Occupational Therapy

The Program in Occupational Therapy is transitioning from a  3 + 2 1/2 program to a post-baccalaureate program with the phase-in beginning in 2012. Please refer to the phase-in schedule for additional information.

Employment Outlook

The job opportunities in occupational therapy are excellent. Approximately thirty-two percent of occupational therapists work in general, psychiatric, and pediatric hospitals; 19 percent in public and private schools; and 11 percent in rehabilitation hospitals or centers. Others work in colleges and universities, home health agencies, skilled nursing homes, and private practice. Occupational therapists will be in high demand, both in long term care settings and in home health services, as the number of older adults more than doubles between 2000 and 2050. Occupational therapy is one of the fastest growing occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor.

The Master's Program at St. Scholastica

Until 2015 students may enter the Occupational Therapy Program during the senior year of undergraduate study or as a graduate student upon completion of a baccalaureate degree.

All prerequisites must be completed prior to entry in the Occupational Therapy coursework. Upon entry into the program, students will complete two consecutive years of professional Occupational Therapy education, plus six months of clinical fieldwork. Students will earn an entry-level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. (Students entering the program during the senior year will also earn a baccalaureate degree in Health Sciences.) Successful completion of all academic and internship requirements allows the student to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapists.

The professional program in Occupational Therapy involves 2 ½ years of coursework and fieldwork. Since courses provide graduate level instruction offered by the same faculty and require the same level of effort, equipment, supplies, and facilities, the College's Board of Trustees has adopted the policy that the tuition rates charged will be at the graduate rate for the 2 ½ years of the program.

The Occupational Therapy Program is also offered on a part-time basis. The part-time option extends the professional program to 3 ½ or 4 ½ years, depending upon student needs.

First-year students may apply for early application to the Occupational Therapy Program by following FACT, the First-Year Admission Criteria Track, to guarantee admission to the program after three years of undergraduate work, if they meet the plan criteria. First-year students who have enough credits (when they arrive at college) to make them sophomores (or higher), may apply as early FACT applicants only if there are less than 20 (16, in 2012+) FACT applicants in the occupational therapy class with whom they apply.

Strengths and Highlights of the Occupational Therapy Program

The St. Scholastica Occupational Therapy Program is noted for the following strengths and initatives:

a. 2012 graduates had a first-time pass rate of 93% on the NBCOT Natonal Certification Exam compared to the national average of 96% (Jan.-June 2012.)

b. Based on surveys of employers and feedback from fieldwork supervisors, St. Scholastica graduates are praised for their clinical readiness and background knowledge.

c. Graduate surveys, one-year post graduation, indicate between 97% and 100% of graduates are employed as occupational therapists. Many students have employment offers prior to graduation.

d. An occupational therapist guides the students in staffing a community clinic. Students receive beneficial supervised "hands-on" opportunities to work directly with adults and children as part of their occupational therapy coursework.The clinic represents an advanced form of student centered learning and serves a community need.

e. Students in the Occupational Therapy Program at The College of St. Scholastica have significant levels of hands-on experience using a state-of-the-art electronic medical record system (Athens) to gain confidence and competence in using this type of information technology as a tool to enhance the quality of their professional practice.

f. Occupational therapy students are actively involved in community service to local nursing homes, community mental health centers and homeless shelters. Each year students and faculty liberally contribute many hours of volunteer service.

g. The Program maintains clinical contracts with fieldwork sites throughout the United States. Students have the opportunity to complete their clinical education in health care settings representing a wide variety of service delivery models, geographic areas and experience.

 Note: All Occupational Therapy students are required to submit annual state of residency, Minnesota and Federal criminal background studies. The studies must be completed and returned with a "clear felony" status before the student may participate in clinical/fieldwork. Students should be aware that if they have a criminal record, they may not be able to participate in fieldwork, obtain certification by NBCOT, or become registered / licensed by individual states to practice as an occupational therapist.

The Occupational Therapy Department faculty and staff are available to answer questions about occupational therapy, please feel free to call or email the faculty or Graduate Recruiter (see upper right.)

Admissions

All undergraduate students who will meet the prerequisite and general education requirements by the Fall Semester start date, must  apply by December 15 of the year prior through OTCAS and Graduate Admissions. 

All degree holding students who will meet the prerequisite requirements by the Fall Semester start date, must  apply by December 15  of the year prior through OTCAS and Graduate Admissions.