Unique campus community leads to high graduate retention at Springfield

One of the most unique aspects of Springfield College is the concentration of students majoring in physical therapy, physician assistant studies and occupational therapy. For many students, the Springfield College experience does not end with a bachelor’s degree. Instead, students can continue directly into graduate-level programs, creating a clear pathway from undergraduate education to professional preparation.
The ability to move from an undergraduate program into graduate school is an important part of the academic experience for many Springfield College students. Rather than graduating and searching for a separate graduate program, students in certain academic fields can build their undergraduate experience around their future careers.
Springfield College has a long-standing connection to the health sciences, and its programs in physical therapy, physician assistant studies and occupational therapy attract students interested in careers that require advanced education. These students often enter college knowing that graduate school will be part of their academic journey.
For students pursuing physical therapy, the path can be particularly structured. Physical therapists must earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree before entering the profession. Springfield College students can complete their undergraduate education while preparing for the next level of study, allowing them to remain within the same academic community as they transition into graduate school.
Director of the Career Center, Scott Dranka knows that Springfield’s continuity of returning students is different from programs like those at Connecticut or the University of Massachusetts. “We have a good number of students who will naturally transition from senior to graduate students right at, usually at a traditional age of 22 or 23,” Dranka said. “These are natural programs that progress if you’re already in these disciplines, in order to get into the grad program.”
For students entering college with a specific career in mind, the ability to continue into graduate school can help make the path to that career more direct. This type of pathway can provide students with a sense of continuity. Instead of starting over at a new institution, students can continue their education in a familiar environment while taking on the increased responsibilities and expectations of graduate-level coursework.
The same idea applies to students interested in occupational therapy. Occupational therapists typically need graduate-level education before entering the profession. For Springfield College students, pursuing their undergraduate and graduate education at the same institution, or even at the same time as these degrees often become accelerated, can provide an opportunity to develop relationships with faculty and classmates that extend beyond the traditional four-year college experience.
The physician assistant program provides another example of how Springfield College students can connect their undergraduate education with a graduate professional program. Becoming a physician assistant requires graduate-level education, making preparation during the undergraduate years an important part of the process.
The concentration of students pursuing these fields also contributes to the atmosphere on campus. Students who are preparing for careers in health care are surrounded by peers with similar academic goals. While students may have different majors and career interests, many share the experience of balancing demanding undergraduate coursework with preparation for graduate-level education.
That environment can create a community centered around professional development. Students are not only completing assignments and preparing for exams but also thinking about the careers they hope to enter after graduation.
For some students, the transition from undergraduate to graduate school can also happen with little disruption to their personal and academic lives. Remaining at Springfield College allows students to continue working with the same faculty members and utilizing campus resources with which they are already familiar, such as the Career Center where Dranka works.
Over the last week, the Career Center hosted informational sessions for certain graduate programs. The ones that have already taken place include counseling, education, athletic training and psychology. There are more information sessions taking place next week. On Monday, Athletic Counseling will host a session, followed by Social Work on Tuesday and Athletic Leadership and Physical Education on Wednesday. These sessions will take place at 12:00, 5:00 and 8:00 respectively.
For students in physical therapy, occupational therapy and physician assistant studies, that professional focus is especially important. Their graduate education is designed to prepare them for careers in which they will work directly with patients and become members of health care teams.
The pathway also reflects Springfield College’s broader emphasis on preparing students for careers that combine academic knowledge with practical experience. Students in health-related programs have opportunities to connect what they learn in the classroom with the responsibilities they will face in their future professions, including field experience. For many students, this connection between undergraduate education and graduate school is a major factor in their Springfield College experience.
“Many of our students find themselves going into a graduate program just because they have loved being at Springfield College,” Dranka said. “For example, a psychology undergraduate student going into a mental health counseling program. At Springfield, you’re going to find that it doesn’t feel too different than senior year.”
While students at other colleges may spend their senior year deciding where to apply for graduate school, Springfield College students pursuing PT, PA or OT may already have a clearer picture of what comes next. Their undergraduate years can serve as preparation for the graduate education required to enter their professions.
That continuity can be especially valuable for students who enter college knowing they want to work in health care. They can spend their undergraduate years developing academically while also preparing for the next stage of their education.
The result is a campus community in which graduate education is not separate from the undergraduate experience. For many Springfield College students, the two are connected parts of the same academic journey.