Why Study at Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College?

The University

Boston University, the fourth-largest independent university in the United States, is a hub of intellectual, scientific, and cultural activity. With more than 2,500 faculty members and 28,000 students, it embodies the ideal of a research university—that an education is best acquired in the pursuit of new knowledge, and that undergraduate and graduate students benefit by learning from those who are actively engaged in essential research.

The University traces its roots to a school founded in Vermont in 1839, which moved to Boston in 1867, becoming the first American university to be modeled on the European system. Today, the University retains its dual character: Yankee independence combined with a cosmopolitan outlook. Within the University, 17 schools and colleges offer a total of more than 250 degree programs. Academic departments and research institutes serve as small communities for students and scholars, who also participate fully in the excitement and variety of the larger University community.

BU is coeducational and nonsectarian. Its campus stretches over 71 acres from the historic Back Bay section of Boston westward along the south bank of the Charles River. From the townhouses of Bay State Road to state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms, and from peaceful parks and esplanades to the city life of Commonwealth Avenue, the University offers a clean, safe, and attractive environment in which to live and study. A separate medical campus in the South End of Boston is home to world-renowned medical researchers and academic physicians.

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Founded by a group of Methodist lay leaders, BU has always been strongly committed to equality in opportunity, without regard to race, color, creed, sex, or national origin. It was the first institution of higher education in Massachusetts to grant degrees to women, and it graduated the first African-American woman MD and the first woman PhD. It stood nearly alone in its early years when it opened its doors to African-Americans and international students. That commitment continues today within the student body and the faculty.

The University is a progressive, recognized innovator in health care, science, engineering, communications, management, and education. BU has initiated accelerated programs in liberal arts/medical education, liberal arts/dental education, and liberal arts/law education. Numerous interdisciplinary programs offer broad possibilities for combining career goals and personal interests.

BU is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Individual schools and programs are accredited by other professional associations. Please see school bulletins.

An urban institution from the start, BU has always recognized that its future is linked with the future of its city. The University supports programs that promote the well-being of Boston’s citizens and improve its environment.

Other Schools and Colleges of Boston University

From innovative, two-year, basic study programs to its world-famous graduate schools, Boston University offers a student at any academic juncture a wide variety of options. The other schools and colleges of Boston University are listed below. If you would like further details regarding any program of the University, write to Boston University Graduate Programs, P.O. Box 886, or Boston University Undergraduate Programs, P.O. Box 887, Boston, MA 02215.

College of Arts & Sciences
College of Communication
School of Education
College of Engineering
College of Fine Arts
College of General Studies
Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
School of Hospitality Administration
School of Law
School of Management
School of Medicine
Metropolitan College
School of Public Health
School of Social Work
School of Theology

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Summer Term

The BU Summer Term runs two six-week academic sessions and one twelve-week academic session each summer. Over 600 courses and special programs from the University’s many schools and colleges are offered. Summer Term helps serve the needs of all qualified Boston-area students, including those continuing at BU.

You can visit the Summer Term website at www.bu.edu/summer for course listings, registration procedures, and helpful information for summer students. For more information, please call the Summer Term Office at 617-353-5124 or send an e-mail to summer@bu.edu.

International Graduate Programs

Boston University’s Metropolitan College runs graduate degree programs overseas. The Master of Science in Management (MSM) and the Master of Science (MS) in Administrative Studies are offered in Brussels, Belgium.

The City

Boston is rich in history, old-world charm, and modern vitality.
Home to more than 60 colleges and universities, it is an intellectual and cultural center diverse in its people and stimulating in its opportunities, yet at the same time relaxed
and accessible.

Boston is New England‘s largest city and the site of many significant events in early American Colonial and Revolutionary history. Much of that early flavor remains today in the cobbled streets, historic landmarks that bring alive Paul Revere’s ride and the Boston Tea Party, and in the Federalist row houses on Beacon Hill. A historic seaport that grew to prominence in the days of trade with China and the whaling industry, the city maintains a thriving and picturesque waterfront. The New England Aquarium, one of the best in the world, shares the harborside with sightseeing cruise ships, New England fishermen unloading their catches, international cargo traffic, and the USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides.” Here, historic treasures mix with contemporary skyscrapers, evidence of the city’s thriving business and financial community and its leading role in research and technology.

Boston University is ideally situated for you to enjoy both the charm and beauty of the city and its cultural and recreational attractions. The campus stretches along the banks of the Charles River, where boating, canoeing, jogging, and sunbathing are popular, yet it is only minutes from the downtown theatre, shopping, government, and financial districts. A short ride on the streetcar brings you to the elegant shops of Copley Square, the sporting events at the TD Garden, or the endless diversions of Faneuil Hall Market Place. The city’s rich cultural and ethnic mix can be seen in its varied neighborhoods—the North End boasts superb Italian cuisine, Chinatown has a wealth of restaurants, and smaller enclaves offer Portuguese, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, and Jewish cuisine. This is, of course, in addition to the world-class pizzas, tacos, and other fast foods necessary to student survival.

Boston is the home of the world-famous Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, and wonderful music from opera to rock, jazz, and reggae. Many dance and theatre groups perform regularly, and students can also take in the many performances at the Boston University College of Fine Arts and the highly acclaimed resident Huntington Theatre Company. Dozens of museums include the world-renowned Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. Galleries intermingle with elegant boutiques on Newbury Street. Visitors can also participate in a variety of interactive exhibits at the Museum of Science and Chlidren’s Museum.

Famously enthusiastic about its professional sports teams, Boston roots for the Red Sox, the New England Patriots, the Celtics, and the Bruins; each April, the Boston Marathon passes through the Boston University campus.

Beaches to the north and south, including the famous shores of Cape Cod, are within easy reach by car or bus. For the hiker or skier, the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont are a few hours’ drive, as are the many picturesque areas of Maine.

A great place to study, work, or relax, Boston is consistently voted one of the most desirable U.S. cities in which to live; few in the world can offer you so much!

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Our Clinical Core

Clinical settings and hands-on experience are part of all our clinical graduate programs of study as we educate our students to become highly skilled professional practitioners. With more than 1,400 clinical affiliations, we have one of the most extensive clinical networks of any university in the United States and more than twice the number of clinical options offered by other graduate programs in major northeastern cities. Our affiliations include centers throughout the U.S. and overseas. Knowing the importance of the clinical experience to your success, full-time faculty work to match you with the clinical placement that best suits you. Many of the faculty members at BU Sargent College are practicing clinicians who bring real-world experience into the classroom, and BU Sargent College also runs various clinical centers that provide student training.

Our Research

From studying effective rehabilitation for people with Parkinson’s disease to understanding why skeletal muscle atrophy occurs, the faculty of BU Sargent College are active researchers as well as instructors. They know that to be an effective evidence-based practitioner, you need to be able to interpret and apply the results of research in diagnosing and treating patients. In fact, the College secured $8 million this year for its research projects from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education. There are over twenty research laboratories at BU Sargent College and faculty research specializations include child language disorders, ergonomics, autism, sports-related injuries, and cerebral palsy. On a daily basis, our students work side-by-side with the faculty who are doing the research to lay the foundations for evidence-based practices for the health and rehabilitation sciences professions.

Our Facilities

BU Sargent College houses all of our programs in health and rehabilitation sciences in one state-of-the-art building in the heart of the BU campus and minutes away from downtown Boston and the Boston medical community. This distinctive, interdisciplinary environment is unlike any other and enables those from all disciplines of health and rehabilitation sciences to work together on teaching and research projects. Our environment reflects the direction of future health care management, which requires professionals from many disciplines to work together to effectively treat patients. Having our building on campus also means students experience a small-college feel and also benefit from the resources of a large university.

Specialized research and teaching laboratories are located throughout the building at 635 Commonwealth Avenue. Faculty members in Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences conduct research and teach in the Infant Speech Perception Laboratory, the Psychoacoustics Laboratory, the Language Science and Speech Perception laboratories, and the Speech & Hearing Teaching Laboratory.

Students of health sciences learn how to conduct health evaluations such as cardiovascular fitness tests, dietary analysis, and body composition tests in the Clinical Centers’ Fitness Evaluation Program. The Fitness Evaluation Program, staffed by faculty members and graduate students, provides comprehensive fitness analysis and prescriptions. Other on-site research and teaching facilities include the Muscle Physiology Laboratory, the Neuromicroscopy Laboratory, the Muscle Metabolism Laboratory, and the Human Physiology Laboratory for Exercise, Metabolism & Aging.

The Physical Therapy Programs have five research laboratories for the study of human movement. Students and faculty are conducting research into movement disorders such as those found in Parkinson’s disease, stroke, cerebral palsy, and other neuromotor diseases.

The Occupational Therapy Programs have designated teaching laboratories, the Goode Assessment Library, as well as faculty research laboratories.

Graduate students have access to research and training opportunities through the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, a federally funded research and training center and a World Health Organization collaborating center.

A multiservice outpatient clinic in the building allows students to learn health care techniques from faculty clinicians. Observation rooms with two-way mirrors and digital video recording equipment are located throughout the clinic, providing an atmosphere for learning that does not interfere with treatment.

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BU Sargent College Clinical Centers

BU Sargent College Clinical Centers are licensed, fee-for-service facilities offering a wide range of services to BU students, faculty, staff, and the greater Boston community. The centers include speech-language pathology, audiology, vocational rehabilitation, physical therapy, nutrition and fitness, and athletic enhancement. Comprehensive cardiovascular fitness testing is also offered through the Fitness Evaluation Center. The centers, staffed by certified clinicians, are fully equipped with evaluative and treatment equipment and individual treatment rooms. Students can develop their skills in a supervised, on-campus setting, participate as Work-Study aides, and collaborate with faculty on research projects.

• BU Physical Therapy (Ryan) Center for
  Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
  
• Athletic Enhancement Center
  
• Nutrition & Fitness Center
  
• Speech, Language & Hearing Center
  
• Aphasia Community Resource Center

Learning and Research Centers

The George K. Makechnie Study Center (MSC)

Recently renovated, the MSC is a support facility that provides media production resources for students and faculty as well as a state-of-the-art computer laboratory available for student use. The MSC is most importantly a study center for the students of BU Sargent College. This benefits the students tremendously as they often work together in small group study settings. Through the production of audiovisual and digital materials, the MSC supports and enhances teaching, learning, and research in the health and rehabilitation fields. Resources available in the center include a video-editing suite, media-viewing facilities, 11 computer workstations, 4 study rooms, 55 seats, and an additional larger seminar and group work room. Internet and power connections for laptops are available throughout the center. The MSC also provides classroom media and technical support as well as instruction to the BU Sargent College community.

Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation was founded in response to the need for knowledge about the successful rehabilitation of psychiatric disabilities. The center, the first of its kind in the country, is jointly funded by the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the National Institute of Mental Health and is a World Health Organization collaborating center. The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation’s staff studies the effectiveness of various mental health and rehabilitation treatment methods; on the basis of this research, the center develops new psychiatric rehabilitation training programs for professionals offering mental health services.

Center for Neurorehabilitation

The Center for Neurorehabilitation includes a team of researchers and clinicians with expertise in rehabilitation and movement science. The center conducts research, clinical, and educational activities with the goal of directly improving the quality of rehabilitation provided to those with neurological disorders. The center offers physical therapy services for people with Parkinson’s and other neurological problems.

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Aphasia Community Resource Center

The Aphasia Community Resource Center provides a supportive environment in which those living with aphasia, their families, and their friends can share experiences. The center offers recreational and educational resources, informs members about local and national resources, and educates the broader Boston community with information about aphasia and related disorders.

BU Athletic Enhancement Center (BUAEC)

The Northeast’s most complete athlete development facility, BUAEC integrates strength and conditioning, sports medicine, sport psychology, and nutritional education in programs to help youth, high school, and adult athletes achieve their goals. Programs are designed to increase strength, power, energy, coordination, flexibility, and mental toughness, resulting in athletes who are stronger, quicker, and at a lesser risk for injury.

BU Physical Therapy (Ryan) Center for Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation (BUPTC)

Since 1991, BUPTC has been the provider of choice for thousands of patients throughout the greater Boston area and has developed a reputation for clinical excellence. The center’s services combine the highest level of clinical expertise with the most advanced rehabilitation techniques.

BUPTC’s program focuses on maximizing patients’ level of physical function and activity. Highly experienced physical therapists provide comprehensive treatment programs customized to improve strength, endurance, and mobility.

Each treatment program begins with an extensive evaluation that allows the patient to receive a personalized treatment program. BUPTC’s therapists also develop extensive home programs that reinforce long-term strategies, allowing patients to maintain gains made at the clinic and prevent future problems.

Nutrition & Fitness Center (NFC)

The NFC is staffed by three full-time registered dietitians, graduate student employees, a rotating team of dietetic interns, and undergraduate student volunteers. The NFC provides a variety of services to the BU community and the general public in many specialty areas, including:

• Risk-factor management (weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes)
• Eating disorders and disordered eating
• Sports nutrition

The following NFC programs provide excellent learning opportunities for graduate nutrition students:

1. Individual and group nutrition counseling
2. Weight-Loss Essentials
3. Sargent Choice Healthy Dining Program
4. Nutrition courses for non-nutrition majors
   • Healthy Dieting
   • Sports Nutrition
   • Vegetarian Nutrition

Departments

• Health Sciences
  (Applied Anatomy & Physiology, and Nutrition)
  
• Occupational Therapy
  
• Physical Therapy & Athletic Training
  
• Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
  (Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology)

Administration

Dean
Professor of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
Gloria S. Waters, BA, MA, PhD

Associate Dean
Associate Professor of Speech,
Language & Hearing Sciences
Melanie L. Matthies, BA, MS, PhD

Administrator, Graduate Financial Aid
Janet Turner

Director, Student Services
Sharon Sankey, BA, EdM

Acting Chair, Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training; Associate Professor of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training
Wendy J. Coster, NA, MSOT, PhD

Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy;
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Wendy J. Coster, BA, MSOT, PhD

Chair, Department of Health Sciences
Professor of Health Sciences
Kathleen Morgan, BS, PhD

Chair, Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences; Associate Professor of Speech, Language
& Hearing Sciences
Melanie L. Matthies, BS, MS, PhD

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215

19 November 2009
Boston University
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