Student Organizations

Interested in getting involved? Join one of the College of Public Health's many student organizations, listed below and organized by area of study.

For more information about these student organizations and to learn how to join, search for the group on Owl Connect.

Athletic Training

Owls Athletic Training Society (OATS)

OATS aims to promote, network and advocate for the profession of athletic training. The group aims to connect undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty with resources and education pertaining to athletic training.

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Language and Linguistics Club

This club meets twice monthly to discuss a variety of topics related to linguistics and future opportunities for students of linguistics. Guest speakers from Temple and the greater Philadelphia area are regularly invited to present their research or to discuss their experiences. Activities include:

  • Movie screenings
  • Talks presented by invited speakers
  • Trips to area conferences
  • Panels on topics related to career opportunities and graduate school

National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA)

NSSLHA is the student branch of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and has both a national chapter and local chapters. Members of Temple’s chapter are graduate and undergraduate students looking to pursue a career in speech-language pathology, linguistics or audiology. Activities include:

  • Information sessions on applying to graduate school, job opportunities, ASHA, etc.
  • Social activities including guest speakers and group dinners
  • Community service such as 5k runs and walks, sending letters to veterans, preparing meals for the homebound and more

Sisters in Speech Therapy and Audiology (SISTAs)

SISTAs intends to share the importance of representation within the speech-language pathology and audiology fields and to celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity. Less than 10% of those working in these fields are minorities, and we aim to address this disparity and find new ways to recruit and retain those of minority groups. We hope to embrace our uniqueness and similarities and to promote the development of cultural humility as future SLPs and audiologists.

Talking Hands

Talking Hands promotes learning and fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) and awareness of Deaf culture among Temple University's student body and provides an environment in which ASL communication can be practiced and improved. The organization also serves as a discussion forum and jump-off point for the advocacy of full access to education for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students and students who require or prefer communication in a visual language.

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Student Association (EBSA)

In EBSA, graduate students help guide the direction of the department, gain academic and professional supports, and build community. 

Public Health Beyond Borders (PHBB)

PHBB provides a forum for Temple students interested in global health. Our aim is to partner with global communities to increase awareness about healthy behaviors and to identify disease trends through data analysis. Teams of undergraduate and graduate students participate in hands-on experiences and learn to conduct global work ethically and responsibly through faculty-mentored international travel. In addition, PHBB students engage in local projects around Philadelphia.

Exercise & Sport Science and Kinesiology

Exercise and Sport Science and Kinesiology (ESSKA)

ESSKA is a group of undergraduate students majoring in exercise and sport science, kinesiology or health professions who actively seek opportunities to further immerse themselves in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the broader Temple community. The group attends meetings and conferences, applies information learned in class to group discussion, seeks internships and shadowing opportunities, participates in community service, promotes health and wellness within the community, and stays up to date with information in their fields.

Health Information Management

Health Information Management Student Organization (HIMSA)

HIMSA conducts outreach and solicits interest among students who are not yet enrolled in the health information management (HIM) undergraduate program. The group seeks to encourage undecided students to consider the HIM field and guide those on the pre-HIM path who are planning to apply for the program. HIMSA also provides a forum for HIM students to collaborate, share ideas and network.

Nursing

Student Nurses' Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP)

The Temple chapter of SNAP is the official professional organization for nursing students. All nursing students are encouraged to join for opportunities to engage in community service activities throughout the year and participate in local, state and national meetings to gain information about career opportunities and professional growth.

Occupational Therapy

Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA)

Members of SOTA collaborate to run professional development events like seminars and speakers, fundraising events, and social events.

Pi Theta Epsilon (OT Honor Society)

Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE) is a specialized honor society for occupational therapy students and alumni. Its mission is to promote research and scholarship among occupational therapy students. PTE recognizes and encourages superior scholarship among students enrolled in accredited educational programs across the United States.

Physical Therapy

APTA PT Moves Me

PT Moves Me is an outreach operation created under the American Physical Therapy Association's diversity, equity and inclusion initiative. The goals are to raise awareness of the field of physical therapy among local youth, recruit future generations of physical therapists by providing necessary resources, and promote diversity within the profession.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Student Association (DPTSA)

DPTSA is for students in the doctor of physical therapy program. Members engage in local and national initiatives to support the mission of the program and the physical therapy profession.

North Broad Physical Therapy Center

North Broad Physical Therapy Center provides student-run and clinician-supervised pro bono physical therapy services to uninsured, underinsured and underserved community members of North Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

Pre-Physical Therapy Club

This organization provides resources to equip pre-physical therapy students with information and experiences that will aid in their pursuit of admission to an accredited physical therapy graduate program.

Public Health

Eta Sigma Gamma

Eta Sigma Gamma, the National Health Education Honorary, was founded in 1967 and has a rich history of contributions to the profession of health education and health promotion. Its mission is the promotion of the discipline by elevating the standards, ideals, competence and ethics of professionally prepared students in health education. Temple's chapter provides volunteer opportunities and the chance to network with alumni and public health professionals.

Graduate Student Council for Public Health-related Programs

This organization represents and advocates for the interests of graduate students at Temple University who are enrolled in public health-related programs, provides a forum for open discussion of matters affecting this community, and provides financial and organizational support for social and service learning events within the community.

Public Health Beyond Borders (PHBB)

PHBB provides a forum for Temple students interested in global health. Our aim is to partner with global communities to increase awareness about healthy behaviors and to identify disease trends through data analysis. Teams of undergraduate and graduate students participate in hands-on experiences and learn to conduct global work ethically and responsibly through faculty-mentored international travel. In addition, PHBB students engage in local projects around Philadelphia.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy

The purpose of this organization is to mobilize and empower Temple University students to participate in the political process, pushing for sensible policies to achieve a safer and more just future, while fighting back against counterproductive policies, particularly those that directly harm students and young people. We are an affiliate of the Sensible Drug Policy Foundation, an international grassroots network of students who are concerned about the impact substance use has on our communities, but who also know that the War on Drugs is failing our generation and our society.

Social Work

Alpha Delta Mu (ADM), Beta Rho Chapter: Social Work Honor Society

The purpose of ADM is to advance excellence in social work practice and to encourage, stimulate and maintain scholarship of its individual members. BSW and MSW students enrolled in the School of Social Work are eligible for nomination.

Social Work Student Collective

The Social Work Student Collective represents a unified student voice that incorporates the diversity of the School of Social Work's student body. The group sponsors social, educational and professional activities. Student representatives sit on various school committees as voting members. All undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Social Work are welcome to join.

Recreational Therapy

Recreational Therapy Student Association (RTSA)

RTSA strives to broaden the experiential knowledge base of members by providing professional development opportunities and drawing connections with academic foundations while highlighting current events in recreational therapy. Members can attend conferences, hear from guest speakers, volunteer and attend group social events. Additionally, RTSA co-hosts the international Recreational Therapy Student Summit, a free conference for RT students from around the world.