Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapy Program is an integral part of the School of Health Professions and Education and part of Utica College's Office of Graduate Studies. 

Mission

Building on a liberal arts foundation, the mission of UC's graduate program in Occupational Therapy is to prepare highly competent occupational therapists who value occupation as the central focus of person-centered practice.

Program Overview

Utica College offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Studies, with continuation to a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, achievable within five years. The program is offered in two educational tracks, classes are small, and faculty provide individualized learning experiences to meet students' diverse learning needs.

Distinctive Features

The program is distinctive in its collaborative community alliances that enable faculty and students to meet the needs of society while promoting critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and skill development.

Humanistic, student-centered approaches to adult education are used to facilitate students' development into competent, ethical, entry-level occupational therapy practitioners who are well-prepared to take their place within multiple health care venues in a rapidly changing, global economy.

Our graduates work in a variety of arenas of health care including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, nursing homes, and community programs and private practice. Several of our students and graduates have presented at national and state conferences and many have published in occupational therapy journals and health related journals.

Innovative Curriculum

The curriculum prepares students to assume multiple Occupational Therapy roles working with individuals of all ages and abilities

Freshman Entry

• Students can enter the sequence as a Freshman, achieving a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies that leads to a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy within a five year time period.
  
   
• Once accepted as a freshman, students who meet the continuation criteria are guaranteed placement in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program.
  
  For details on Freshman entry, click here >

Transfer Entry

• Students can also enter the sequence as a transfer student in the day or weekend format, achieving a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy within three years. Opportunities also exist for transfer prior to the junior year. 
  
  See program entry options >

Graduate Entry

• Students can enter the Occupational Therapy program, taking courses in a day or weekend format. With prerequisites fulfilled, students complete a 21-month sequence of occupational therapy courses and fieldwork.
  
  See program entry options >
  
   
• Completion of coursework, community experiences and fieldwork prepares students for a productive career in Occupational Therapy.
  
  See O.T. alumni >
  See also Careers in Occupational Therapy > 

State-of-the-art facilities

Utica College has completed Phase I of its new Science and Technology Complex, F. Eugene Romano Hall, a state-of-the-art facility that includes classrooms and laboratories for the study of occupational therapy. 

Click here for more information on F. Eugene Romano Hall >

Program Highlights

Dedicated, well-prepared faculty members who...

• are student-centered and use a humanistic philosophy
• engage in occupational therapy practice
• have diverse experiences and research interests
• are committed to meeting students' diverse learning needs
• empower students to achieve at the highest levels (link to Faculty Pages)

Long history of excellence

• over thirty-five years of excellence in occupational therapy education
• more than 1,400 program graduates
• graduates find numerous job opportunities
  See O.T. alumni page > 

Innovative entry-level graduate curriculum

• professional education with strong foundation of liberal arts and sciences
• case-based learning that promotes student inquiry
• emphasis on self-directed learning
• opportunities for collaborative research as part of a community of scholars
• participation in interactive community experiences
• small class size and individualized learning experiences (link to Curriculum)

Supportive campus community with numerous learning resources

Utica College prides itself in the extensive support network for students to ensure a successful college experience. Resources include:

• Academic Support Services
• Frank E. Gannett Memorial Library
• UC Computer Help Desk  
• The UC Campus 
• Surrounding Community

Occupational Therapy Society

• Students support local service organizations, engage in innovative projects, network with the local Occupational Therapy community, and sponsor unique learning opportunities 
   
• Students learn first-hand the value of professional relationships, developing ties with fellow students of all levels, faculty members, and community practitioners
   
• Members actively engage in promoting the profession
   
• Fund raising efforts have allowed students to attend local and national conferences, fund OT month activities, pay for banquets, and provide in-services by area professionals
   
• This student-led professional organization is affiliated with the student organization of the American Occupational Therapy Association
   

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy program is:

• approved by the New York State Education Department
   
• fully accredited through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD, 20824-1220. The phone number for ACOTE is 1-800-729-2682.

Student Outcomes

All Utica College MSOT graduates of the program are eligible to apply and sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapists administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), located at 800 S. Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and/or obtain a state license as an occupational therapist.

Data is provided by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), which administers this national examination (http://www.nbcot.org/). Our students' pass rate on the national certification examination for first-time test takers is:

• Sixty-five (84.4%) of the77 first-time test takers were successful in passing the national certification on their first attempt during the period 2008-2010.  The remaining test takers (12) passed the exam on a subsequent attempt.  

• During the period 2008-2010, 80 students graduated from the entry-level program.

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