission,
- Books and the use of technology,
- National Council Fees,
- On-campus meals,
- Health insurance,
- Public transport
- Certification exam,
- Personal spending.
Enrolment process
Prospective students should fill out the online form and provide the required documents, pay the application fee. The Admissions Committee selects the candidates who are most qualified for studying. Enrollment is influenced by many factors, including:
- Academic Performance,
- Motivation
- Extracurricular Activities and Interests,
- Experience
- Personal achievements.
These and other features will be considered at the entrance interview and possible testing. At the end of the screening of all applicants, the admissions committee will contact some of them to notify them of further registration stages and invite them to study.
Perspectives
Today, the Alumni Network of Salus University includes about 14,000 specialists around the world. After receiving a diploma, students either continue their academic path at leading universities and medical schools, or begin careers in clinics, hospitals, and hospitals.
Entry requirements, how to apply, what is required to enrol
Each program has individual requirements for applicants, the common of which are:
- Previous level of education: high school diploma, bachelor's or master's degree,
- Official transcripts of all colleges and universities that have been attended,
- Three letters of recommendation from professors, employers, supervisors,
- Work or clinical follow-up experience,
- Fluency in written and spoken English: TOEFL (from 70) or equivalent,
- A personal statement describing academic goals,
- Personal documents: passport, health insurance, visa or residence permit.
Scholarships Salus University
Salus University offers internal and external partner scholarships that are awarded to successful students. Some of them are:
- Vice-Rector's Scholarship,
- Dean's Scholarship,
- AMBI Scholarship in Science and Medicine,
- American AmeriCorps Corps,
- New Jersey Medical Research and Education Foundation,
- Health Professions Scholarship.
Financial aid is available in the form of loans, temporary on-campus employment:
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan,
- Student Loan for Health Professions,
- The Federal Employment Survey is the Work-Study Program. Students can work up to 20 hours per week in various departments on campus at a rate of $12.50 per hour,
- Federal Direct Graduate Loans PLUS – An unnecessarily offered loan offered by the federal government,
- Private education loans are loans from a lender, such as banks or unions, used for educational purposes.
Institution on the map
Residence permits, citizenship and other services
- Guardianship services during the studies
- Student supervision
Review about Salus University
Recommendations on when to apply
| Language courses, schools and children's language camps | Primary and secondary education - private schools | Preparation programmes for entering universities - higher education | Higher education (after completing accredited programs A-level, IB, High School) - Bachelor, Master, MBA |
| - we recommend to apply 6-9 months before the start of the course (some camps and schools offer discounts for early booking or for lengthy study programs) - there are some very popular and high demand children's camps, where the applications need to be submitted 1 year in advance (in particular Switzerland , Great Britain , USA , Canada , Austria) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the training program, - some schools have a specific time frame (September-November - please specify an individual school) - some schools require tests in several stages (UKISET, internal tests of the school: English, mathematics, logics, subjects, interview, some require a personal visit) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the program, - for Foundation and Pathway programs, IELTS and TOEFL certificates are usually required, respectively | - recommended submission one year before the start of the program, - the deadline normally closes in January, for TOP HEIs and, as a rule, in March in other universities - for a bachelor, a Foundation or Pathway preparatory program a completed A-level, IB, High School + IELTS / TOEFL are required - for Masters you need a graduated higher education, in some cases you need a pre-Masters program - MBA requires completed higher education, work experience preferably at least 2-3 years, etc. |
