The Best Schools Offering Graduate Degree Programs in Occupational Therapy
Higher Education Articles May 10, 2017Overview of Schools offering Occupational Therapy Degree Programs
Those who complete a master’s degree in occupational therapy are trained to seek an entry-level job as an occupational therapist. They can opt for continuing studies by earning a Ph.D. that can lead to higher-level occupational therapy (OT) careers. Extensive research facilities are offered at Washington University in St. Louis aimed at furthering education and research while there is a focus on hands-on training via fieldwork at the University of Southern California. In this article, we take a look at these schools:
Washington University in St. Louis in St. Louis, MO
The U.S. News & World Report accorded Washington University’s Program in Occupational Therapy joint second position on its 2012 list of top schools with occupational therapy programs. The program, which is available through the university’s School of Medicine, carries the accreditation of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
Holders of a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy can enroll in the master’s program or earn a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.); an additional year of study is in the latter program. In their first year of study, master’s program students can seek admission to the doctorate program. Those who do not wish to study beyond the master’s degree program can take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam.
University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA
The U.S. News & World Report accorded the program at USC top rank on its 2012 list of occupational therapy programs. A Master of Arts (M.A.) in Occupational Therapy is available at the school along with OTD and Ph.D. programs. Specialization in rehabilitation medicine, pediatrics, and lifestyle redesign are available through the graduate OT program, also recognized by ACOTE. Occupational therapy graduate students at USC are given the opportunity to apply their classroom learning via hands-on practice in the fieldwork component of the coursework. Nearly 700 fieldwork sites are connected with the program, allowing students to choose a setting that best suits their needs; this allows observation and practice of skills with experts in their field.
List of Schools offering Occupational Therapy Programs
| School Name | Total Student Enrollment | Location |
| Columbia University | 28,086 | New York, New York |
| Washington University in St Louis | 14,688 | Saint Louis, Missouri |
| Tufts University | 11,137 | Medford, Massachusetts |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 29,084 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| University of Southern California | 43,401 | Los Angeles, California |
| University of Florida | 50,645 | Gainesville, Florida |
| New York University | 50,027 | New York, New York |
| Boston University | 32,158 | Boston, Massachusetts |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | 42,716 | Madison, Wisconsin |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 58,663 | Columbus, Ohio |
