Jul 13, 2015 3 min read

California University of Pennsylvania will offer the first-ever doctorate program at the 160-year-old school.

The doctor of health science degree with a focus on health science and exercise leadership is also the first of its kind available within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s 14 universities.

Graduates of the 50-credit program, to begin in the spring 2016 semester, will be educated to work in physical and occupational therapy, exercise physiology, athletic training, rehabilitation science and other allied health care positions.

The degree was approved Thursday by the 20-member system board of governors, comprised of Gov. Tom Wolf, governor-nominated members, legislators and students.

“Health care is a very big field right now,” said Kenn Marshall, spokesman for the st?ate system.

Marshall said that many of the 16 new programs approved Thursday are in the fields of health care as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“One part of the proposal is determining there is a need and interest among students,” said Cal U. spokeswoman Christine Kindl. “There is a good deal of research and looking at similar programs so we are not simply duplicating.”

The university has had success with its bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in exercise science, as measured by the number of applications received, graduation rate and the ability of graduates to obtain work in their field.

When universities seek new program approval, they must show projections for the number of jobs available in the field in which they want to build a program.

“You have to prove there is a valid need,” Marshall said.

The Center for Workforce Information and Data Analysis projects almost 10,000 new health science jobs being added in the state by 2022. Across the country, more than 1 million new health-related jobs are anticipated.

“There is a growing demand for highly qualified health care professionals as our population ages and the health care system shifts its focus from treating disease to promoting wellness and fitness,” said Dr. Bruce Barnhart, acting provost and vice president of Cal U. academic affairs in a statement. “This program addresses that demand.”

Courses in the three-year program will be taught by Cal U. faculty through the university’s Global Online office.

“It’s for working people and folks who want to fit a college education with whatever is going on in their lives,” Kindl said.

According to Marshall, online education continues to grow across the state. He said that Cal U. has one of the broadest offerings of online programs of the 14 universities.