University of Michigan

What you'll study

This master’s focuses on the core knowledge and practical skills used across diagnostic, intervention and treatment professions in contemporary healthcare. The curriculum typically blends coursework, applied labs and supervised clinical experiences to develop clinical reasoning, assessment techniques and evidence-based intervention planning.

• Core clinical sciences: advanced human anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology relevant to allied health practice, and pharmacology for non-prescribing clinicians.
• Diagnostic and assessment skills: clinical assessment methods, diagnostic imaging literacy, instrumentation and measurement, and outcome measurement selection and interpretation.
• Intervention and treatment approaches: rehabilitation principles, therapeutic modalities, client-centred intervention planning, and behaviour-change strategies across populations.
• Interprofessional practice and systems: team-based care, care coordination, healthcare delivery systems, and population health approaches that place allied health roles in context.
• Research and evidence-based practice: research methods, biostatistics, critical appraisal of literature, quality improvement, and translating evidence into practice.
• Professional development and ethics: clinical governance, professional ethics and legal issues, cultural competence, leadership and management skills specific to allied health settings.
• Practicum / clinical placements: sustained supervised placements in hospital, community or specialised settings, accompanied by reflective practice and competency assessment. Students typically complete an applied project or capstone that addresses a clinical, service delivery or quality-improvement question.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised bachelor’s degree, usually in an allied health, health sciences or closely related discipline. Relevant clinical experience is normally expected and strengthens an application, particularly for practice-focused placements.

• Academic background: undergraduate degree in fields such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, diagnostic radiography, speech–language pathology, respiratory therapy, clinical laboratory science or a related discipline.
• Prerequisites: foundational courses in human anatomy & physiology and an introductory statistics or research methods unit are commonly required; other preparatory coursework may be requested depending on the applicant’s background.
• Application materials: personal statement outlining clinical and professional goals, curriculum vitae, academic transcripts and professional references. International applicants will need to meet English language proficiency requirements.
• Selection considerations: admissions decisions are based on academic performance, clinical experience, fit with the programme’s aims and the availability of suitable placement supervision. Some applicants may be invited to interview.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a wide range of roles across acute, community and specialist settings. The programme prepares students to advance clinical practice, take on leadership and management roles, or transition into education and research pathways.

• Clinical advanced practice: senior clinician roles, specialist practitioner posts, advanced assessment and diagnostic roles within hospitals and community services.
• Rehabilitation and community services: team leads and coordinators in rehabilitation units, community health programmes and long-term care services.
• Diagnostics and technical roles: advanced positions in diagnostic imaging, clinical physiology, laboratory management and other technical allied health services.
• Leadership, management and education: service development, clinical governance, education and training roles within health services and universities.
• Research and further study: opportunities to progress to doctoral study or to work on clinical research and quality-improvement initiatives in partnership with hospital systems.

Why study at University of Michigan

The University of Michigan offers this programme within a research-intensive environment closely linked to Michigan Medicine and other health partners, providing access to diverse clinical placements and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students benefit from experienced faculty who combine clinical practice with research, well‑equipped simulation and teaching facilities, and structured support for professional development and career planning.

• Clinical partnerships: strong connections with hospitals and community providers that support supervised placements and applied projects.
• Interprofessional learning: opportunities to learn alongside students from medicine, nursing, public health and other allied professions to mirror real-world team practice.
• Research and innovation: access to research centres and translational projects that enable students to engage with evidence-generation and service improvement.
• Career support: dedicated career services, networking events and alumni links that help graduates move into advanced clinical roles or further study.