Department of Occupational Therapy (B.S., M.S.)
Carlson (Chair), Achenbach, Ericksen, Humbert, Leimbach, Panchik, Potter, Salvadia, Waltermire
Occupational Therapy is a health profession that helps to improve the well-being and functions of people with developmental delay and physical and psychological dysfunction. The student in occupational therapy undertakes a program that integrates the humanities and the behavioral and physical sciences with profes-sional study. The primary objective is to prepare the student as a generalist practitioner who is qualified for employment in hospitals, community agencies, schools, rehabilitation centers, extended-care facilities and related human services agencies. With this foundation, the beginning therapist can progress to specialized areas of clinical practice as well as research, administration and academia.
Elizabethtown College offers a combined BS/MS Occupational Therapy program that requires five years of academic study and six months of clinical fieldwork. The program awards both a Bachelor of Science in Health and Occupation and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.
Mission
To educate students to become highly qualified occupational therapy practitioners who can actively contribute to the profession through service, scholarship and leadership and to promote occupational justice for all people.
Core Values
The Core Values of the Occupational Therapy (OT) program are:
Exceptionally prepared entry-level master’s occupational therapy
practitioners. Educating practitioners who are able to engage in
reflective practice based on clinical reasoning; who have a solid
foundation of skills and knowledge; who demonstrate a thorough
understanding of research and its relation to evidenced-based
practice; and who value the ethos of professionalism and the ethics
of lifelong learning.
Human occupation. Emphasizing the understanding of human
occupations across cultural and social groups and as they relate to
the therapeutic process and healthy well-being. Occupational
Therapy courses bridge the understanding gap between occupational
performance and liberal arts learning through case studies, discussion
and active learning.
Occupational justice. Emphasizing the right that all individuals have to
maintain a healthy balance of meaningful occupations. This involves
helping others to participate in meaningful and balanced occupations.
Globally aware students. Emphasizing the need for multicultural
awareness and international understanding as a prerequisite for
occupational therapy practice. International and service experiences
enable our students to interact effectively in culturally diverse practice
settings. Service-learning and civic engagement are valued
components of our program.
Liberal arts foundation. Emphasizing the role of the liberal arts
education in developing personal character, critical thinking, ethical
problem solving, and communication. Occupational therapy at
Elizabethtown College has a proud tradition of educating students
for a professional discipline in a liberal arts environment.
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
Majors
