About the Faculty

The Faculty of Health Sciences and Psychology was established on 1 January 2025 by the Senate's Resolution No. 34/12/2024 of 16 December 2024 on the adoption of the Statute of the University of Rzeszów. It was created as a result of structural changes and reorganization of the University.

It is one of the four faculties that are part of the Collegium Medicum. The Faculty is a dynamically developing unit created by qualified specialists who combine a passion for science with the education of future medical staff in the field of health sciences , including physiotherapists, nurses, midwives, paramedics, dieticians, public health experts, as well as psychologists.

The research and teaching staff and high standards of education provide future students with educational programs in accordance with ministerial guidelines and the current demand of the labor market.

History

The Faculty of Health Sciences and Psychology of the University of Rzeszów has over 25 years of history. The first step on the way to creating a scientific and didactic unit educating specialists in the field of physical rehabilitation was the creation in the academic year 1996/97 of the rehabilitation specialization in the field of Physical Education at the Institute of Physical and Health Education of the Higher Pedagogical School in Rzeszów. In February 2000, the Department of Physiotherapy was established at the above-mentioned Institute and in the same academic year the first recruitment for physiotherapy was organized.

A breakthrough moment was the establishment of the University of Rzeszów in 2001, which accelerated the process of building infrastructure for medical sciences. By the decision of the National Accreditation Committee in 2001, the Institute of Physiotherapy was granted the right to conduct first- and second-cycle studies in this field. In 2003, permission was also obtained to create a field of nursing and midwifery.

In 2005, by the Ordinance of the Minister of National Education and Sport, the Faculty of Health Sciences was established at the University of Rzeszów. Subsequently, the members of the Council of Health Sciences decided to change the name to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rzeszów, within which new fields of study were created: emergency medical services, public health, public health with a specialization in electroradiology and dietetics.

Pursuant to Resolution No. 424/04/2019 of the Senate of the University of Rzeszów, on October 1, 2019, as part of the dynamic restructuring of the university, the College of Medical Sciences was established, which replaced the existing Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Physical Education. Within the College, there were Institutes such as: the Institute of Medical Sciences, the Institute of Physical Culture Sciences and the Institute of Health Sciences, which was the foundation for the later development of the Faculty, focusing on education and research in the field of health sciences.

On January 1, 2025, in accordance with the decision of the Senate of the University of Rzeszów, the Institute of Health Sciences and the Institute of Psychology were merged, resulting in the creation of the currently functioning Faculty of Health Sciences and Psychology.Edyta Łuszczki, PhD, DSc, Associate Professor, was appointed Dean of the Faculty.

Through this integration, the Faculty has become a strong educational and research centre, offering a wide range of fields of study, such as:

  • Dietetics
  • Physiotherapy
  • Nursing
  • Obstetrics
  • Psychology
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Public health

The organizational structure of the Faculty includes the following units:

  • Institute of Physiotherapy
  • Department of Dietetics
  • Department of Nursing
  • Department of Obstetrics
  • Department of Psychology
  • Department of Emergency Medical Services
  • Department of Public Health
  • Intercollegiate Centre for Disability Research
  • University Research and Development Centre in Health Sciences

Currently, the education process at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Psychology covers a total of 2216 students, including 1585 full-time students and 631 part-time students, as well as 5 doctoral students pursuing doctoral studies at the Doctoral School of the University of Rzeszów as part of the scientific discipline of health sciences.

The unit is distinguished by its specialized academic staff, including many experienced lecturers, including professors, habilitated doctors, and experts in the field of health sciences and psychology. Thanks to their high qualifications and professional experience, the academic staff provides students with access to up-to-date knowledge, which translates into high quality of education.

The Faculty of Health Sciences and Psychology has a modern teaching infrastructure, including specialized studios and laboratories belonging to the University Research and Development Center in Health Sciences , and access to advanced research tools, which enables students to develop practical skills.

In addition, scientifically active students of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Psychology have a chance to carry out scientific projects, participate in research, co-authorship in publications and participate in scientific conferences.

The high quality of education at the Faculty is evidenced by nearly 17 thousand qualified graduates who gain recognition on the labour market both in Poland and abroad. Thanks to solid theoretical and practical preparation, graduates find employment in hospitals, health centers, public institutions, as well as in private companies dealing with health care, health education and public health.

The seat of the Faculty is located in the G5 building at 1A Warzywna Street in Rzeszów.