ATSU Information

Mission Statement

A.T. Still University of Health Sciences serves as a learning-centered university dedicated to preparing highly competent professionals through innovative academic programs with a commitment to continue its osteopathic heritage and focus on whole person healthcare, scholarship, community health, interprofessional education, diversity, and underserved populations.

Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine

1. The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit;
2. The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance;
3. Structure and function are reciprocally related; and
4. Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
5. Application of these tenets is whole person healthcare.

ATSU - One University, Seven Schools

Established in 1892 by Andrew Taylor Still, DO, the founder of osteopathy, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) began as the nation’s first college of osteopathic medicine and has evolved into a leading university of health sciences comprised of a growing community with a rich history in education and osteopathic healthcare. Today, ATSU offers master’s degrees across allied health disciplines and doctorates in osteopathic medicine, dental medicine, athletic training, audiology, health administration, health education, health sciences, medical science, nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. 

ATSU provides graduate and professional programs in healthcare fields across three campuses in Kirksville, Missouri; Mesa, Arizona; and Santa Maria, California, on more than 200 acres with seven prestigious schools. Learning environments include residential and online medical degree opportunities as well as community-based partnerships worldwide. ATSU has more than 800 full-time employees dedicated to its not-for-profit mission and an average annual enrollment of over 3,900 students from 20 countries. 

ATSU is renowned for its preeminence as a multidisciplinary healthcare educator. The University is focused on integrating the founding tenets of osteopathic medicine and the advancing knowledge of today’s science. ATSU continually earns distinctions as the graduate health sciences university with best-in-class curriculum and a community outreach mission to serve the underserved. The University has a rich history of leadership in healthcare education and correlated research.

ATSU instills in students the compassion, experience and knowledge required to address the whole person and shape healthcare in communities where needs are greatest. Inspired to influence whole person healthcare, ATSU graduates contribute to the future of integrated care while also leading with a selfless passion in the communities they serve.

Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health – Mesa, AZ

Arizona’s first dental school, the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) began addressing the nation’s oral healthcare needs in 2003. ATSU-ASDOH students are encouraged to become caring, community-minded healthcare leaders, serving those in need. Students learn through a strong foundation of critical inquiry, evidence-based practice, research, cultural competency, an orientation to prevention, and interdisciplinary healthcare experiences. 

Arizona School of Health Sciences – Mesa, AZ

In 1995, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) began educating compassionate allied healthcare professionals while integrating the tenets of osteopathic medicine and advancing whole person care. With residential and online offerings, ATSU-ASHS’ programs include athletic training, audiology, medical science, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and speech language pathology. 

College for Healthy Communities – Santa Maria, CA

In January 2022, the Institutional Actions Council of the Higher Learning Commission announced approval of the University’s formal request for a third campus, A.T. Still University’s College for Healthy Communities (ATSU-CHC), located in Santa Maria, California. The Central Coast Physician Assistant (CCPA) program, which began in fall 2021, became ATSU-CHC’s founding program with an inaugural class of 90 students for its 24-month residential master’s degree.

College of Graduate Health Studies – Kirksville, MO

In 1999, A.T. Still University’s College of Graduate Health Studies (ATSU-CGHS) began educating and preparing current and future health professionals for leadership positions in a variety of healthcare settings. ATSU-CGHS’ goal is to provide comprehensive and relevant health studies instruction through high quality, innovative online education. 

Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine – Kirksville, MO

Established in 1892 as the first college of osteopathic medicine, A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) has a rich history of leading comprehensive medical education, research, and healthcare. ATSU-KCOM’s graduates represent a diverse group of osteopathic physicians practicing in every state and several foreign countries.  

Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health – Kirksville, MO

Established in 2013, A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) offers an innovative curriculum with an emphasis on public health, leadership, and practice. ATSU-MOSDOH addresses the oral healthcare disparities in Missouri and across the nation. In addition to the issues of oral health and skills of dentistry, students learn from and are encouraged to become caring, community-minded healthcare providers. 

School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona – Mesa, AZ

A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) was established in 2006 and comprises a team of clinicians, educators, and students who share a passion and commitment for whole person healthcare. Using a unique 1+3 model, ATSU-SOMA partners with community health centers across the United States to place students in clinical settings within their second year of study. 

University Accreditation

A.T. Still University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission - 230 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 - Chicago, IL 60604 – info@hlcommission.org - 800.621.7440. The Higher Learning Commission is recognized by the US Department of Education.

Program Accreditation

The following agencies have accredited various programs at ATSU:

• The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
• The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
• The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE)
• The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
• The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
• The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
• The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)
• The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

State Approvals

Degree-granting authority for ATSU-ASDOH, ATSU-ASHS, and ATSU-SOMA has been given by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. At the Arizona campus, if the complaint can not be resolved after exhausting the institution’s grievance procedure, the student may file a complaint with the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. The student must contact the State Board for further details. The State Board address is 1740 W. Adams, Ste. 3008, Phoenix, AZ 85007, phone 602.542.5709, website address: www.ppse.az.gov.

Students with complaints or concerns are encouraged to first utilize the University’s internal complaint or review policies as noted in student’s school section of the Catalog or University Student Handbook. If the issue cannot be resolved internally, students may also file a complaint with the appropriate state agency your current state of residence listed at https://www.atsu.edu/about-atsu#complaint-resolution.

A.T. Still University is an institutional participant in the National Council for State Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) initiative. Our listing can be found under our main campus, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in Missouri at http://www.nc-sara.org/states/mo.

ATSU Board of Trustees

ATSU Financial Disclosure

A.T. Still University of Health Sciences does not have a pending petition in bankruptcy, nor is the institution operating as a debtor in possession, nor has the institution filed a petition within the last five years, nor has it had a petition in bankruptcy filed against it within the preceding five years that resulted in reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.