Master of Occupational Therapy
Saint Francis University
Key Information
Campus location
Loretto, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 96,818 *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Aug 2024
* total cost
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Empower Others with Your Master's in Occupational Therapy Degree (MOT) from Saint Francis University
When anyone struggles to do activities that many of us take for granted, their ability to live a full life is impacted. Students in our Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program get hands-on experience empowering individuals to live their best lives. They do this by studying how they can help individuals improve their ability to perform the basic activities of daily living.
- Direct entry: the most efficient way to enter the occupational therapy (OT) field
- A hands-on, multidisciplinary approach to your occupational therapy degree
- Learn using the same cutting-edge technology found in clinical settings
The SFU Learning Experience
The best occupational therapists are compassionate, well-rounded and experienced in a variety of specialties. The occupational therapy program at SFU offers a multidisciplinary approach, research and fieldwork opportunities, and the expertise of practicing faculty to help you become the best occupational therapist you can be. All of our OT faculty are doctorally prepared in a variety of specialties and are committed to guiding you toward your future path.
The OT Student Experience
Our accelerated occupational therapy program helps you get into the field faster, but there are still plenty of opportunities for growth, exploration and community-building during your years at SFU. In your pre-professional phase, you’ll take introductory occupational therapy courses and bond with your cohort through coursework, clubs, and other campus activities. In the final 2 years of study, the professional phase, you’ll take classes solely dedicated to OT while completing your own research project and gaining practical experience during fieldwork opportunities.
- Get experience working with some of the most cutting-edge technology used by occupational therapists in clinics today, including a driving simulator, the Bioness Integrated Therapy System, 3D printers and scanners, and more.
- Join the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) and our chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE), the national occupational therapy honor society, to engage with and learn alongside your cohort.
- Participate in community-engaged experiences such as Baby Day, community labs, and a backpack safety awareness campaign.
- Build your problem-solving, and patient care skills in our on-campus Home Care Lab and work alongside a PT or nursing major in one of the many simulation scenarios in our Experiential Learning Commons.
- Benefit from a multidisciplinary approach that uncovers the relationship between occupational therapy and society through courses in philosophy, history and sociology, including an automatic minor in psychology and opportunities for additional minors - or a double major -in fields like psychology or neuroscience.
Professional Licensure/Credentialing
Occupational therapists are licensed by individual states, but only need to take one national certification exam, offered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Once licensed, occupational therapists can work in a variety of settings. After successful completion of this exam, you will be a registered and licensed occupational therapist (OTR/L).
Program graduates are eligible to sit for the NBCOT exam within approximately one month after graduation. Initial and ongoing certification is granted by NBCOT and licensure is granted individual states where the candidate is employed. It is your responsibility to determine eligibility.
Accreditation
The Saint Francis University entry-level master’s degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
Graduates of Saint Francis University’s MOT program are eligible to sit for the national certification for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).
In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
To be eligible to sit for the exam, students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of all requirements of the academic portion of the program.
The total number of graduates from Saint Francis University’s Master of Occupational Therapy program during the 3-year period of 2019-2022 was 109, with an overall graduation rate of 96%.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
Our goal is to prepare students to become competent and well-rounded occupational therapists with skills in a variety of specialties and career opportunities wherever they go. The Master of Occupational Therapy program at SFU is based on a multidisciplinary, holistic approach and uses ACOTE’s education standards to prepare students for careers as occupational therapists in many specializations.
Fieldwork experiences in the professional phase occur in multiple settings and are designed to help students become well-rounded practitioners and find the career path they are most passionate about pursuing.
In order to graduate from the MOT program at Saint Francis University, students must:
- Successfully progress from the pre-professional phase to the professional phase
- Successfully complete the first professional year (OT 401, OT 402 and OT 403) with a cumulative QPA of 3.0 and a grade of a ‘C’ or better in each course and module/fieldwork component.
- Successfully complete OT 501 and 502 (including Level II fieldwork)
- Successfully complete and defend the scholarly project as outlined in the Department of Occupational Therapy Student Handbook
- Complete the minimum number of credits as specified in this publication;
- Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better
- Submit a completed Application for Degree form at least one semester prior to graduation date; and
- Satisfy financial obligations to the University.
Courses Required for MOT only: 72 credits
The two-year professional program consists of the following courses:
- OT 401 - Occupational Therapy I
- OT 402 - Occupational Therapy II
- OT 403 - Occupational Therapy III
- OT 501 - Occupational Therapy IV
- OT 502 - Occupation Therapy V
Program Outcome
Upon successful completion of the occupational therapy program, you will be able to:
- Synthesize your knowledge and skills to practice competently and ethically as an entry-level occupational therapist in underserved regions and communities in Pennsylvania and beyond;
- Utilize your experience and knowledge of the domains of occupational therapy, including the musculoskeletal, neurological, pediatric, psychosocial and gerontological domains, as well as emerging fields of study;
- Further the growth of the occupational therapy profession through systematic inquiry, community involvement and action, and professional involvement; and
- Demonstrate commitment to your own personal and professional growth as you begin your career with your occupational therapist degree.
Career Opportunities
Thanks to our multidisciplinary approach and experienced faculty, our occupational therapy program graduates are prepared for careers as occupational therapists in any specialization. Fieldwork experiences in the professional phase occur in multiple settings and are designed to help students become well-rounded practitioners and find the career path they are most passionate about pursuing.
- Salary Potential: The median annual pay in 2020 was $86,280 per year.
- Growth Industry: The Bureau of Labor Statistic projects the field to grow 16% by 2029, faster than the average growth rate.
- SFU Grads: Our graduates have found careers as occupational therapists all over the country, treating patients of all ages with a variety of needs in nursing homes, hospitals, schools, outpatient clinics, home health services, and more.
English Language Requirements
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