| Contact |
Kimberly Burnett
|
|---|
Salem State University’s occupational therapy (OT) program, located within the Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services, has received a full ten-year re-accreditation, the highest level possible from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The OT program was found to be in full compliance with all 187 accreditation standards and distinguished for its strengths in curriculum, faculty and leadership.
The Occupational Therapy final accreditation report stated, “The curriculum design, especially for the bridge program, serves a unique niche in the occupational therapy community and has been executed with sensitivity and flexibility regarding the students’ life circumstances. Administrators, faculty, and students all recognize the benefits of this design. The faculty is applauded for their teaching approach which facilitates and encourages their population of adult learners.”
The Occupational Therapy Program at Salem State University welcomed its inaugural cohort of students in fall 2001 and the program was granted its initial full accreditation status from (ACOTE) in December 2002. In 2005, the Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy program began, receiving its full re-accreditation in 2008. In 2013, the direct-entry program was added to allow students to enter the master’s degree program with an undergraduate degree from any area or major.
The bachelor’s, master’s, and direct-entry OT programs meet an important need in the community and in the field of occupational therapy. Two program tracks provide an opportunity for affordable, continued education and professional development for adult learners. This program has gained local and national recognition for establishing a non-traditional and creative program model to assist others in their quest to become registered occupational therapy practitioners.
“Salem State is very fortunate to have established this unique model by a faculty that has excelled in program development, delivery and reputation. They are highly dedicated professionals committed to student success with the goal of promoting skill mastery and the attainment of expert knowledge necessary for entry-level occupational therapy practice. The OT team has worked diligently since 1999 and should be highly commended for a job well done.” Jeanne Corcoran, Interim Dean of the Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services.