Graduate College | Henrietta Schmoll School of Health
With St. Catherine University's nationally ranked Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT) or Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD-EL), you receive an excellent entry-level education in occupational therapy based on an occupational science and liberal arts foundation.
Program Details
Format: Weekdays
Completion time: 2.5 years (MAOT) or 3.25 (OTD-EL)
Credits: 72 (MAOT) or 100 (OTD-EL)
Cost per credit (2019–2020): $1,089
Start: Summer
Many graduate students are eligible for financial aid, usually in the form of student loans, employer tuition benefits, or scholarships.
Fieldwork, Teamwork, and Experiences Abroad
The graduate OT science-based curriculum is interwoven with the University’s liberal arts education, and provides you with a foundation in four major populations and practice areas: pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, and rehabilitation. You’ll complete courses in each specialty, examine critical research, and engage in practical fieldwork to hone your ability to practice in multiple areas. Teams of students work together to problem-solve sample cases, examining how clients fit into society, what issues they have in the workplace and at home, and what funding they need.
Multicultural experiences in communities across the U.S. and abroad deepen your understanding of how culture influences healthcare delivery. Opportunities for fieldwork in diverse settings allow you to deepen your understanding of populations and cultures, and share caring strategies with health professionals here and abroad.
The OT entry-level degrees are rigorous, full-time programs. Students must plan carefully to balance the demands of graduate school with other work, family, and community obligations.
As an OT, your influence goes beyond rehabilitation to help people continue healthy relationships and engage in their favorite activities. You develop the capacity to understand clients holistically, as individuals who are influenced by their environment and motivated by what gives them meaning.
The demand for OTs is increasing as baby boomers age and the field expands, opening up opportunities for you to practice in a variety of environments. With a graduate degree in occupational therapy from St. Kate's, you’ll possess the foundation for a meaningful career as a caring, creative, and knowledgeable professional.
Our current students and alumni are frequent presenters at professional conferences, active in occupational therapy and interdisciplinary professional associations, and sought after by employers.
Program Accreditation
The Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy curriculum at St. Catherine University is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA).
On August 2, 2013, ACOTE presented a Certificate of Accreditation to the Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy program at St. Catherine University for a period of 10 years from the academic year 2012–2013 to 2022–2023.
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, the sate 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.
ACOTE
c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814-3449
Phone: (301) 652-AOTA
www.aota.org
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level curriculum at St. Catherine University has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, the sate 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.
ACOTE
c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814-3449
Phone: (301) 652-AOTA
www.acoteonline.org
Learn more about accreditation and outcomes for this program