Careers

Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled healthcare professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician (in accordance with their education, training, and the state's statutes, rules, and regulations).

As part of the healthcare team, services provided by athletic trainers include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination, and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.

If you are in high school now and want to become an athletic trainer, you need to get a bachelor's degree first. Our department offers a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences, a Master of Science in Athletic Training, and an accelerated program where students can get a bachelor’s and master’s degree in 5 years.

Occupational therapy helps people of all ages develop, recover, or maintain the skills they need for daily life, which are also known as occupations.

Whether it's getting dressed, returning to work, or going to school, occupational therapy focuses on what matters most to each person.

Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) work closely with licensed occupational therapists in a variety of rehabilitation settings to provide hands-on support, helping clients build independence, improve function, and live fuller lives.

OTAs enjoy excellent work-life balance, high wages, strong employment demand, and the ability to make a meaningful impact. If you want to be an occupational therapy assistant, check out our brand-new OTA program.

Physical therapists are movement and rehabilitation specialists who diagnose and treat conditions that impair mobility, function, or quality of life. They work across various settings—hospitals, outpatient clinics, sports medicine facilities, home health, and rehabilitation centers—to address orthopedic, neurologic, and cardiopulmonary conditions.

PTs develop tailored treatment plans that may involve therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, patient education, and modalities such as heat, cold, and electrical stimulation.

A doctor of physical therapy (DPT) is required for entry-level physical therapist practice in the United States. Training emphasizes evidence-based practice, biomechanics, differential diagnosis, and clinical reasoning to ensure safe and effective care.

For students wishing to attend DPT school in Utah, our rehabilitation sciences program has an affiliation agreement with Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, which guarantees our students an interview and reserves up to five seats for each application cycle in their DPT program.

Physician assistants are licensed medical providers trained in the medical model to evaluate patients, diagnose conditions, order and interpret tests, develop treatment plans, and prescribe medications.

PAs often work collaboratively with physicians but maintain significant autonomy in many clinical settings. Their generalist medical education allows them to practice in a wide range of specialties, including family medicine, orthopedics, emergency medicine, cardiology, and surgery.

A PA’s training is typically a master’s degree that includes intensive didactic coursework and clinical rotations across core medical disciplines. Their flexibility in role and specialty makes them valuable in addressing provider shortages and improving access to care.

Many PAs also transition between specialties throughout their careers, offering adaptable support to healthcare systems. Students who are interested in pursuing PA school after graduation should consider joining WSU’s pre-PA club.

Weber State also houses a competitive Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree.

Occupational therapists (OTs) help people participate in meaningful activities, or "occupations," that support health, independence, and quality of life. Occupational therapy emphasizes functional outcomes, problem solving, and helping clients develop the skills and confidence to do what matters most in their daily lives.

OTs assess everything that impacts someone's ability to perform daily tasks, and create custom plans that may entail sensory or cognitive interventions, adaptive strategies, therapeutic activities, assistive technology, environmental modifications, and rehabilitation exercises.

OTs work in many settings and their scope of practice spans chronic illness, neurological conditions, orthopedic injuries, developmental disabilities, mental health, aging changes, and wellness promotion.

To enter the profession, students usually complete a master’s degree or a clinical doctorate in occupational therapy (MOT or OTD), both of which prepare them for national board certification and state licenses. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) website has more info for students interested in occupational therapy.

For students wishing to attend OT school in Utah, our rehabilitation sciences program has an affiliation agreement with Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, which reserves up to five seats for each application cycle in their OTD and MOT programs.

Physicians with MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degrees are licensed medical doctors trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease across the lifespan. Both pathways share a rigorous medical education that includes foundational science coursework, extensive clinical rotations, and postgraduate residency training.

While MD programs follow an allopathic medical model, DO programs include additional training in osteopathic principles and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), emphasizing a holistic approach to patient care.

MDs and DOs practice in hospitals, clinics, private offices, and specialty centers, with opportunities to pursue over 120 specialties and subspecialties, from primary care and emergency medicine to surgery and sports medicine. Both degrees provide full prescribing rights and the ability to perform procedures and surgeries.

Physicians often serve as leaders of interprofessional teams, coordinating care, guiding complex medical decisions, and managing health conditions.

Students interested in pursuing graduate school in medicine should consider joining Weber State University’s pre-med club.

Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) specialize in diagnosing and treating neuromusculoskeletal conditions, with a particular emphasis on spinal health, joint function, and the relationship between structure and overall wellness.

Their primary treatment approach involves manual adjustments or spinal manipulation to improve mobility, reduce pain, and optimize nervous system function. Chiropractors frequently treat conditions such as lower-back pain, neck pain, headaches, and other musculoskeletal complaints.

Chiropractic education culminates in a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, which includes training in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, imaging, and therapeutic interventions. Many chiropractors also incorporate rehabilitative exercise, soft-tissue techniques, lifestyle counseling, and injury prevention strategies into their practice.

They work in private clinics, integrative health centers, and sports medicine settings, often collaborating with physicians, PTs, and other providers to support patient care.