Jules Doliscar '14, MS '16, an alumnus of the occupational therapy program, works with children at Racker, a local nonprofit organization that supports people with disabilities.
Jules Doliscar '14, MS '16, an alumnus of the occupational therapy program, works with children at Racker, a local nonprofit organization that supports people with disabilities.
The annual U.S. News & World Report rankings of the best graduate schools in the country have been released, and Ithaca College has a trio of programs ranked highly in the inaugural Health Sciences category.
The physical therapy program was ranked 57th, occupational therapy 58th, and speech-language pathology 82nd. All three graduate programs are housed in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance.
Physical therapy student clinicians work with patients in a lab on campus.
Physical therapy student clinicians work with patients in a lab on campus.
The physical therapy program is one of the oldest in the country, and has long been regarded as one of the best in the nation. Students in the six-year doctorate program get a mix of a liberal arts education and hands-on practice in treatment and exam techniques via diverse clinical rotations.
As a result of this immersive education, more than 90 percent of students who take the national licensing exam pass, which is well above the state and national averages.
“This recognition reflects the excellent preparation our occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology programs offer, and the readiness of our students upon graduation to excel in their respective fields. It is a testament to our theory, practice, and performance approach to graduate education.”
Linda Petrosino, Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance
Students in the occupational therapy program not only practice their skills in the college’s state-of-the-art facilities, but partner with faculty to perform cutting-edge research, and then take part in fieldwork in hospitals, schools, outpatient clinics, and summer camps.
The speech-language pathology program offers students two pathways to pursue. Students who want to work with adults in medical settings can earn a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, while those who want to work in educational settings can earn that degree with teaching certification. That path allows students to earn their initial New York State teaching certification.
A student speech clinician works with clients.
A student speech clinician works with clients.
Linda Petrosino, dean of school of School of Health Sciences and Human Performance, says the rankings are a testament not only to the students in the programs, but the college’s core tenets.
“This recognition reflects the excellent preparation our occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology programs offer, and the readiness of our students upon graduation to excel in their respective fields,” she said. “It is a testament to our theory, practice, and performance approach to graduate education.”
The rankings are the results of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators and faculty at accredited degree programs or schools in each discipline.