Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

Live your best life helping others live their best lives

Empowering individuals to live their best lives, stay healthy and prevent or adapt to living with injuries or disabilities, occupational therapy is the process of engaging in everyday activities to rehabilitate a muscle, range of motion or improve a person’s ability to perform lifestyle tasks.

Alvernia offers three Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy degree tracks based upon a student's previous coursework:
 

• The five-year Bachelor of Science in Health Science and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program, grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation, is designed to prepare graduates for entry into professional level occupational therapy practice.
• The Entry Level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree program is designed for students who have earned a baccalaureate degree in another area of study and wish to become qualified as an occupational therapist.
• The post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) is the highest level of formal education available to entry-level occupational therapists. The doctorate, which focuses on program development, prepares therapists to address the occupational needs of people of all ages with a broad exposure to traditional and community-based practice settings and areas.

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Getting Started

Application Instructions

Through a rolling admission process, prospective undergraduate students — including first-year, transfer, and international students — may apply via the Alvernia web portal or The Common Application. To learn more about how to complete your application, please visit our application page.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, and visit our FAFSA page to stay up to date on the latest from federal student aid. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

Career Outlook

After earning your degree in occupational therapy, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

   • Rehabilitation Director for skilled nursing facility
   • Home Health OT
   • Pediatric OT for inpatient and outpatient clinics
   • School-based and Telehealth OT
   • Early Intervention OT
   • Hand therapist
   • Staff therapist for hospitals
   • Occupational Therapist for VA Medical Centers
   • OT in the Army Medical Specialist Corps
   • Investigator/Track Research for large corporation
   • Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for a university
   • OT in community Mental Health Centers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. Occupational therapy will continue to be an important part of treatment for people with various illnesses and disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, autism, or the loss of a limb. The median annual wage for occupational therapists in 2023 was $96,370.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Community-based fieldwork includes partnerships with:

   • Hannah's Hope
   • Hope Rescue Mission
   • IM Able
   • BOG Turtle Farm
   • Abilities in Motion
   • Opportunity House
   • All Abilities Fitness Center
   • Paramount Recovery House
   • Rock Steady Boxing program with Tower Health and Body Zone
   • Reading Housing Authority
   • Olivet Boys and Girls Club
   • Dayspring Homes
   • Liberty High School - Trauma Informed Care Program

• Students have completed Level II fieldwork in countries such as Ecuador, Belize, Haiti, Uganda and the Dominican Republic.
• Students create prosthetics using a 3-D printer and send them to those in need across the globe. Alvernia students have connected with patients in Indonesia, Canada and the U.S. through e-Nable, an online global community of “Digital Humanitarian” volunteers.
• Students compete in national competitions such as the AOTA Student Conclave Knowledge Bowl.

Accreditation Statements

• Alvernia's MSOT program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the NBCOT exam, the individual becomes an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR®). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licensure is typically contingent on the results of the NBCOT Certification examination.
• Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.