What Occupational Therapists Do
Occupational therapists provide services to promote and/or develop clients’ meaningful engagement in their chosen occupations, through various practice approaches such as rehabilitation, prevention, consultation, and wellness promotion.
Occupational therapists help redesign people's lives and environments
so they can function to their maximum in the activities or occupations
that are important in their lives. Opportunities in occupational therapy
are limitless!. Occupational therapists work with a wide variety of individuals
from infants, to older adults; individuals with psychiatric and/or physical
impairments, well individuals who have had interruptions in their day-to-day
functioning, injured workers, premature babies, and individuals who are
homeless, among others.
More than 90 thousand occupational therapists and occupational therapy
assistants work in public and private schools, private practices, community-based
programs, nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, outpatient clinics,
disability insurance companies, pediatric programs, prisons, work rehabilitation
programs, sheltered workshops, homeless programs, drug and alcohol rehabilitation
programs and day treatment and other psychiatric programs.
Occupational Therapy ranks in the top 15 fastest growing jobs for college
graduates aged 20-29. The U.S. Department of Labor projects that by 2010,
occupational therapists will see a 21-35% increase in the number of jobs
available. Occupational therapy also ranks among the top 25 best paying
jobs for college graduates aged 20-29. The average salary for occupational
therapists falls at approximately $52,000 per year depending upon the
type of setting and the geographic location of the job. Occupational therapists
in private practice or who venture into creative entrepreneurial pursuits
can make over $100,000.
Occupational Therapy offers an opportunity to combine science and health
with creativity to improve and enhance the lives and functions of individuals
and prevent disruptions in the occupations of life such as driving, working,
dressing, meal preparation and whatever the individual considers meaningful
in his or her life.
The NSU Occupational Therapy faculty is internationally known for their
leadership roles in the profession and their scholarly pursuits and
many publications. We are also home to the International Institute for
Leadership in Occupational Therapy (ILLOT).
WHY CHOOSE NSU?
Innovative Curriculum
- Earn your Master Degree in Occupational Therapy at Nova Southeastern
University (NSU) in only 2 and a half years.
- Enter NSU's Master of Occupational Therapy Program after completing
an undergraduate degree or after completing 90 credits of undergraduate
work (including 30 semester hours of upper division coursework).
- Our renowned faculty, which includes the American Occupational Therapy
Association's President, empowers students to envision themselves pursuing
entrepreneurial and pioneering practice endeavors.
- Our curriculum enables its graduates to compete in the evolving health
care market by building students' leadership skills, critical thinking
and resourcefulness through progressive coursework and innovative fieldwork
opportunities.
- NSU's Master of Occupational Therapy Program recently received an
unprecedented 10-year accreditation.
 Exposure
to Employers
Students participate
in at least six fieldwork experiences throughout the curriculum
giving students considerable occupational therapy practice exposure
and opportunity to network with at least six potential employers
and settings.
Volunteer
Opportunities
 Students
volunteer hours of their time to provide community service to local
children, to families at the Salvation Army for the Homeless, and
other non-profit organizations.
Client-centered
Approach
The therapeutic process
is founded on the belief that individuals are the principal agents
of their own adaptation and through active involvement in occupation
can have a significant impact on their health status, recovery from
illness, and adjustment to disability. The practice of occupational
therapy calls upon the therapist to engage in direct service and
indirect service (e.g., consultation, work with families).
Success
Rate
-
90% of all students who have graduated from the MOT program have passed the National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination on the first attempt. This is above the national average.
-
In 2005-2006, all graduates seeking employment following graduation were offered OT positions.
Direct
Opportunity for Doctoral Education
- Graduates of NSU's Master of Occupational Therapy Program are
eligible for assured direct admission to the Practice Doctorate and PhD
in Occupational Therapy if they maintain a GPA above 85% in NSU's
Master of Occupational Therapy Program.
- Undergraduate students are also assured of admission into the Practice
Doctorate or PhD in Occupational Therapy programs if these standards
(GPA 85% or better) are met and maintained throughout the prerequisite
coursework of NSU's Master of Occupational Therapy Program.
- Resources available online for Doctoral students
 Distance
Education (on-line) Doctoral Program
All of the DrOT courses
are taught by distance education primarily utilizng WebCT online
course format technology. Students usually attend part-time and
take 6 credits (2 courses) per semester (Fall, Winter, Summer).
Students travel to campus three times per year at the beginning/end
of each semester (Friday through Monday) for intensive face-to-face
coursework. Ph.D students also follow this format with the addition
of two intensive in-residence Summer Research Institutes (SRI) of
4 weeks each. SRI I is taken during one summer followed by SRI II
the following summer.
Internationally & Nationally Recognized
Faculty
Our faculty members are
leaders in the field of occupational therapy. Our faculty members
hold offices in the national offices in the American Occupational
Therapy Association, the Society for The Study of Occupation: USA
and other state and national professional societies.
Our faculty members have published textbooks and papers in national,
international
publications and presented papers at national and international
professional meetings. A large percentage of our faculty has been
recognized as fellows of the American Occupational Therapy Association
for their leadership, scholarship and contribution to the profession.
Small
Classes with Accessible Faculty
Classes at NSU provide
students with optimal opportunities for interaction - both face-to-face
and via technology - with faculty in classes with small faculty/student
ratios
(1 faculty member to 10
students).
 Internationally
Diverse Student Population
Students come from near
and far in both the Masters and Doctoral Occupational Therapy programs.
Students from almost every continent have attended our occupational
therapy programs.
State
of the Art Library and Classroom Facilities
NSU's libraries and classrooms
contain state of the art educational technology and electronic data
bases. Libraries come equipped with computer labs and extensive
on-line computer resources, on-line books, and data bases.
Beautiful
Suburban Campus
 NSU
is located in a lovely suburban area of Fort Lauderdale,
Florida and is one of
several higher education complexes in the area. NSU has beautiful
and safe grounds with lakes and palm trees gracing its landscape,
libraries , bookstore and campus housing. Restaurants, shopping
and recreation facilities are conveniently located in close proximity
to campus.
Location,
Location, Location
 NSU,
located amidst palm trees and sunshine, is just miles from premier
shopping, dining and entertainment experiences as well as the notable
Fort Lauderdale beach.
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