Saint Joseph's University prepares educators, healthcare professionals and industry leaders to create positive change in their communities. Our curriculum embraces social justice and immerses students in the community, inspiring them to serve and uplift whole individuals and families.
We believe that education and health are at the heart of individual and community advancement. Careers in these sectors are more than jobs, they are driven by passion and purpose. Our programs challenge students to embrace the Jesuit concept of cura personalis — care for the whole person — in their professions, in the way that they serve students, patients, clients and communities.
The School of Health Studies and Education offers undergraduate majors and minors, certificates and graduate degrees, and degree completion for adult learners. Many of our programs offer a path to professional certification. We encourage you to explore your interests by adding a double major, combining courses across schools, or choosing a 4+1 bachelor’s/master’s combined degree program.
In the School of Health Studies and Education, we encourage students to understand themselves as reflective practitioners in the context of a global community and to develop collaborative skills through inter-professional experiences. Using the resources available within Saint Joseph University’s unique urban and suburban environment, students engage in real world experiences through service learning, internships and clinical practice.
Angela McDonald, PhD, LPCS, NCC
Dean, School of Health Studies and Education
The Doctor of Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) and certification program prepares transformational leaders across K-12, higher education and social sector fields who are committed to equity-oriented change.
The program’s coursework integrates theory and scholarship with practice, thereby highlighting the value of developing transformational scholar-practitioners who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to adapt to problems in real-world contexts.
The School of Health Studies and Education faculty members are distinguished scholars, educators, health practitioners and mentors who work closely with students to create engaged programs of study. They are dedicated to providing transformative experiences through nationally recognized academic programs that combine faculty-led instruction with real-world experiences.
In both education and health programs, field work is just as important to building skills as classroom instruction. From student teaching to clinical training and research, the School of Health Studies and Education provides opportunities for students to create a well-rounded educational experience.
A requirement for undergraduate and graduate education students seeking certification, field experiences allow teacher candidates to make explicit connections with course content and promote an understanding of students' cognitive development, motivation and learning styles.
The office of health professions advising works with students interested in pursuing graduate school in health. Part of this advising involves helping students find placement for necessary clinical hours at nearby hospitals and care facilities.
The summer scholars program provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to engage in “full time” research, creative writing, and fine and performing arts projects endeavors under the guidance of faculty mentors during the summer months.
The Alliance for Catholic Education at Saint Joseph’s University (ACESJU), is an innovative two-year service program that provides recent college graduates the opportunity to serve as full-time teachers and administrators in under-resourced Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Diocese of Camden while pursuing a master’s degree.
Through special partnership agreements with local universities, students can complete a Saint Joseph's education while getting a head-start in their health careers.
Through the Kinney Center, you can work with children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families to help them navigate their health and education needs. In the Kinney SCHOLARS program, aspiring education and health professionals provide one-on-one support to the individuals with autism who participate in Kinney's youth, transitional and adult programs.
SJU was integral in my social, spiritual and professional formation. Through the Jesuit values and the teachings of Saint Ignatius, I realized what it truly means to be a woman with and for others while discovering my passions and navigating the path to my vocation."
Saint Joseph's is all about serving the communities I’m from. There is something about the Jesuit education — the focus on social justice, making an impact and empowerment — that I felt fit my passion to create or cause change in the community."
My health studies classes helped me understand a different aspect of health care. Not only did I receive the scientific and anatomical education I needed, but I also learned about health disparities, healthcare ethics and the psychosocial aspects of health conditions. Those courses are the ones that I truly believe will help me become a more well-rounded health professional."
