Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Academics

Core to the mission of Western University of Health Sciences is the rigor and relevance of our academic programs. We are eight colleges with one goal – providing a pipeline of health care experts to the communities that need them. The evolution of knowledge, skills and competencies mandates dynamic curricula that is steeped in both time-tested tradition and emerging innovation. Each college is led by a dean who represents their profession nationally and informs the credentialling of their future generations. As one of the most comprehensive health science universities in the country, our students benefit greatly from the wide scope of interprofessional cultures and courses that inform the unique identity of our two campuses.

Deans Council

WesternU is privileged to have the collective leadership of its eight deans to collaborate on both strategic and operational goals that ensure the vibrance and viability of the university, colleges and programs. Establishing and sharing best practices in health science education and training is a distinctive value of having eight colleges and numerous specialized academic health care professionals. As a comprehensive interdisciplinary team, the Deans Council aligns WesternU curriculum with the future of health care and positions our students for success in their chosen profession.

Learn more about the WesternU Deans Council.

Colleges

A key differentiator for Western University of Health Sciences is being the most comprehensive health science university in the nation. We proudly support eight colleges, each with a unique culture that is aligned with their specific health care specialties and programs. The variety and diversity of our health care professionals fosters a robust and dynamic culture that parallels the interdisciplinary care teams of health care systems. Interprofessional education is a signature element of all curriculums across our campuses. Our students learn to work together and appreciate the expertise that comes from diverse, team-based care.

Learn more about WesternU’s colleges.

Research and Biotechnology

The science of wellness, medicine, and treatment is the foundation of all health care. Advancements that foster longevity and mitigate disease are critical goals for all healthcare professions and specialties. WesternU faculty are actively engaged in the rigor and discipline of achieving these goals and furthering the knowledge base for the world. Inspiring our future health care professionals to uphold the traditions of scholarship, methodology, ethics and theory are key to improving the health outcomes and overall wellness of the communities they will serve. Our research and clinical faculty actively mentor students in research opportunities, many of which are paving the way to a healthier world.

Learn more about Research and Biotechnology at WesternU.

Photo of students around a patient

WesternU Among Best Medical Schools Makes U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Rankings

In its latest rankings of top U.S. medical schools, U.S. News & World Report has named Western University of Health Sciences a Tier 1 institution for primary care training. The 2024-2025 rankings feature a new methodology, with medical schools being placed into one of four tiers. Tier 1 institutions were in the 85th percentile or higher of medical schools ranked.

The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and COMP-Northwest received a Tier 1 designation for Best Medical Schools: Primary Care. WesternU is one of only 15 institutions in the top tier for primary care and one of only two osteopathic medicine schools.

Tier 1
Best Medical Schools: Primary Care

Tier 4
Best Medical Schools: Research
  • #7 – Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care
  • #75 (tie) – Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas
  • #133 – Most Graduates Practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas
  • #142 (tie) – Most Diverse Medical Schools


  • U.S. News & World Report maintained their traditional ranking system for all other graduate health care programs. The following WesternU academic programs were named as one of the best in the nation – Nursing-Master’s, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant and Veterinary Medicine.
    Photo of Miklos Peterfy

    Dr. Miklos Peterfy Awarded Grants from NIH and DOD

    The R01 Grant from the National Institutes of Health and Discovery Award from the Department of Defense supports COMP professor’s investigation of the role of insulin clearance in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.
    Image of a patient in the dentist chair and the dentist sitting next to him

    Partnership with CA Dental Association Launches Opioid Prescribing Course

    The College of Dental Medicine and the Department of Online Education worked in collaboration with the California Dental Association to create a course called ”Responsibilities and Requirements for Prescribing Controlled Substances (Schedule II Opioid Drugs)” currently offered through CDA’s continuing education portal.