Did You Know The Gannon Advantage Curriculum Program Requirements Occupational Therapy Department's Homepage Occupational therapists help a wide variety of people with physical and mental challenges, from psychologically disabled children to the elderly who have suffered strokes. They develop, teach and evaluate specific rehabilitation programs for each person in an effort to help their patients to live as independently as possible. Occupational therapists work in all areas of health care, including hospitals, private practices, schools, long term and home health care, industry and consulting. Opportunities for advancement are great, and after working only a short time, Occupational Therapy graduates may advance to become supervisors, clinical educators, case managers and ADA consultants. The field has recently mandated that occupational therapists earn a Master's degree in order to practice.
Federal studies project the job market to continue to be strong.
There is no reapplication process for the upper division. Gannon's five-year Master's degree is one of less than 20 such programs in the country. Since students earn their Master's degree in only five years, it saves the student both time and tuition dollars. Although clinical fieldwork begins in the summer after the fourth year, there are no academic summer classes and therefore no extra summer tuition. Gannon Occupational Therapy students conduct research and compose a publishable paper at the Master's level.