Occupational therapy is an allied health profession critical to helping people achieve function, meaning, and satisfaction in all aspects of their lives. Ithaca College's Department of Occupational Therapy prepares students for this exciting, sought-after career through its hands-on learning environment and close student-faculty relationships.
The department offers two options for students wishing to obtain a degree in occupational therapy:
- Combined bachelor's-master's program: students wishing to enter at the undergraduate level can apply to our combined, five-year bachelor's and master's degree program. This progam is for students who are just beginning college careers or those who started college at another institution and wish to transfer to Ithaca College as an undergraduate student. For more information about this option, contact associate professor Diane Long (dlong@ithaca.edu).
- Professional-entry master's program: students who have earned a bachelor's degree in a field other than occupational therapy can apply to our professional-entry master's program. This program is offered only at the graduate level. To learn more about this option, contact associate professor Melinda Cozzolino, director of the occupational therapy graduate program (mcozzoli@ithaca.edu).
Both programs are fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). For further information, contact ACOTE at 301-652-AOTA or visit its website.
ACOTE Website
Program Features
Our program offers rich opportunities for academic and experiential learning. Students may begin taking occupational therapy courses as early as their first semester, and will be prepared to serve a broad spectrum of clients in multiple settings as an occupational therapist. In addition, through graduate elective courses and experiential learning opportunities, students may further develop their knowledge and skills in an area of special interest. Unique opportunities for experiential learning include:
- The Center for Life Skills, an interdisciplinary, community-based program serving adults with neurological impairments
- An on-campus outpatient clinic for Ithaca College community members and their families
- Opportunities to participate in occupational therapy sessions off campus at the Ithaca Free Clinic
- Innovative fieldwork experiences throughout the United States and overseas
- Study abroad at College-affiliated institutions and through exchange programs
- Faculty-student collaborative research
Facilities
Our modern learning, laboratory, and research facilities include
- An interdisciplinary assistive technology lab
- An activities-of-daily-living laboratory
- A virtual reality research lab
- "Smart" classrooms (featuring online Internet access and multimedia)
Outcomes
Our students work in multiple arenas of health care including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, nursing homes, and community programs.
Several of our students have presented at national and state conferences and have published in major occupational therapy journals.
Our students' pass rate on the national certification examination for first-time test takers is:
- 99 percent for the 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 academic years combined. This percentage reflects scores from 103 first-time test takers.
- 98.4 percent for all program graduates from 2000 to the present. This percentage reflects scores from a total of 198 graduates, 195 of whom passed on the first attempt.
Data is provided by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), which administers this national examination.
NBCOT Website
