Contact Us

B.S./M.S. Degree in Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapist with PatientMission

The mission of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus is to prepare health professionals who will demonstrate mastery of a complex body of skills, knowledge, attitudes and values reflecting best practices sensitive to the needs of a diverse urban community. Our goal is to provide access to Occupational Therapy education students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

As graduates, these occupational therapists will promote people’s health and wellness via their engagement in meaningful occupations. They will provide skillful care grounded in scientific evidence and research, adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards, and recognizing the inherent dignity of all people.

It is our vision, that the occupational therapy services of our graduates will be guided by humanistic and ethical values and an appreciation of scientific inquiry. They will assume roles as innovators, leaders and scholars for the profession and the community. They will empower each person to attain a healthy, satisfying and meaningful quality of life in the context of their unique life experience.

B.S./M.S. in Occupational Therapy

The Department of Occupational Therapy at the Brooklyn Campus offers a 122-credit B.S./M.S. degree in Occupational Therapy, that is approved by the New York State Education Department and the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Prior to entering the professional phase of the program, students must complete the liberal arts and sciences core curriculum (64 credits), which offers a comprehensive base of sciences, humanities and social sciences. The professional phase of the program spans three years of full-time professional academic courses and clinical work that is integrated with several community-service learning experiences. The professional phase of the program also may be completed on a part-time basis over four years.

The program is designed to educate entry-level occupational therapists whose skills and training prepare them to practice competently in the rapidly changing health care environment. Faculty members are actively involved in promoting community health and wellness through funded research and through programs that assist people in achieving their highest level of functioning within the context of their own communities. From their first year in the program, occupational therapy students are involved in these activities as part of their training.

The B.S./M.S. curriculum offers students enriched opportunities to focus on individual, professional growth; to participate in community service learning; to refine cultural sensitivity and evidence-based practice skills. Our students engage in health promotion in community settings and develop clinical skills to treat the whole person. Students’ clinical experiences include the development of comprehensive treatment plans based on the person’s occupational roles, including physical, cognitive and psychosocial needs and the use of the person’s occupations and activities to promote health and independence.

The program stresses the use of a variety of teaching methods and the integration of technology in the coursework that allows students to develop a comprehensive understanding of practice and to build their research skills. Embedded in the curriculum are activities that enhance students’ communication and critical thinking, while preparing them for successful clinical careers and leadership roles with their professional community. A comprehensive enrichment program spans throughout the curriculum to support students’ academic excellence and professional development, fostering growth for students from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

Our clinical education is comprehensive and extensive. We offer four (4) Fieldwork I affiliations in geriatrics, mental health (traditional and emerging wellness community settings), physical disabilities and pediatrics. We also offer three (3) Fieldwork II level affiliations in mental health, physical disabilities and pediatrics. Our faculty works closely with our clinical educators in the field to ensure a high quality of clinical experiences for all students.