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:
 

 

Getting Started

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Application Instructions

Through a rolling admission process, prospective students may apply to Alvernia at any time. Multiple start dates throughout the year allow accepted students to begin a program of study at an accommodating time. We constantly accept and review applications contingent on openings in specific academic majors.


Keeping on track is important throughout the process. We encourage you to work with an Admissions Counselor to submit all necessary materials by required deadlines. Our dedicated Admissions staffs will work directly with you to identify the best options that work for you and your unique situation.


Once your application is reviewed, we make every effort to notify you of our decision within two to four weeks.

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, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. 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.

 

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Curriculum Overview

Curriculum: BSHS + MSOT Undergraduate Phase

6 semesters (103 credits)


Fall Semester 1 -Total Credits 18

  • FYS – SEARCH Seminar (3 cr)
  • COM 101 (3 cr)
  • World Language I (3 cr)
  • THE 105 (3 cr)
  • ART, Music, Theatre (3 cr)
  • PSY 101 (3 cr)

 

Spring Semester 2 - Total Credits 17

  • PHI 105 (3 cr)
  • COM (not 100 or 101) (3 cr)
  • World Language II (3 cr)
  • SOC 111 (3 cr)
  • BIO 107 (3 cr)
  • BIO 117 (1 cr)
  • OT 105 OT Orientation Seminar (1 cr)

 

Fall Semester 3 - Total Credits 16

  • BIO 108 (3 cr)
  • BIO 118 (1 cr)
  • BIO 208 (3 cr)
  • OT 200 The Occupational Therapy
  •  Profession (3 cr)
  • OT 220 Analyzing Occupation (3 cr)
  • OT 225 Health Conditions in OT (3 cr)

 

Spring Semester 4 - Total Credits 18

  • THE/PHI (200-400) (3 cr)
  • BIO 211 (3 cr)
  • PSY 208 (3 cr)
  • MAT 208 (3 cr)
  • OT 230 OT Process (3 cr)
  • OT 235 Pediatrics I: OT in EI and Schools (3 cr) 

 

Fall Semester 5 - Total Credits 18

  • HIS/POS (3 cr)
  • ENG (3 cr)
  • PSY 250 (3 cr)
  • OT 320 Quantitative Research for the OT (3 cr)
  • OT 322 Adult I: Hospital-based OT Practice (3 cr)
  • OT 326 Gerontology I: Aging and Infirmity (3 cr)

 

Spring Semester 6 - Total Credits 16

  • THE/PHI (ethics/morality @ 200 level) (3 cr)
  • Path of Knowledge (PSY or BIO) (3 cr)
  • OT 328 OT in Mental & Behavioral Health (3 cr)
  • OT 330 Pediatrics II: Hospital & Clinic-based OT Services (3 cr)
  • OT 331 FW I Seminar I: Introduction to Level I FW (1 cr)
  •  *OT 333 Qualitative Research for the OT (3 cr)

 

*This course fulfills the writing enhanced graduation requirement

Curriculum: BSHS + MSOT Graduate Phase

Fall Semester 7 - Total Credits 14

  • OT 410 Adult II: Neuro-rehabilitation(3 cr)
  • OT 415 Gerontology II: Productive Aging (3 cr)
  • OT 420 FW I Seminar II: Level I FW Collaboration & Professional Development (1 cr)
  • OT 425 OT Orthopedics Across the Lifespan (3 cr)
  • OT 430 Advocacy in OT (3 cr)
  • OT 435 Senior Capstone Seminar - Reflection & Transition (1 cr)

 

Spring Semester 8 - Total Credits 15

  • OT 500 Healthcare Team Collaboration (3 cr)
  • OT 510 Clinical Competency Lab (3 cr)
  • OT 515 FW I Seminar III: Mastery and Mentorship (1 cr)
  • OT 524 OT Elective – 2-3 course options (3 cr)
  • OT 530 Capstone I: Intro and Search Method (2 cr)
  • OT-COR 520 Ethical Practice and Moral Leadership (3 cr)

 

Fall Semester 9 -Total Credits 12

  • OT 600 OT Level II FW: Practicum I (12 weeks) (7 cr)
  • OT 615 Capstone II: Synthesis and Results (MOD) (2 cr)
  • OT 625 Management and Delivery of Service (MOD) (3 cr)

 

Spring Semester 10 = Total Credits 12

  • OT 630 Practicum II: OT Level II FW (12 weeks) (7 cr)
  • OT 635 Capstone III: Discussion & Dissemination (2 cr)
  • OT 640 Professional Development & Certification (3 cr)

 

Total Credits = 156 (Earned – Combined BSHCS and MSOT degrees)

Curriculum: Post-Baccalaureate MSOT

This seven-semester track, which is meant for students with an earned bachelor's degree, requires two years and four months of study (including foundational, professional and field-work). It follows a year-round curriculum sequence: Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall. Prerequisites include completion of the following: Anatomy and Physiology (6 cr. with lab component), Kinesiology (3 cr.), Introduction to Sociology or Anthropology (3 cr.), Introduction to Psychology (3 cr.), Lifespan Development or Developmental Psychology (3 cr.), Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.), and Statistics (3 cr.).

Fall Semester 1 = 12 credits

  • OT 514 The Occupational Therapy Profession (3 cr)
  • OT 516 Analyzing Occupation (3 cr)
  • OT 519 Health Conditions in OT (3 cr)
  • OT 528 Quantitative Research for the OT (3 cr)


Spring Semester 2 = 13 credits

  • OT 529 OT Process (3 cr)
  • OT 531 Pediatrics I: EI & Schools (2+2) (3 cr)
  • OT 533 Qualitative Research for the OT (3 cr)
  • OT 520 Ethical Practice and Moral Leadership (3 cr)
  • OT 537 FW I Seminar I: Introduction to Level I FW (1 cr)


Summer Semester 3 = 10 credits

  • OT 550 Adult I: Hospital-based OT Practice (3 cr)
  • OT 552 Gerontology I: Aging and Infirmity (3 cr)
  • OT 554 OT in Mental & Behavioral Health (3 cr)
  • OT 556 FW I Seminar II: Collaboration and Professional Development (1 cr)


Fall Semester 4 = 13 credits

  • OT 560 Pediatrics II: Hospital & Clinic-based OT Services (3 cr)
  • OT 561 Adult II: Neuro-rehabilitation (3 cr)
  • OT 563 Gerontology II: Productive Aging (3 cr)
  • OT 565 OT Orthopedics Across the Lifespan (3 cr)
  • OT 567 FW I Seminar III: Mastery and Mentorship (1 cr)


Spring Semester 5 = 11 credits (*14 credits with optional elective)

  • OT 570 Clinical Competency Lab (3 cr)
  • OT 572 Health Care Team Collaboration (3 cr)
  • OT 578 Capstone I: Intro & Search Method (2 cr)
  • OT 535 Advocacy in OT (3 cr)
  • OT Elective (optional) (3 cr)*


Summer Semester 6 = 9 credits

  • OT 608 Practicum I: Level II FW (12 weeks) (4 cr)
  • OT 623 Capstone II: Synthesis and Results (2 cr)
  • OT 574 Management and Delivery of Service (3 cr)


Fall Semester 7 = 9 credits

  • OT 645 Practicum II: Level II FW (12 weeks anytime between August-October) (4 cr)
  • OT 650 Capstone III: Discussion & Dissemination (2 cr)
  • OT 665 Professional Development and Certification (3 cr)


Total credits = 77

**The capstone for the entry-level MSOT is the completion of a critically appraised topic (CAT) investigating a topic of concern to the profession. Students develop a PICO or guiding research question based on a clinical scenario of interest, conduct a review of existing evidence, generate a written report, and disseminate findings through a public presentation. 

Curriculum: OTD

Note: Alvernia schedules 6 mods over a 12-month period.
 

Mod 1+2- Fall (7 credits)

  • OTD 602 Understanding Contexts: Service Delivery Systems (3 credits)
  • OTD 604 Healthcare Policy and Advocacy: Ethics, professional values, & occupational Justice (3 credits)
  • OTD 606 Capstone Development I (1 credit)

 

Mod 3+4 - Spring (7 credits)

  • OTD 608 Using Evidence to support Program Development (3 credits)
  • OTD 612 Leading Change and Entrepreneurship (3 credits)
  • OTD 614 Capstone Development II (1 credit)

 

Mod 5+6 - Summer (7 credits)

  • OTD 702 Needs Assessment: meeting the needs of diverse populations (3 credits)
  • OTD 704 Funding programs/Grant Writing/Service Delivery Finance (3 credits)
  • OTD 706 Capstone Development III (1 credit)

 

Mod 1+2 – Fall (7 credits)

  • OTD 712 Program Outreach: Promoting and marketing to connect with audiences (3 credits)
  • OTD 714 Measuring Success: Outcomes measures and program assessment (3 credits)
  • OTD 716 Capstone Development IV - IRB Application Submitted (1 credit)

 

Mod 3 & 4-Spring (6 credits)

  • OTD 802 Capstone Implementation (3 credits)
  • OTD 804 Capstone Report & Dissemination (3 credits)
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.
Experiential Learning Opportunities

Alvernia's OT program has 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.

Career Outlook 

After earning your MSOT degree, 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
  • Occupational Therapist specializing in low vision, driver rehabilitation, work hardening, home and environmental modifications and sensory integration


According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 14 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for occupational therapists in 2019 was $85,570.

 

 

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