Occupational Therapy

Chairperson: Linda A. Shriber, Ed.D, OTR/L

Occupational Therapy Program Mission Statement

The mission of the occupational therapy program is consistent with the mission of Nazareth College and the School of Health and Human Services in that it will develop successful occupational therapy practitioners, beginning researchers, and future leaders who are advocates of the profession. Its graduates will have a strong sense of interdisciplinary teamwork and service to others. Students will be prepared to provide and engage in evidence based practice and research that values the occupation of individuals in diverse environments and cultures.

Occupational Therapy Program

The Occupational Therapy Program at Nazareth College is a professional entry-level five-year program. The combined baccalaureate/master’s (BS/MS) program requires 175 credits. The Occupational Therapy Program was granted Developing Program Status from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) in August 2010.

Occupational therapy is a dynamic profession that supports the philosophy that people are shaped by what they do, and what they accomplish in their daily lives. The American Occupational Therapy Association describes this by saying that occupational therapy helps people to live life to its fullest.

Preparation includes a strong background in the sciences and liberal arts and an intensive professional education. Through active engagement in lectures, labs, clinical opportunities, and fieldwork experiences, students learn to assist individuals in developing and/or regaining the skills they need for purposeful participation in daily life.

In the Nazareth OT program, students actively engage in learning how to develop or improve a person’s sensory, physical, cognitive/perceptual, and/or psychosocial abilities. They also learn to modify the environment to help the person to be as self-sufficient and productive as possible. The program prepares students with the clinical reasoning needed for entry-level general practice, as well as develop initial skills in areas of specialization such as early intervention, school based practice, neurological rehabilitation, environmental analysis and modification, ergonomics, and treatment of upper extremity and orthopedic impairments. Students also have the opportunity to engage in collaborative research with faculty and OT Clinicians to promote and enhance knowledge.

The diversity of the profession will allow the graduate the opportunity to provide occupational therapy in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, clinics, and the community.

Accreditation Information

Prospective students wishing additional information about the accreditation process may contact the American Occupational Therapy Association at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220 m Bethesda, Maryland 20824 or can call ACOTE at (301) 652- AOTA, TDD: (800) 377-8555. Information is also available from the AOTA website at www.aota.org.

Upon receipt of accreditation from ACOTE, graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Certification Board for Occupational Therapists (NBCOT). After successfully completing this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, New York State, and most other states require licensure in order to practice, however state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam or attain state licensure.