Samuel Merritt University (SMU) is a private university focused on

health sciences The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to health sciences: Health sciences are those sciences which focus on health, or health care, as core parts of their subject matter. Health sciences relate to multiple acad ...

and located on the Summit campus of the

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Sutter Health Alta Bates Summit Medical Center is located in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. Its three hospital campuses are located in Berkeley (Alta Bates Campus, Herrick Campus) and Oakland (Summit Campus). Alta Bates Summit is a ...

Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...

. It was an affiliate of the Sutter Health Network and

until becoming a wholly independent institution in January, 2022, upon its disaffiliation from Sutter Health. It is the only provider of physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician assistants and is the largest source of nurses in the greater

East Bay The East Bay is the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area and includes cities along the eastern shores of the San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay. The region has grown to include inland communities in Alameda and Contra Costa countie ...

. Formerly known as Samuel Merritt College, it was founded in 1909 as a hospital school of nursing.

History

Samuel Merritt University was founded in 1909 through the legacy of Dr.

Samuel Merritt Dr Samuel Merritt (1822–1890) was a physician and the 13th mayor of Oakland, California, from 1867–1869. He was a founding Regent of the University of California, 1868-1874. He was also a shipmaster and a very successful businessman; he di ...

. In recent years, Samuel Merritt has increased its enrollment from 146 to over 2,000 graduate and undergraduate students and added new programs in the health sciences. The Intercollegiate Nursing Program with Saint Mary's was established in 1981. Samuel Merritt College established the entry-level Master of

Physical Therapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patient ...

in 1990, the Master of

Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy (OT) is a global healthcare profession. It involves the use of assessment and intervention to develop, recover, or maintain the meaningful activities, or ''occupations'', of individuals, groups, or communities. The field of ...

in 1992. The College also offers a Master of Science in Nursing three advanced nursing specialties: Case Management, Family nurse practitioner (FNP), and Nurse Anesthesia (CRNA). In 2005, the department of Physical Therapy graduated its first Doctor of Physical Therapy class. The university started the Master Physician Assistant program in 1999, the first entry-level graduate program for physician assistants in California, and in 2002 established the California School of Podiatric Medicine Samuel Merritt University is listed as "unranked" by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking.

Academics

Programs

SMU is a university dedicated to health sciences. Most of the university's programs are at the graduate level; however, the College of Nursing offers two bachelor's degree programs. Podiatric medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nursing practice are all offered at the doctoral level while the physician assistant program is offered at the master's level. The university's average graduation rate is 95 percent and student scores on licensure pass rates are 90 percent or above for first-time test takers in six programs.

Accreditation

The university is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and its programs are accredited by their corresponding accreditation bodies.

References

External links

* {{authority control Educational institutions established in 1909 Education in Oakland, California Nursing schools in California Podiatric medical schools in the United States Universities and colleges in Alameda County, California Schools accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges 1909 establishments in California Private universities and colleges in California