Although officially established in 1971, the College of Health Professions can trace its roots back to 1924 when the College of Medicine’s Department of Pathology initially offered a program in medical technology. Later, UAMS developed and offered programs in radiologic technology, dental hygiene and biomedical instrumentation technology and surgical technology through different colleges and programs. In 1971, those existing allied health programs united to form a new college, today’s UAMS College of Health Professions.
In 2025, the college is the academic home of 14 allied health programs making it the most comprehensive allied health college in Arkansas. It runs three patient care clinics where, under the direct supervision of licensed faculty, students provide low-cost care to the community. Annually, more than 450 patients receive services in the Audiology Clinic, over 180 clients participate in nearly 2,400 therapy sessions in the Speech Clinic, and over 4,400 patients receive oral health care in the Dental Hygiene Clinic.
Over the past several years, the college has experienced dramatic growth in student enrollment. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the College of Health Professions accounts for 47% (1,641/3,485) of all students enrolled at UAMS and for about 56% (189/339) of the student enrollment at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville.
Seven of the college’s programs offer baccalaureate degrees, five offer master’s degrees, and three award doctoral degrees. With practical experience being paramount in health professions education, the college maintains over 700 clinical affiliation agreements with institutions across Arkansas and the region.
The UAMS College of Health Professions departments and programs, along with the degrees they offer, are:
- Audiology (doctorate)
- Cytotechnology (bachelor’s)
- Dental Hygiene (bachelor’s)
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography (bachelor’s)
- Dietetics (master’s)
- Genetic Counseling (master’s)
- Medical Laboratory Science (bachelor’s)
- Nuclear Medicine Imaging (bachelor’s)
- Occupational Therapy (doctorate)
- Physician Assistant (master’s)
- Physical Therapy (doctorate)
- Radiologic Imaging (bachelor’s)
- Respiratory Care (bachelor’s and master’s)
- Speech Pathology (master’s)