Occupational Therapy
About
Occupational therapy is a client-centered profession that promotes health and well-being of clients through personally meaningful occupations. Students learn the physical, psychological and cognitive foundations of human performance, and gain the skills to help people who have limitations caused by illness, injury, developmental delays or normal aging.
Why Occupational Therapy is in Demand:
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase 17 percent between 2020 and 2030, much faster than average for all occupations.
- The median annual wage for occupational therapists was $85,570 in May 2021.
- The demand for occupational therapists is increasing due to the aging Baby Boomer population and rising rates of people diagnosed with illnesses and disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s, Autism and Parkinson’s.
Is it for me?
- Are you caring and compassionate?
- Do you want to improve the quality of life for individuals who are injured or are living with disabilities?
- Does a career in the “helping professions” excite you?
- Did you enjoy service learning work in high school or the community?
Five Reasons to Choose Scranton for Occupational Therapy
Make no mistake – majoring in occupational therapy is hard work. That’s why our faculty provides an outstanding level of guidance and support.
Julie Ann Nastasi, Sc.D.,O.T.D.
Assistant Professor
Preparing You For Personal & Professional Successplus or minus
You’ll gain essential learning outcomes while sharpening your skills for further success in graduate school or in the workplace.
At the same time, you’ll strengthen your:
- Critical thinking
- Oral and written communication skills
- Research acumen
- Professional behaviors
Many students tell us that the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research was one of the reasons they chose the occupational therapy program at Scranton over other universities.
Exceptional Facilities
Leahy Hall, which is the new home for our occupational therapy, Physical therapy and exercise science programs, provides an advanced, modern facility to match the exceptional reputations already established by our health sciences programs. The center puts our students and faculty on the cutting edge of research and learning, while benefiting the local community through student-based service programs.
What You'll Learnplus or minus
Curriculum
Our curriculum will provide you with a solid foundation in liberal arts and science so that you become a well-rounded occupational therapist. We will prepare you to be a generalist practitioner in OT upon graduation by including an array of specialized practice classes in:
- Pediatrics
- Psychosocial Rehabilitation
- Physical Rehabilitation
- Hand Therapy
- Geriatrics
- Community Based Practice
Small groups, seminars, laboratory experiences and online learning platforms are carefully designed to complement traditional lectures.
Click here to see the curriculum for the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Click here to view the curriculum for the Doctorate in Occupational Therapy.
Internships:
There are two levels of fieldwork education you’ll complete as part of your degree:
- Level I – observing OT practice in pediatrics, psychosocial rehabilitation and physical rehabilitation
- Level II – two full-time field experiences lasting 12 weeks each
Fieldwork provides a full-time clinical experience designed to integrate academically acquired knowledge with OT practice within a variety of treatment settings. Clinical experiences are a vital part of the educational process and integral to professional preparation.
Each of the three Level I Clinicals is 40 hours in duration and is designed to complement the occupational therapy curriculum design and philosophy by linking academics to practice. Two Level II Internships (12 weeks each) allow students to begin functioning as entry-level therapists while learning and practicing intervention techniques, refining clinical reasoning skills and embracing the value of evidenced-based practice through research opportunities.
Pursue Your Passion and Make a Differenceplus or minus
Through the Jesuit spirit of cura personalis you will work with your clients in light of their unique gifts and challenges to improve their lives.
There are plenty of opportunities for community-based learning at Scranton. For example, many OT students put their new knowledge to work at The Leahy Community Health and Family Center – a free clinic that offers primary care services to the uninsured residents of Lackawanna County.
Recent community-based projects include:
- Bringing Smart Home Tech to seniors through Neighborworks
- Volunteering at the Lackawanna Blind Center
- Participating in National Falls Awareness Day
- Helping special needs high school students at the Transitional Skills Center
- Providing adaptive toys to local early childhood centers
There’s a wider world beyond our gates. The University of Scranton offers specialized service and immersion trips for OT students, recently including Dominican Republic, Hawaii and Peru.
Careers
Where Will Occupational Therapy Take Me?
Graduates of the program who have completed all academic and fieldwork requirements are able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.
Of our OT graduates:
- 45% work in pediatrics: infancy through adolescence
- 45% work in hospitals and rehabilitation settings
- 10% work in mental-health and community settings
Here are just some examples of fields that you can go into, depending on your interests:
- Industry and Supported Employment
- Home HealthCare Programs
- Nursing Homes and Long-term Care
- Academia
- Hand Therapy
- Low Vision
- Feeding and Eating Disorders
- CarFit for Elderly Drivers
- Homeless Shelters or Domestic Abuse
- Pediatrics/Early Intervention, School-based, Transitional Programs
- Mental Health
- Private Practice
Thank you for helping to produce wonderful OT’s who are sure to enhance and promote the importance of our profession.
Francesca Caminiti, MS, OTR/L
Clinical Supervisor
How Scranton Gives You a Competitive Edge
Members of the OT faculty maintain an open door policy and involve students in their research, teaching and service. Whether it’s advising or providing letters of references, faculty members make it their priority to get to know each student on an individual level.
Accreditation
The MS program is fully accredited and the OTD program has been granted candidacy status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. AOTA’s phone number is (301) 652-AOTA.
Graduates of the program who have completed all academic and fieldwork requirements are able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
Take the Next Step
Get the Facts
For More Information
Office of Admissions
The Estate
Scranton, PA 18510
1-888-SCRANTON or (570) 941-7540
570-941-7572
admissions@scranton.edu
Department of Occupational Therapy
Carol A. Coté, Ph.D., OTR/L
Chair & Program Director
(570) 941-4125
carol.cote@scranton.edu