Colleen Sunderlin
Colleen Sunderlin
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy / Department Chair
(315) 792-3150
Occupational Therapy Department
What We Do
Building on a liberal arts foundation, the mission of Utica University's occupational therapy is to facilitate learners' transformation into autonomous thinkers, competent therapists, and innovative leaders through scholarly, professional, and community-oriented educational experiences.
Office Location
230 Addison Miller White Hall
Welcome to the homepage of the Occupational Therapy Department at Utica University.
Master of Science OT Program OT Entry-Level Doctorate OT Post-Professional Doctorate
The Occupational Therapy program at Utica University 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.
Current approaches to adult education are used to facilitate students' development into highly 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. Students and graduates have presented at national and state conferences and many have published in occupational therapy journals and health related journals.
Accreditation
The Occupational Therapy program is approved by the New York State Education Department. The master's program is fully accredited through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The entry level doctoral program has been denied pre-accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The program continues to have candidacy status and will continue with its planned site visit in January 2025.
ACOTE is located at:
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
7501 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814
The phone number for ACOTE is (301) 652-AOTA [301-652-2682]. The web address of ACOTE is www.acoteonline.org.
Student Outcomes
Graduation rates: The total number of graduates from the Occupational Therapy program at Utica University during the 3-year period of 2022-2024 was 138, with an overall graduation rate of 100%.
Masters Program
| Graduation Year | Students entering/graduating | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 34/34 | 100% |
| 2023 | 48/48 | 100% |
| 2022 | 56/56 | 100% |
| Total: | 138/138 | 100% |
Entry-Level Doctorate Program
| Graduation Year | Students entering/graduating | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2028 | TBD | TBD |
| 2027 | TBD | TBD |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| Total: | TBD | TBD |
All Utica University MS/OT program graduates 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 One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878; phone (301) 990-7979. 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.
NBCOT Certification Exam Results:
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance
Phone:
301-990-7979
Email:
info@nbcot.org
Address:
One Bank Street
Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Masters Program
| Graduation year | % pass |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 76% |
| 2023 | 87% |
| 2022 | 90% |
| 2021 | 88% |
Entry-Level Doctorate Program
| Graduation year | % pass |
|---|---|
| 2028 | TBD |
| 2027 | TBD |
| 2026 | TBD |
Curriculum
The curriculum prepares students to assume multiple Occupational Therapy roles working with individuals of all ages and abilities. We offer both a day and a weekend schedule of courses leading to a master's degree in occupational therapy. Day courses are provided in a traditional Monday through Friday format. Weekend courses are tailored for working adults, offering a blended curriculum of weekend classes and distance education. Weekend classes are typically scheduled 7-8 weekends per semester.
Admission to the Program
We offer three entry options: First-Year, Transfer, and Graduate.
For more information, please visit the Occupational Therapy Program pages:
OT Entry-Level Doctorate Program
OT Post-Professional Doctorate Program
Cost of Attendance
See below for detailed cost of attendance for recent cohorts:
| Cost* | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 | Summer 2024 (paid per credit - 6 credits) | Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 | Total Cost of the 5-semester program | |
| Tuition | $19,543 | $19,543 | $8,052 | $20,129 | $20,129 | $87,397 |
| Fees | $685 | $550 | $150 | $685 | $550 | $2,620 |
| Books and Supplies | $350 | $350 | $350 | $350 | $350 | $1,750 |
| Loan Fees | $109 | $109 | $109 | $109 | $109 | $545 |
| Personal Expenses | $550 | $550 | $550 | $550 | $550 | $2,750 |
| Room and Board / LA | $6,250 | $6,250 | $6,250 | $6,250 | $6,250 | $31,250 |
| Transportation | $859 | $859 | $859 | $859 | $859 | $4,295 |
| Distance Education Fee | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | -- |
| Total | $28,346 | $28,211 | $16,320 | $28,932 | $28,797 | $130,607 |
*Illustration based on 2023/2024 established costs.
There is an anticipated 3% increase annually.
Fees are subject to change.
| Term 1 (Fall 2024) | Term 2 (Spring 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $20,325 | $20,325 |
| Fees | $685 | $550 |
| Books and Supplies | $350 | $350 |
| Loan Fees | $109 | $109 |
| Personal Expenses | $550 | $550 |
| Room and Board/Living Allowance | $6,250 | $6,250 |
| Transportation | $859 | $859 |
| Distance | - | - |
| Total | $29,128 | $28,993 |
| Term 3 (Summer 2025) | Term 4 (Fall 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $8,455 | $21,138 |
| Fees | $150 | $550 |
| Books and Supplies | $350 | $350 |
| Loan Fees | $109 | $109 |
| Personal Expenses | $550 | $550 |
| Room and Board/Living Allowance | $6,250 | $6,250 |
| Transportation | $859 | $859 |
| Distance | - | - |
| Total | $16,723 | $29,806 |
| Term 5 (Spring 2026) | Term 6 (Summer 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $21,138 | $11,880 |
| Fees | $150 | $150 |
| Books and Supplies | $350 | $350 |
| Loan Fees | $109 | $109 |
| Personal Expenses | $550 | $550 |
| Room and Board/Living Allowance | $6,250 | $6,250 |
| Transportation | $859 | $859 |
| Distance | - | - |
| Total | $29,806 | $20,148 |
| Term 7 (Fall 2026) | Term 8 (Spring 2027) | Total Cost of 8-Semester Program | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,880 | $7,920 | $123,061* |
| Fees | $150 | $150 | $2,935+ |
| Books and Supplies | $350 | $350 | $2,800 |
| Loan Fees | $109 | $109 | $872 |
| Personal Expenses | $550 | $550 | $4,400 |
| Room and Board/Living Allowance | $6,250 | $6,250 | $50,000 |
| Transportation | $859 | $859 | $6,872 |
| Distance | - | - | |
| Total | $20,148 | $16,188 | $190,940 |
*Assumes a 4% increase annually. +Assumes fees will remain flat, but this could change.
Contact Us
John Rowe
John Rowe
Executive Director of Graduate Admissions
(315) 792-3010
Jessica Nelson
Jessica Nelson
Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management
(315) 792-3006
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