Occupational Therapy
Prepared For The Field
Elizabethtown College's Occupational Therapy (OT) program is the second oldest accredited program in Pennsylvania, offers a combined undergraduate/graduate academic program in occupational therapy, which blends a liberal arts education with professional studies.
By completing the program through Etown College, you’ll graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, and either the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy or the entry-level doctoral (OTD) degree. At present, the 3+2 master’s degree and 3+3 doctoral degree programs are exclusively available to Etown occupational therapy students, with over 95% of our senior students enrolling in and completing either the master's or doctoral degree. In the past 3 years, over 96% of our graduates have passed the national board exam within one year of graduation.
Occupational Therapy Pathways
Start at Elizabethtown College and finish at Elizabethtown College. Our distinctive program gives you the opportunity to initiate study immediately, progress in the program without reapplying, and begin your practice with a Master's degree in five years or a doctoral degree in six years.
Students must be enrolled in the Health Science degree (Bachelor of Science) at Elizabethtown with a minimum GPA of 2.9 by the end of the third year to qualify for the graduate portion of the Occupational Therapy curriculum. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 throughout the fourth year and graduate years in order to successfully graduate with the M.S. or OTD in occupational therapy.Bachelor of Science in Health Science
Master of Science (M.S.) in Occupational Therapy or Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
Successful completion of the M.S. or the OTD affords you the opportunity to complete Level II fieldwork and take the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam and to become licensed to practice occupational therapy as individual states require.
Note: A felony conviction may affect an individual’s qualification to take the NBCOT certification examination and/or obtain professional credentials. View the course catalog for the OTD program. View the course catalog for the M.S. program.
What Can I Do With a Degree in Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy is a profession that helps to improve the well-being and functions of people with developmental delay and physical and psychological challenges. The student in occupational therapy undertakes a program that integrates the humanities and the behavioral and physical sciences with professional 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.
Graduates of the program who earn a Master of Science or the entry level doctorate (OTD) in Occupational Therapy will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. Note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT examination or obtain state licensure.
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A Distinctive, Distinguished Program
Several factors distinguish our program from others:
- You'll be educated in the college's core curriculum, which integrates and supports learning about occupational therapy.
- Five-year, entry-level Master's degree or six-year entry level doctoral program. Unlike most other schools in which you apply to the OT program in your second or third year of college, with Etown, you apply and are accepted as an OT student for the first year of college with no reapplication for the graduate program.
- You may study abroad during your junior year, or may participate in other international learning experiences during May terms or other breaks.
Faculty with Real-World Experience
Learn from professionals who have worked in a clinic. Our faculty members represent a wealth of specialty clinical practice across all ages – from newborns to the elderly – in various settings such as hospitals, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation centers, psychiatric hospitals, schools, homes, community health programs, and international settings. They are experts in research, theory, clinical reasoning and clinical intervention.
Serve and Learn
Our department is a prime example of the College's mission to "Educate for Service." As a student of occupational therapy, you are preparing for a career of serving others, all while being part of an intimate and caring learning environment. While at Etown, you will find many opportunities for serving others through the OT department but also outside of the classroom through the College’s Center of Community and Civic Engagement.
Program Details
Program Accreditation:
Both the B.S./M.S. and B.S./OTD programs offered by Elizabethtown College's Occupational Therapy Program are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE's telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-6611 and their email address is accred@aota.org.
Tuition & Fees:
Students enrolled in the Occupational Therapy program pay full-time tuition rates when taking 12-18 credits per term and qualify for financial aid, but fieldwork semesters are billed separately and do not qualify for institutional aid. Tuition estimates account for an annual 3% increase.
OTD Program Outcomes
OTD Graduation Rates:
The total number of graduates from the Elizabethtown College Entry-Level OTD Program for 2024 was 7, with an overall graduation rate of 100%.
| OTD Graduation Year | Students Entering and Graduating On Time | OTD Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7/7 | 100% |
OTD NBCOT Results
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for the inaugural OTD cohort will soon be available on the NBCOT website.
Meet the Program Director
Dr. Kerri Hample, OTR/L, NBC-HWC
Program Director for the Post-Professional OTD
Esbenshade Hall, Room 369
717-361-1172
Dr. Hample joined the Etown faculty in 2009. Dr. Hample is a clinical expert providing occupational therapy services for children and their families in early intervention, schools, and outpatient clinics for more than 25 years. Her specialty focus is on feeding and eating, childhood nutrition, sensory processing, and childhood occupational performance. She is an Associate Professor in the School of Sciences and Health, and enjoys teaching graduate students in all three of the programs offered by the Occupational Therapy Department at Etown.
M.S. Program Outcomes
M.S. Graduation Rates:
The total number of graduates from the Elizabethtown College Master of Occupational Therapy Program from 2022-2024 was 163, with an overall graduation rate of 99%.
| M.S. Graduation Year | Students Entering and Graduating On Time* | M.S. Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 64/63* | 98% |
| 2023 | 48/48 | 100% |
| 2024 | 52/51+ | 98% |
| *on-time graduation rate includes completion of level II fieldwork with 18 months after coursework. | ||
| + pending fieldwork level II completion |
M.S. NBCOT Results:
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for the M.S. program can be found on the NBCOT website.
Meet the Program Director
Dr. Debbie Waltermire, DrPH, OTR/L
Program Director for the M.S. in Occupational Therapy
Esbenshade Hall, Room 365B
717-361-1173
Dr. Waltermire joined Etown’s OT department in 1997 as the full-time fieldwork coordinator. She subsequently served the department as a part-time lecturer from 2005-2018. In 2018, she was appointed as a full-time assistant professor, and in 2022, Dr. Waltermire was promoted to associate professor and appointed as the B.S./M.S. program director. Her primary clinical background is in adult psychiatry, especially adults with schizophrenia and other severe and persistent mental illnesses. She also has worked as a consultant and manager in an acute care medical center with a physical rehabilitation program. Her experience also includes coordinating clinical fieldwork programs for OT students as well as supervising many fieldwork students.
Learning Labs & Spaces
As a student in the Occupational Therapy program, you will put theory into practice and get plenty of hands-on experience through simulation activities. Our department boasts several student occupational therapy labs and opportunities to put your skills to the test.
The Physical Rehabilitation Lab
The Occupations Lab
The Kid Zone
Student Opportunities
Students in the Occupational Therapy Program have many opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. From studying in a foreign country, to presenting original research in the discipline, our students are on the forefront of culture, change, and academic excellence.
Occupational Therapy Honor Society
Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE) is the national honor society for occupational therapy students and alumni. The goal of PTE is to advance the occupational therapy profession. High-achieving students are invited to join the Upsilon Chapter of PTE at Elizabethtown College during the spring of their junior year, according to national PTE guidelines. PTE sponsors scholarly and influential speakers, organizes and staffs the Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Symposium and contributes to the local community through service activities such as hosting dances for children with disabilities and participating in the annual Rebuilding Together work day.
Student Occupational Therapy Association
The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) is a voluntary club for all undergraduate and graduate OT students. The purpose of SOTA is to bring those interested in occupational therapy together and to provide an opportunity for individuals to learn, become involved, and advocate for the profession. We promote occupational therapy on our campus, and represent Etown College at national events including AOTA Student Conclave and the annual AOTA National Conference. We also serve the community through engaging in many service events throughout the year.
Honors in the Discipline
The purpose of Honors in the Discipline is to recognize outstanding college seniors majoring in Occupational Therapy and to provide an advanced learning experience for highly motivated students. This learning experience allows you to explore an area of interest via a supervised independent project. Honors are recorded on your transcript and in the commencement program. Students who complete honors in the discipline present their work at the College’s Scholarship & Creative Arts Day. Some students may also present their projects at state, national, and international occupational therapy conferences!
Graduate Projects
During the graduate curriculum, all OT students participate in faculty-led scholarly projects that serve as an opportunity to apply and integrate professional reasoning, critical thinking, and practical research skills around a topic of interest. You will present your project to colleagues, families, faculty, and clinical practitioners at the Graduate Research Symposium, which is a part of Elizabethtown College's Scholarship and Creative Arts Day (SCAD). Many of the completed projects are also presented at state, national, and international OT conferences.
Study Abroad Opportunities
The world is too big to not spend any time understanding it! While at Etown, you’ll have the option to spend a semester abroad during your junior year, while majoring in occupational therapy, and still graduate on-time! We work with you to plan your academic coursework so that you can take advantage of a global opportunity. Additional short-term experiences are available during the college breaks.
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