Discover Our Transformative Programs

If you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree in another field and wish to pursue a career in nursing, SMU’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program may be right for you. The fast-track format was designed to build upon your previous learning and professional experience, allowing you to complete your BSN in just about 12 months. 

This intensive, short-term program includes a mix of theory and clinical education, giving you both the knowledge and skills you’ll need to transition into your new career. Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for

Nurses are a vital part of the healthcare system, and they are in high demand. The U.S. Department of Labor projects the field of nursing will grow 15 percent through 2026, much faster than the average for all other occupations.

Our two-year nursing program is designed for students who have completed their general education and prerequisite courses at another institution. So when you begin at SMU, you’ll be ready to participate in hands-on learning experiences sooner. Your clinical courses will take you into hospital and community settings, giving you plenty of opportunities to put theory into

Nurses with bachelor’s degrees often have higher earning potential than their counterparts with an associate degree. As demand for nurse leaders continues to rise, a BSN could make you more desirable for supervisory roles and other increased responsibilities. 

Created for Working Nurses

Our 20-month program allows you to earn your degree part-time, while also maintaining your career. As a current nurse, you already have a solid foundation, and you’ll be able to use your previous academic and professional experience as you continue your education. 

In our BSN program, you’ll deepen your knowledge

The Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN) program is designed for those who have already earned a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field and seek to shift careers or pursue a new academic goal. Currently, there are two career paths for ELMSN students: Case Management (CM) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).

The Case Management option prepares professional nurses to practice in a variety of health care settings. Graduates will build on their varied academic and experiential backgrounds to provide nursing care with an interdisciplinary case management focus. Strong advocacy

The ELMSN program is designed for those who have already earned a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field and seek to shift careers or pursue a new academic goal. Currently, SMU offers two career training paths for ELMSN students: Family Nurse Practitioner and Case Management. Family nurse practitioners provide primary care across a patient's life span, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, and management of health problems. Nurse practitioners work in a variety of clinical settings, including outpatient clinics, ambulatory care settings, emergency departments

Mission Statement:  The Master Physician Assistant Department at Samuel Merritt University strives to serve the University and the medical community by preparing graduates who are interdependent medical providers, demonstrate commitment to the community and the profession through active leadership, manifest critical and creative thinking, utilize effective communication skills, and who possess the educational foundation for continued growth and development in a changing world of diverse cultures.

Program Learning Outcomes:  All graduates of the SMU PA Program are expected to demonstrate

Samuel Merritt University’s Master of Science in Nursing program offers a case management track. This specialty is ideal for nurses who would like to advance into a leadership position or focus on improving care delivery at the individual, family, or population level.

Nurses specializing in case management help guide patients and their families or caregivers to find and access the most optimal and affordable treatment plan. This process often includes educating patients about their conditions and helping them navigate the health care system. Case managers also advocate for their patients by

The Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Leadership Education (MSN-CLE) program is designed to address the national nursing shortage and meet the urgent need for graduate prepared nursing faculty across the United States. This program elevates clinical leadership expertise and informatics knowledge for practicing nurses throughout all settings.  

As a master's prepared nurse, you will be at the forefront of technological advancements in nursing education to include best practices in wellness, unitary caring science, curriculum development, learning assessment, simulation, and virtual reality

Family nurse practitioner positions are on the rise. These skilled and diverse specialists are trained to deliver a wide variety of patient services, and also often serve as a primary care provider in under served communities. The Samuel Merritt online MSN-FNP program focuses on working as a Primary Care provider in outpatient settings.  

The COA requires that all students matriculating into a nurse anesthesia educational program on January 1, 2022, or thereafter be enrolled in a program approved by the COA to award a practice doctoral degree.

The Class of 2023 matriculated in the fall 2021 semester and is the final Nurse Anesthesia MSN cohort at SMU. We are no longer accepting applications for the Nurse Anesthesia MSN Program. 

If you are interested in our Anesthesia-DNP Program please visit the Anesthesia Doctorate of Practice information page. 

The COA requires that all students matriculating into a nurse anesthesia educational program on January 1, 2022, or thereafter be enrolled in a program approved by the COA to award a practice doctoral degree.

The Class of 2023 matriculated in the fall 2021 semester and is the final Nurse Anesthesia MSN cohort at SMU. We are no longer accepting applications for the Nurse Anesthesia MSN Program. 

If you are interested in our Anesthesia-DNP Program please visit the Anesthesia Doctorate of Practice information page. 

BLOGS

The SMU Master of Social Work program (MSW) provides students comprehensive training to become integrated health, behavioral health, and medical social workers.  

Graduating social workers will demonstrate both an understanding of the social determinants of health and an ability to work as effective members of interdisciplinary health services teams. Our graduates will also demonstrate competencies in applying practice on micro, mezzo, and macro levels to address the upstream factors that lie beyond healthcare delivery to enhance social and economic justice and reduce health disparities.  

If you are a critical care registered nurse (RN) looking for greater autonomy and are drawn to providing more advanced care to patients, becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) might be right for you.

CRNAs provide anesthesia care in a number of medical settings, including operating rooms, outpatient centers, emergency rooms, delivery rooms, and dental offices. Our program prepares graduates for a full-scope, evidence-based anesthesia practice with advanced nursing knowledge, leadership, and health policy training, as well as the translational research skills to improve

At Samuel Merritt University, we are committed to shaping the future of podiatric medicine through comprehensive education, hands-on experience, and a specialized curriculum tailored for MD or DO graduates. The Bridge to Podiatric Residency program encompasses a range of courses and rotations to equip you with knowledge and skills required to become a podiatrist.   

Join the Next Generation of Podiatrists 

Are you seeking a medical career that offers great work-life flexibility? Consider our 20-month pathway, designed to pave the way for a doctor of podiatric medicine degree and eligibility for

In the mid-2000s, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing issued a position statement that included a goal of transitioning advanced practice nursing programs from the master’s degree to doctoral programs. In response to this vision, SMU established its Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

SMU’s post-MSN DNP program was developed for advanced practice nurses—such as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse midwives—as well as nurses in other advanced nursing roles such as organizational leadership.

Our DNP offers a flexible, online format intended to

Physical therapists (PTs) are movement experts who play an important role in today's healthcare system. As a PT, you'll help improve everyday life for clients of all ages through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education about how to prevent or manage their condition.  PTs use treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. PTs also work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.

The Doctor of Physical

Blogs

Podiatric physicians are devoted to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of foot and ankle disorders, diseases, and injuries. They are the only health professionals who exclusively specialize in this area — and it’s a field in growing demand. An aging population coupled with an increase in chronic conditions that impact mobility, such as diabetes, means more people are seeking care. 

At the heart of the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) program is a rigorous curriculum in the basic medical and clinical sciences mixed with hands-on learning experiences that begin in your second year, a

DNP-FNPs are quickly becoming the health provider of choice, providing care for more than 870 million patient visits every year. You'll practice in primary care and other settings, blending clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating health conditions across the lifespan with an added emphasis on disease prevention and health management.

DNP-FNPs, unlike some other health care providers, have a unique emphasis on the health and well-being of the whole person. With a focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and health education and counseling, our graduates guide patients in making

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Doctor Nurse Practitioner scholar, you’ll be on the frontlines responding to a national and global mental healthcare emergency. Our nurses are educated to offer evidence-based psychotherapy and psychopharmacology—merging the roles of psychiatrist and psychologist—with patients’ best interest at heart. 

You’ll learn to function autonomously in a variety of clinical settings and develop knowledge, skills and expertise in health promotion, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders within individuals, families, and groups.

As an

Occupational therapists make a significant and positive impact on the quality of life of their clients. In this incredibly rewarding career, you provide services to people of all ages with sensory, cognitive, psychological, and physical difficulties—helping them to develop or regain important life skills. This might mean helping an individual learn to live and thrive independently or assisting someone to return to their daily routine after an injury or surgery.

SMU’s entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) programs focus on working with the