Bachelors
Bachelor of Health Sciences
Samuel Merritt University's BHS offers a flexible path to completing a bachelor's degree while preparing students for careers or continued education in healthcare.
Advance the Future of Healthcare
The College of Health Sciences prepares occupational therapists, physical therapists, physician assistants, biomedical scientists, social workers, healthcare administrators, and other healthcare professionals through interprofessional education and hands-on learning.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE
Healthcare Education Across Disciplines.
Samuel Merritt University's College of Health Sciences brings together programs spanning clinical care, rehabilitation, biomedical science, social work, and healthcare leadership. Students prepare for distinct careers while learning within a university dedicated exclusively to healthcare.
Across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs, students learn from experienced faculty and connect classroom education with the realities of healthcare practice. The college prepares graduates to improve health in the communities and healthcare systems they will serve.
Message from the Dean
Welcome to the College of Health Sciences at Samuel Merritt University!
It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I welcome you to our College. I am honored to serve as Dean and sincerely thank you for visiting us. Our mission goes beyond education—we prepare compassionate, ethical, and resilient healthcare professionals with the knowledge, clinical expertise, and leadership skills to make a lasting impact.
Through outstanding teaching, hands-on clinical experiences, innovation, and community engagement, we empower our students to meet the healthcare challenges of tomorrow. We are building an inclusive and collaborative environment where new ideas thrive, and excellence and compassion go hand in hand.
To our students, I encourage you to lead with curiosity and purpose. To our faculty, staff, and community partners, thank you for your dedication and partnership. Together, we are more than a college—we are a force for transformation in healthcare. I am honored to share this journey with you and look forward to all we will accomplish together.
Sathees B Chandra, PhD
Dean, College of Health Sciences
PROGRAMS
Explore our Health Sciences Programs
From patient care and rehabilitation to biomedical science and healthcare leadership, our programs prepare students for careers across a wide range of health professions.
#1
Best Career Prospects
#1 University in CA for post-grad jobs.
#1
Early-Career Salaries
Ranked #1 by Forbes for early-career salaries.
86%
Employers Prefer SMU
86% of employers prefer hiring SMU grads.
WHY SMU HEALTH SCIENCES
Interprofessional Education for Modern Healthcare.
At Samuel Merritt University, health sciences students prepare for distinct professions within a university dedicated to healthcare. Learning alongside people from other disciplines helps students see their own profession as part of a larger system of care.
Faculty bring current healthcare experience into the classroom, connecting what students learn with the work they are preparing to do. Graduates leave with the knowledge and judgment to take the next step in their chosen field.
Leadership & Featured Faculty
College of Health Sciences faculty bring experience across clinical care, rehabilitation, biomedical science, social work, and healthcare leadership. They help students connect classroom learning to healthcare practice while preparing them for careers across a wide range of health professions.
HANDS-ON LEARNING
Learn by Doing
Hands-on learning is central to an SMU education. Students gain experience in real-world healthcare settings throughout their programs, while SMU’s Health Sciences Simulation Center gives them a place to practice before entering patient care. One of the West’s most advanced healthcare simulation facilities, the HSSC helps students build their skills and clinical judgment in realistic healthcare environments.
CONTACT
Need more assistance?
Admission
Rosie Vazquez Mares
- Oakland
- rvazquezmares@samuelmerritt.edu
Admission
Hali Loyd
- Oakland
- hloyd@samuelmerritt.edu
Admission
Brent Dondalski
- Oakland
- bdondalski@samuelmerritt.edu
Admission
Siena Kutz
- Oakland
- skutz@samuelmerritt.edu
