Occupational therapy (OT) promotes wellness through everyday activities (occupations). The profession helps people of all ages overcome challenges to participation in their daily lives by developing the “living skills” necessary for independence and satisfaction. OT services typically include:

• Customized treatment programs to improve one’s ability to perform daily activities;
• Comprehensive home and job site evaluations with adaptation recommendations;
• Performance skills assessments and treatment;
• Adaptive equipment recommendations and usage training; and
• Guidance to family members and caregivers.

The M.S. in Occupational Therapy program in the School of Graduate Medical Education is a professional program which prepares graduates for certification and state licensure as entry-level practitioners in the field.

The M.S. in Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association. The six-semester, 84-credit program offers a unique blend of experiential and academic experiences with a community and entrepreneurship model. Through this dynamic interplay, students are well prepared to begin professional practice as entry-level occupational therapists.

The program is distinguished by its integration of theory with application of skills and a focus on knowledge of and sensitivity to culturally diverse populations. The School’s prime location allows exposure to diverse and challenging OT practice settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, public and specialty schools and private practices in the New Jersey and New York metropolitan area, as well as out of state. While most programs provide only two fieldwork (clinical) experiences, Seton Hall’s M.S. in Occupational Therapy program provides experiences nearly every semester, requiring three full-time Level II experiences, equivalent to approximately nine months of full-time clinical work.

Foundation courses are “cross-program,” meaning students gain an appreciation from their peers in other health professions, including athletic training and physical therapy, and learn from distinguished, interdisciplinary faculty. Weekly clinical experiences are integrated with courses in psychosocial practice, rehabilitation, and pediatrics. Students also have the opportunity to complete fieldwork in an advanced area of practice such as hand therapy and early intervention.

Servant leadership plays an important role in the program. Students reach out to the local community and develop a business plan for an OT practice. This opportunity allows students to experience entrepreneurship and leadership in addition to traditional OT practice. Some students choose to implement their plan upon graduation. Graduates of the program quickly move to leadership roles in the OT field.

Program graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist. The total number of graduates who passed the certification examination as first-time and repeat-test takers in 2005-2007 was 36 out of 36 (100 percent).  Of the new graduates, the pass rate among first-time test takers was 92 percent which is 33 out of 36.

The program graduates have a 100 percent job placement rating. A majority of the program’s graduates practice in pediatrics, mainly in the school system, while others are employed in nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private clinics and home care and hand therapy.

For more information on the M.S. in Occupational Therapy program, check out the admission and curriculum and apply today.