Graduate Programs, College of Health Science

The Elkhart Center is the center for graduate professional education, labs, and Interprofessional Practice & Education (IPE). Having the graduate students together at the Elkhart Center promotes collaboration, collegiality and professional development, a vital foundation to fostering life-long learning, improving patient/family outcomes in the field of healthcare and supporting the Michiana region, specifically in the Elkhart-South Bend area needs for these highly trained professionals.

The IU South Bend Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences’ School of Nursing has moved its first advanced health science graduate program – the Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program – to the Elkhart Center. Classes began for these advance nurses in fall of 2018. The director of the MSN Program is Caitlin Vlaeminck, MSN, FNP-BC. With a newly restructured assessment lab, MSN students will launch their clinical journey in a simulated clinic setting and gain the necessary advanced assessment skills for clinical practice. The School of Nursing is excited to add the Masters of Science in Nursing Education and Nursing Administration tracks. Additional information can be found at: https://healthscience.iusb.edu/nursing/degree-programs/graduate-program/index.html

Indiana University South Bend is planning to offer two new graduate degrees; the Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.

• The MS in Speech-Language Pathology is an applicant for candidacy by the Council on Accreditation of Academic Programs in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.  The director of the Speech Language Pathology program is Jennifer Essig, MA, CCC-SLP. For more details and progress toward the accreditation process interested students should visit: https://healthscience.iusb.edu/speech-pathology/index.html
• The MS in Occupational Therapy program has applied for candidacy status from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The director of the Occupational Therapy program is Sharon Pape, OTD, MS, OTR, FNAP. Additional information can be found at: https://healthscience.iusb.edu/occupational-therapy/index.html