Career Paths

Health Science, Sports Medicine and Athletic Training

Unlimited Horizons 

The programs offered in the Department of Health Sciences offer unlimited horizons for graduate and professional school entry and for immediate employment. We have a strong record of placement in graduate and professional schools and employment. The US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts large growth in healthcare practitioner employment from 2002-2012. The 10 predicted fastest growing occupations with largest job growth include physician assistants and registered nurses. The biotechnology industry in New England is another large source of job growth. Our program is ideally positioned to feed students into graduate programs in these areas, in which graduate degrees are becoming the norm.

Recent graduates have entered advanced degree programs in many fields and engage in clinical practice as physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, physical therapists, athletic trainers, public health professionals, clinical laboratory technologists/scientists.  Merrimack College students enjoy an unique opportunity via two special articulation agreements with the School of Health Sciences at Simmons College in Boston to earn preferred admission to the Simmons for post-graduate work (see below for details).  Many pursue research careers in clinical laboratories, in biotechnology and in biomedical and clinical research. Others are employed in education and in the health and fitness field. 

Data collected from 2002-2007 for Health Sciences Department graduates with degrees in Health Science, Sports Medicine and Athletic Training, whose career paths are known, indicate that: 

• 47% entered clinical graduate programs (MD, DO, RN, NP, PA, PT, MPH, etc.) 
• 31% entered graduate degree programs in science (MS, MA, Ph.D., Ed.D.)
• 21% directly entered the workforce in research and clinical laboratories and biotechnology 

Our students have been accepted to many prestigious graduate and professional schools, including:     
    Barry University, Bryant College, Boston College, Boston University, California State University, Cornell University, Curry College, Drexel University, Fairfield University, Franklin Pierce University, Gardner-Webb University, George Washington University, Lesley University, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, New England College of Optometry, New York Medical College, New York Institute of Technology, North Carolina State University, Northeastern University, Palmer College of Chiropractic Medicine, Regis College, Queen’s University, Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University, Salem State College, Seton Hall University, Simmons College School of Health Studies, Southern New Hampshire University, Springfield College, Stony Brook University-SUNY, Syracuse University, Tufts University, University of California at Pennsylvania, University of Florida, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Worcester, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, University of Medicine and Dentistry-NJ, University of New England, University of New Haven, University of Rhode Island, University of Tennessee, University of Utah, University of Vermont, University of Western Michigan, West Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Our students have also been employed at several academic, clinical and industrial settings, including:     
    Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Essex Orthopedics, Saints Memorial Medical Center, Southwest Vermont Health Care Center, University of Chicago Hospitals, Boston College, Bridgewater State College, Belmont High School, Lesley University, Merrimack College, North Andover Public Schools, Timberlane High School, Wilmington High School, Amgen Pharmaceutical Company, High Performance Training Center, Interleukin Genetics, Interpolymer Corporation, New England Revolution, Quest Diagnostics, Tufts Medical Center, United States Navy, Wyeth Bio Pharma. 

Simmons College Articulation Agreement

Merrimack College offers students a unique opportunity via two special articulation agreements with the School of Health Sciences (www.simmons.edu/shs) at Simmons College in Boston. These agreements are designed for students seeking advanced degrees in nursing or physical therapy. No specific undergraduate major is required to apply via one of these agreements, but specific criteria must be met as delineated in the agreement. Students not meeting the requirements of the agreement may still apply and will be considered as part of the regular applicant pool. Only on-time and complete applicants will be considered for such agreements.

Although Simmons College is an all-female institution at the undergraduate level, the School of Health Sciences is a coeducational graduate school and thus men and women at Merrimack College are eligible to apply.

A maximum of four students for each agreement will be selected each year.

Students who have no background in nursing but who will have earned a baccalaureate degree at Merrimack College and who are interested in pursuing a Master of Science degree in nursing, an advanced practice curriculum leading to NP (Nurse Practitioner) status ,may consider the Direct Entry (DE) program. The DE program is a three year, full-time program affording the opportunity for students to earn three credentials: the R.N. (registered nurse license), the M.S. (Master of Science) and N.P. (Nurse Practitioner certification).

Merrimack students interested in graduate studies in physical therapy may consider the DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) program which is also a three year, full-time course of study. Students complete advanced human anatomy at the Harvard Medical School and the ratio of student to preceptor (supervisor at clinical sites) is 1:1. Students begin PT observation in a health care setting the first semester of their graduate program.

For the DE agreement, providing students meet the criteria, the School of Health Sciences will waive the application fee and candidates will receive preferred admission and will not compete with the rest of the applicant pool. Students are automatically considered for but not guaranteed a scholarship. The GRE is not required for application to this program.

For the DPT agreement, providing candidates have met the stipulated criteria, the School of Health Sciences will waive the application fee for the School of Health Sciences Supplemental Application fee, (the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) does not waive their application fee for such agreements) ,the GRE and guarantee an interview (which is typically by invitation only). All students are automatically considered for, but mot guaranteed, a scholarship. Potential applicants should contact the School of Health Sciences regarding the application process at 617-521-2605 or shs@simmons.edu. Students requiring information about the nursing program should call the Nursing Department at 617-521-2141 or for information about the physical therapy program, they should call the Physical Therapy Department at 617-521-2635. At Merrimack College, contact the Department of Health Sciences for details. Email: Kathleen FitzPatrick