Occupational Therapy: A Career That Combines Science, Psychology & Creativity

What is an occupational therapist?

These licensed health care professionals assist people of all ages and abilities, including those who are recovering from or challenged by injury, illness, trauma, surgery, chronic conditions or disabilities.

By drawing on knowledge from varied scientific disciplines and assessing the emotional, social and psychological aspects of a person’s well-being, occupational therapists create pathways forward. Through their work people maintain, regain or improve their independence and ability to do what they love and need to do safely and effectively.

OTs design practical solutions, or interventions, to get people back to work or school, recreational pastimes, daily tasks, beloved hobbies, community involvement and time with their families—all the things that “occupy” their time. Consummate problem solvers, occupational therapists modify activities or change surrounding environments through tools, equipment, resources and exercises, and they invent new, customized solutions to help patients adapt.

For the past 25 years, Sacred Heart University has educated, trained and prepared students for the profession. “Think about taking a shower, feeding the dog, making a meal for your friends,” said Sharon McCloskey, Ed.D., chair of the occupational therapy department and program director, whose career in occupational therapy spans 40 years. “What happens when you have a stroke? How do you get back to doing all the things you need to do and all the things that you love to do?”

Where do occupational therapists work?

“Occupational therapists work across the lifespan, from the NICU to hospice care,” McCloskey said. “They are detectives of the human experience. Occupational therapy is a way of thinking about disability or dysfunction in the context of what matters most to you. We ask questions and then we look to see what is preventing you from doing that and how we can help you to get past that challenge.”

An OT might suggest tools or equipment, including adaptive kitchen tools to help with tremors or mobility issues and voice-controlled appliances or tech devices.

Career options are diverse, and occupational therapists collaborate with many health care workers, including doctors, speech therapists and home health care aides. The median annual wage is about $96,000 and it’s in the top 10 (No. 8) of “Best Health Care Jobs,” according to U.S. News & World Report.

Occupational therapists work in:

What do you need to enter the field?

To become a certified occupational therapist, you must first earn a master’s degree in occupational therapy from an Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)-accredited program or a professional doctorate in occupational therapy. You must complete required fieldwork and pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam to become a Certified Occupational Therapist (OTR). Sacred Heart has one of the best occupational therapy master’s programs in Connecticut. It is an ACOTE-accredited program, and graduates have a 99% pass rate on the exam.

“We believe in a curriculum that emphasizes transformation through human occupation,” McCloskey said.

The students see that transformation through the program’s focus on service learning in local and global settings, community engagement and real-life simulated scenarios in state-of-the-art learning environments. These include a fully equipped suite that replicates a typical home environment and a driving simulator, as well as on-campus clinics run by faculty and students that serve the surrounding community.

Expert faculty keeps the program dynamic and engaging by working with small groups of students in clinical situations where they are encouraged to practice their skills and flex their creativity to solve real-world problems.

“We are going to get you out there to help the people who really need you,” McCloskey said. “You’ll gain an understanding of the human body and conditions, the barriers that can prevent people from living life to its fullest, and the ways you can help to reduce those challenges.”

Stefanie Seanor, Ed.D., a full-time faculty member within the department shares that “these small problem-based learning and lab groups provide a hands-on opportunity for our students to become fully immersed within the practices of the profession.” In combination with content-based seminar courses, students receive a thorough and meaningful education to strengthen foundational learning and refine interests and skills.

Seanor added that SHU’s occupational therapy master’s program has recently attracted more students from diverse undergraduate programs. While there are content-specific prerequisites to enter the program, she encouraged students with various educational backgrounds, such as biology, psychology, health sciences and engineering, to apply.

Is SHU’s Master of Science in occupational therapy right for you?

SHU’s MSOT program and dual degree in occupational therapy develop creative and caring health care professionals who are ready to transform the lives of others.

For more information, schedule an appointment with Lea DiStasio or reach out at distasiol2@sacredheart.edu.

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