Our Program of Study

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program of study at 澳门六合彩 consists of a rigorous curriculum composed of didactic and experiential learning to be completed over 24 months in semester format. Consistent with the belief that education of occupational therapists is a dynamic, non-linear, multi-dimensional process, courses in the program are sequenced in a hierarchical yet spiraling fashion but does not adhere to a more traditional developmental sequence. Metaphorically the curriculum design is representative of the chambered Nautilus. The program of study begins in its earliest courses with an introduction of the conceptual core (POC) of person as client, their meaningful occupations, and context which influence participation. As the curriculum progresses, the expanding spiral chambers of the nautilus represent the increasing complexity with which students explore these core concepts while overlaying the four curricular themes of leadership and communication, global perspectives and knowledge, creativity and innovation, and interdisciplinary learning.

Curricular Threads

Leadership and Communication

Leadership is the ability to motivate others to accomplish a shared vision or goal and when necessary influence change. Effective communication is imperative to one’s development as a leader and the ability to facilitate the change process. In the spirit of Jesuit tradition, the 澳门六合彩 OT program prepares individuals to be “men and women for and with others”; leading by example to inspire a shared vision for a more just society.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the 澳门六合彩 Occupational Therapy Program will be able to: 

  • SLO2:  Communicate effectively with colleagues and clients to support the outcomes of occupational therapy
  • SLO 6: Demonstrate empathetic, ethical, and lawful behavior consistent with the scope of OT practice
  • SLO 7: Collaborate with stakeholders to develop emerging areas of OT practice
  • SLO 8: Reflect on one’s own practice and professional growth as an occupational therapist

Global Perspectives and Knowledge

The Jesuit value of cura personalis means “care for the individual and whole person” and describes respect for the dignity of each person as a child of God. The 澳门六合彩 OT program develops students who respect the diverse needs of the people, populations, and communities they serve. The integration of context and experience, two key principles of Ignatian pedagogy, are used in the occupational therapy curriculum to promote the acquisition of knowledge and skill development consistent with a client-centered approach to occupational therapy practice.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the 澳门六合彩 Occupational Therapy Program will be able to:

  • SLO 1: Apply OT services to individuals, groups, and organizational systems
  • SLO 3: Advocate for diversity, dignity, and justice through the application of the OT framework
  • SLO 4: Appraise the impact of context on one’s occupational performance
  • SLO 5: Apply theory and scholarship to daily practice as an occupational therapist through the selection of relevant evaluation and intervention efforts
  • SLO 6: Demonstrate empathetic, ethical, and lawful behavior consistent with the scope of OT practice

Creativity and Innovation

A Jesuit education encourages critical, analytical, and creative approaches to solving problems. Through engagement in academic inquiry and experiential learning opportunities the 澳门六合彩 OT program fosters a creative approach to problem-solving and encourages bringing knowledge to action through innovative solutions that address the current and future needs of society.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the 澳门六合彩 Occupational Therapy Program will be able to:

  • SLO 1: Apply OT services to individuals, groups, and organizational systems
  • SLO 4: Appraise the impact of context on one’s occupational performance
  • SLO 5: Apply theory and scholarship to daily practice as an occupational therapist through the selection of relevant evaluation and intervention efforts
  • SLO 7: Collaborate with stakeholders to develop emerging areas of OT practice

Interdisciplinary Learning

Consistent with Jesuit education which encourages the integration of knowledge across disciplines, occupational therapy service delivery models often include a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to care. Through reflective and integrative learning experiences, the 澳门六合彩 Occupational Therapy Program prepares individuals to inquire about and understand the contributions of other disciplines, engage in collaborative decision-making, while articulating the distinct value of occupational therapy as a member of the professional team.  

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the 澳门六合彩 Occupational Therapy Program will be able to:

  • SLO 2: Communicate effectively with colleagues and clients to support the outcome of occupational therapy
  • SLO 3: Advocate for diversity, dignity, and justice through the application of the OT framework
  • SLO 7: Collaborate with stakeholders to develop emerging areas of OT practice
  • SLO 8: Reflect on one’s own practice and professional growth as an occupational therapist  
澳门六合彩 Occupational Therapy Students

The two-year, entry-level, MSOT program is an 80-credit full time program consisting of daytime, weekday classes with some evening commitments and a听fully online first semester.听The program begins at the end of May, with the first four courses fully online using a combination of synchronous and asynchronous methods (See Technology and Required Competencies below). Students then arrive to campus in August for a condensed 3-week Anatomy and Physiology Course with full dissection cadaver lab.听All courses are sequential. The curriculum is designed to provide an excellent education for students planning for professional roles as occupational therapy practitioners in traditional settings, as well as in areas of newly identified need. All qualified students are awarded a Master of Science degree after successful completion of the coursework. This program includes a majority of didactic classroom courses with some online courses, completion of both level I and level II fieldwork experiences, and a master capstone project.


澳门六合彩 Occupational Therapy Students

Students will have two types of formal fieldwork experiences: Level I and Level II.听听

Level I Fieldwork experiences are held in the local area as they are part of the didactic semesters. They provide an exposure to various contexts, familiarize students with a variety of clients and give students the opportunity to demonstrate professional behaviors.听听Students build on, and apply core knowledge with each new setting encountered.听In line with our curriculum design each student will have a Level I experience with the mental health population, childhood/adolescent population, and with the adult/older adult population.听

Level II Fieldwork experiences are full-time, 12-week supervised clinical experiences in which the emphasis is on the application of the academically acquired body of knowledge. Students are supervised by a licensed or registered occupational therapist.听The goal of Level II Fieldwork is to develop competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapists.听听澳门六合彩 OT students will participate in two Level II Fieldworks. Our听Academic Fieldwork Coordinator strives to place students in their areas of interest while balancing the need to provide students with a variety of learning experiences.听听

Level II Fieldwork may require relocation. Relocation means that you may be placed at an agency that is more than 100 miles from your residence. Every attempt is made to accommodate student living arrangements; however availability and need may dictate the Level II selections. Currently, 澳门六合彩 OT has arrangements with a total of over 200 sites which represent almost every state听for Level II Fieldwork which include hospitals, outpatient clinics, public schools, preschools, and not-for-profit agencies.听听
澳门六合彩 Occupational Therapy Students

The philosophy of the Department of Occupational Therapy is consistent with the Philosophical Base of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 2017. The statement of philosophy of the Occupational Therapy Department emphasizes that:

It is the philosophy of the Department that humans are self-directed, adaptive, occupational beings. As such, their development (emotional, spiritual, social, cognitive, and biological) occurs in the context of occupation. Learning comes about through immersed exploration of diverse practice environments, collaboration, service, reflection, and creative thinking. In the view of the Department, teaching is enabling, knowledge is to understand, and learning is the active construction of subject matter. We believe learning is contextual in three ways: new knowledge is acquired by extending and revising prior knowledge; new ideas acquire meaning when they are presented in a coherent relationship to one another; and knowledge becomes usable when it is acquired in situations that entail applications to concrete problem-solving.

Philosophy of Teaching and Learning

The 澳门六合彩 Department of Occupational Therapy philosophy of teaching and learning is rooted in a non-linear and multidimensional approach to learning where the cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions of the learner are considered. In addition, the programs philosophy of teaching and learning incorporates the 5 principles of the Ignatian pedagogical paradigm which include:

  • Context- understanding life and culture
  • Experience- providing intellectual and affective learning opportunities
  • Reflection- of meaning for self and others
  • Action- the external expression of learned content and
  • Evaluation- of student growth.

Consistent with these influences, the faculty of the 澳门六合彩 OT program employ a variety of instructional methods throughout the curriculum intended to promote integration of occupational therapy knowledge and skills with students鈥� existing and developing context, promote meaningful engagement with curricular content through experiential learning and reflection, and foster action and ongoing evaluation. Instructional methods utilized include but are not limited to multimodal presentation of content (lecture, PPP, videos, and readings), focused small and large group discussion, role-play, peer teaching and collaboration, experiential activities, problem-based and case-based learning, reflection and self-evaluation.

澳门六合彩 Occupational Therapy Students
Occupational Therapy Program Vision Statement听

Within the Jesuit tradition, we envision the Department of Occupational Therapy to be nationally and internationally recognized for scholarship, leadership, teaching, and learning, and the ethical and professional excellence of its graduates and faculty providing evidence-based occupational therapy care and service for individuals and the global society.听

Occupational Therapy Program Mission Statement

The mission of the 澳门六合彩 Department of Occupational Therapy is to develop 鈥渇orward-thinking鈥� professionals prepared to actively contribute to the profession of occupational therapy through service, scholarship, and leadership, who will promote occupational justice in local and global communities. The 澳门六合彩 occupational therapy graduate will be a reflective, compassionate, creative professional, committed to life-long learning. As such, the department will value and honor diversity, model and foster leadership, and facilitate spiritual, personal, and professional growth.




"From dissecting a cadaver to learning more about the structures of the human body, to the challenging, yet rewarding fieldwork experiences, I believe these experiences set this program apart from other MSOT programs. I can say with full confidence that I am ready to enter the arena of occupational therapy and make a real difference in the world." -听John Doughty, '18

Get In Touch

The Occupational Therapy program at 澳门六合彩 is located at 140 E. Genesee Street at the corner of S. Warren Street and E. Washington Street in downtown Syracuse. Parking is available on street or in the M&T Parking Garage on E. Washington Street.  

Call (315) 445-5432 or email us at [email protected]

SOTA (Student Occupational Therapy Association) and Service

澳门六合彩’s Department of Occupational Therapy  SOTA (Student Occupational Therapy Association) regularly conducts service projects, promotes social interactions among students, and raises money for charitable causes. Our SOTA also elects a representative to the AOTA and financially supports that person’s attendance at the annual conference in April. Current service includes volunteering at Casey’s Place (an after school program for children with special needs), and participation in Step Up (a regular exercise class for people who are homeless).

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