The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program at St. Bonaventure University has received final approval from the state of New York, opening the door for admittance of the program’s first class of 20 students in the fall.

 

“We’re thrilled that New York’s State Education Department has approved registration of the MSOT program at St. Bonaventure,” said Dr. Joseph Pellerito, founding director and associate professor of the university’s Department of Occupational Therapy.

 

“We can’t wait to welcome our inaugural class in August of 2021. They’ll be learning in newly constructed state-of-the-art facilities in the School of Health Professions, and from a cadre of expert and accomplished faculty,” he said. 

 

The MSOT program is designed for students who have earned a B.S. or B.A. degree in a field other than occupational therapy. Students attend consecutive trimesters over 23 months, including a summer session that is completely online.

 

The program consists of 72 credit-hours divided into two phases. In the 17-month classroom phase, instruction is focused in St. Bonaventure’s historic Francis Hall, site of a $17.5 million renovation project that created a modern new home for the School of Health Professions.

 

In addition to academic coursework, students complete fieldwork experiences in which they observe and participate in selected OT processes in hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, schools and similar treatment facilities.

 

The second phase, Level II fieldwork, is a 24-week, full-time, in-depth experience in which students serve as OT student practitioners in an actual clinical setting, under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist. It is an opportunity for students to develop skill and task mastery, hone their professional behavior and interpersonal communication skills, and demonstrate their ability as entry level practitioners.

 

Courses are taught by iPad initiative/Apple-certified faculty, and the program has clinical affiliations with community partners in the region and across the country.

 

The occupational therapy program at St. Bonaventure educates students as generalist practitioners, in accordance with the requirements of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). 

 

“We’re offering a world-class program that prepares students to help people of all ages overcome disabilities, advance their health and wellness, and improve their quality of life,” said Pellerito.

 

For additional information about the program, including how to apply, visit the occupational therapy website at www.sbu.edu/ot.

 

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. In 2020, St. Bonaventure was named the #2 regional university value in New York and #3 in the North by U.S. News and World Report.