Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are becoming increasingly crucial in healthcare. Faced with an aging population, the rise of chronic diseases, and the demand for accessible, high-quality care, FNPs are at the forefront of addressing these challenges. The FNP Certificate program focuses on providing comprehensive training for MSN-prepared nurses. The FNP Certificate curriculum enables nurses to quickly adapt to the dynamic needs of the healthcare environment, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge to make a significant impact on patient lives and the broader healthcare community.

As a PMHNP, you will be able to assess, diagnose, and care for simple and complex psychiatric medical issues, ensuring that patients and their families receive the sensitive and trauma-informed medical attention they require. As an independent member of the healthcare team, the PMHNP provides a variety of evidence-based services and therapies, as well as the possibility to influence policymaking to improve quality and safety in mental health care. You will be prepared to manage psychiatric mental health disorders, organic brain disorders, substance abuse problems, and complex co-occurring

If you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree in another field and wish to pursue a career in nursing, SMU’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program may be right for you. The fast-track format was designed to build upon your previous learning and professional experience, allowing you to complete your BSN in just about 12 months. 

Earn a Bachelor of Health Sciences and join the high-demand health and wellness sector, where career opportunities are growing dramatically.

Our program is designed for students who have already completed most of their lower-division coursework. Adult students who have healthcare work experience and are looking to complete their undergraduate degree are highly encouraged to apply. 

Our unique curriculum begins with an exploration of the U.S. healthcare system and the variety of careers contained within. Students will take some courses that serve as prerequisites for many graduate degrees in

Our two-year nursing program is designed for students who have completed their general education and prerequisite courses at another institution. So when you begin at SMU, you’ll be ready to participate in hands-on learning experiences sooner. Your clinical courses will take you into hospital and community settings, giving you plenty of opportunities to put theory into practice.

Nurses with bachelor’s degrees often have higher earning potential than their counterparts with associate’s degrees. As demand for nurse leaders continues to rise, a BSN could make you more desirable for supervisory roles and other increased responsibilities. 

Created for Working Nurses

Our 20-month program allows you to earn your degree part-time while also maintaining your career. As a current nurse, you already have a solid foundation, and you’ll be able to use your previous academic and professional experience as you continue your education. 

In our BSN program, you’ll deepen your knowledge

The Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN) program is designed for those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and seek to shift careers or pursue a new academic goal. Currently, there are two career paths for ELMSN students: Case Management (CM) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).

The Case Management option prepares professional nurses to practice in a variety of healthcare settings. Graduates will build on their varied academic and experiential backgrounds to provide nursing care with an interdisciplinary case management focus. Strong advocacy, decision

The ELMSN program is designed for those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and seek to shift careers or pursue a new academic goal. Currently, SMU offers two career training paths for ELMSN students: Family Nurse Practitioner and Case Management. Family nurse practitioners provide primary care across a patient's life span, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, and management of health problems. Nurse practitioners work in a variety of clinical settings, including outpatient clinics, ambulatory care settings, emergency departments

Health services management is about getting things accomplished and the practical application of cutting-edge administrative knowledge to improve the access and delivery of healthcare. The Master of Health Administration (MHA) at Samuel Merritt University brings together people from all over the world who are committed to improving healthcare with innovative ideas that respond to their specific contexts and needs, as well as learning how to navigate the international healthcare system. Our graduates are equipped to make a difference locally and globally.  

Why SMU?  

Our MHA is more than a

Occupational therapists make a significant and positive impact on the quality of life of their clients. In this incredibly rewarding career, you provide services to people of all ages with sensory, cognitive, psychological, and physical difficulties—helping them to develop or regain important life skills. This might mean helping an individual learn to live and thrive independently or assisting someone to return to their daily routine after an injury or surgery.

SMU’s entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) programs focus on working with the

Samuel Merritt University’s Master of Science in Nursing program offers a case management track (MSN-CM). This specialty is ideal for nurses who would like to advance into a leadership position or focus on improving care delivery at the individual, family, or population level.

Nurses specializing in case management help guide patients and their families or caregivers to find and access the most optimal and affordable treatment plan. This process often includes educating patients about their conditions and helping them navigate the healthcare system. Case managers also advocate for their

The Master of Science in Nursing – Clinical Leadership Education (MSN-CLE) program is designed to address the national nursing shortage and meet the urgent need for graduate-prepared nursing faculty across the United States. This program elevates clinical leadership expertise and informatics knowledge for practicing nurses throughout all settings.  

As a master’s-prepared nurse, you will be at the forefront of technological advancements in nursing education to include best practices in wellness, unitary caring science, curriculum development, learning assessment, simulation, and virtual reality

In a healthcare landscape that is continuously evolving, the significance of MSN-FNPs is increasingly vital. As healthcare faces challenges such as an aging population, rising chronic diseases, and the need for accessible, high-quality care, MSN-FNPs are instrumental in navigating this transformation. Their comprehensive training equips them to address these challenges effectively, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare. MSN-FNPs blend clinical expertise with a nuanced understanding of patient and healthcare system needs, positioning them to drive innovative care models and

BLOGS

The SMU Master of Social Work (MSW) program provides students comprehensive training to become integrated health, behavioral health, and medical social workers.  

This is a three-year, extended, hybrid (online and campus-based) program. It is the goal of the program to draw a student body from the extensive cultural, ethnic, and social diversity of the Bay Area and California at large, who have experiences of living, coping, and thriving amid the sociopolitical complexities surrounding the delivery of health services. 

Samuel Merritt University received a $1,487,750 three-year grant from

Mission Statement: The Master Physician Assistant Department at Samuel Merritt University strives to serve the University and the medical community by preparing graduates who are interdependent medical providers, demonstrate commitment to the community and the profession through active leadership, manifest critical and creative thinking, utilize effective communication skills, and possess the educational foundation for continued growth and development in a changing world of diverse cultures.

Program Learning Outcomes: All graduates of the SMU PA Program are expected to demonstrate proficiency

At Samuel Merritt University, we are committed to shaping the future of podiatric medicine through comprehensive education, hands-on experience, and a specialized curriculum tailored to graduates of medical and dental programs in the U.S., Canada, and further abroad. The Bridge to Podiatric Residency (BPR) program encompasses a range of courses and rotations to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills required to become a podiatrist.   

Join the Next Generation of Podiatrists 

Are you seeking a medical career that offers great work-life flexibility? Do you want to become a surgeon? Consider

In an era where the landscape of healthcare is rapidly evolving, the role of DNP-FNPs has never been more crucial. As healthcare systems grapple with complex challenges such as an aging population, increased prevalence of chronic diseases, and a pressing need for accessible, quality care, DNP-FNPs stand at the forefront of this transformation. Their advanced training not only prepares them to meet these challenges head-on but also positions them as key players in shaping the future of healthcare. By integrating clinical excellence with an understanding of patient and healthcare system needs

Samuel Merritt University’s Doctor of Nursing Practicing (DNP) program prepares leaders at the highest level of nursing practice to improve healthcare outcomes and translate evidence-based research into practice. SMU’s DNP Post-Master’s program was developed for all advanced practice nurses—such as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, case managers, nursing leaders in health policy, academia, and education, and nurses in other advanced nursing roles such as organizational leadership and administration.

Our DNP is designed for nurses seeking a

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Doctor Nurse Practitioner scholar, you will be educated to offer evidence-based psychotherapy and psychopharmacology—merging the roles of psychiatrist and psychologist—with patients’ best interests at heart. 

After completing SMU’s program, you’ll function autonomously in a variety of clinical settings and develop knowledge, skills, and expertise in health promotion, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders within all types of patients and groups. 

As an advanced practice nurse, you’ll learn the organizational, economic, and

If you are a critical care registered nurse (RN) looking for greater autonomy and are drawn to providing more advanced patient care, becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) might be right for you.

CRNAs provide anesthesia care in a number of medical settings, including operating rooms, outpatient centers, emergency rooms, delivery rooms, and dental offices. Our program prepares graduates for a full-scope, evidence-based anesthesia practice with advanced nursing knowledge, leadership, health policy training, and translational research skills to improve healthcare outcomes in