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Program:
Mercy College's Graduate Occupational Therapy (OT) program is the premier weekend Master's program in the metropolitan New York area. We offer a 60 credit two year full-time weekend program with classes scheduled every other weekend allowing students to continue working while pursuing an advanced degree. Our innovative curriculum puts the "learning by doing" philosophy into practice. Students are exposed to a variety of interactive and invaluable real work learning experiences with an emphasis on developing clinical skills. Through this type of interaction, students explore the impact disease and disability have not only on a person's physical well-being, but also their psychological and social well-being.
The program incorporates a variety of learning methods including a mixture of lecture, discussion, small group problem solving, hands-on experiences and problem based learning (PBL). Our faculty is comprised of occupational therapy practitioners with various specializations, providing Mercy students with first-rate, well rounded instruction. Most faculty members have published within the field and are nationally recognized for their expertise.
- Students with a bachelor's degree and the required prerequisite courses can directly enter into the MS degree program
- Students without a bachelor's degree can apply for a BS in Health Sciences which includes prerequisites or pre-professional occupational therapy courses
- Students can apply up to one year in advance of entry into the program.
For more information please download a PDF version of our Information Sheet.
Download a PDF version of our Program Brochure
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Program Contacts:
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Joan Toglia, PhD
Program Director
otprogram@mercy.edu
Telephone: 914-674-7815
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Kathleen Golisz, MA, OTR
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
otprogram@mercy.edu
Telephone: 914-674-7815
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Patricia Chute, EdD
Chair, Division of Health Professions
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"My basic foundational skills in OT are top notch. The knowledge that I gained in the Mercy College Occupational Therapy Program gave me leadership qualities."
Anita Miller, '99
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Career Opportunities:
Graduates of Mercy's Occupational Therapy program are prepared to apply for licensure in occupational therapy and to practice at an entry level. Our alumni work with people experiencing health problems such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, cancer, autism, cerebral palsy or developmental problems, congenital conditions, and mental illness, in a wide range of practice settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing facilities, home health agencies, outpatient rehabilitation programs, psychiatric facilities, private and public schools, community centers and private practices. Many of our alumni hold leadership roles within the profession and their places of employment. Many of our alumni have returned to the OT program as PBL facilitators, teaching associates, guest lecturers, and lab assistants.
"I would recommend Mercy to anyone seeking a degree in the health sciences to attend Mercy for a few reasons I was unaware of prior to my admission: (1) The in-depth coverage of material in the prerequisite courses; (2) The well roundedness of the Occupational Therapy material covered; (3) The sequence of courses along the age continuum and revisiting important material that is continuous in the health care services; (4) The dedication and quality of the staff is probably one of the most important reasons; (5) PBL-when it is done well it is a great teaching tool."
Genevieve Pelliciari, '03
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Curriculum:
The curriculum is organized around the life-span stages of childhood, adolescence, adulthood and geriatrics. Concepts related to health, learning, the impact of illness and occupational therapy practice are integrated within each stage. The fall and spring trimesters consist of eight weekends of coursework over a four month period. The curriculum includes six trimesters of academic work and 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork. Courses are scheduled every other weekend on Friday evenings (6 - 8:30 p.m.), all day Saturday (9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.), and Sunday (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.).
Each life-span module (five credit course) is linked to a PBL course and a Level I fieldwork experience designed to connect theory to practice. Students are assigned to a fieldwork setting one weekday, for a total of seven to eight weeks each fall and spring trimester. The student is also required to complete a research seminar, splinting course, and assistive technology course during the summer between the first and second years.
For the complete course curriculum click here.
"Extensive practical experience and assignments such as writing treatment plans and Problem Based Learning presentations encourage students to think inquisitively and independently which are valuable assets for future clinical work as occupational therapists."
Debra T. Zizik, '03
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Campuses where program is offered:
Dobbs Ferry
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Facilities:
While most of the courses are held on the Dobbs Ferry Campus, many of our class sessions are held in 'real world' settings at local facilities to expose students to these treatment environments and the populations of children and adults treated in these environments (e.g., Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, Blythedale Children's Hospital, White Plains Hospital Center, Helen Hayes Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital , Kings Harbor Multicare Center, Pascack Valley Hospital, etc.).
Students have the opportunity to complete their fieldwork experiences in clinical and community sites that support the Mercy College Occupational Therapy program curriculum design. These sites, over 300, are located primarily in the New York metropolitan area but the program is always willing to explore new locations for learning experiences. Students have access to the Mercy College Learning Center to develop writing and study skills, the Health Professions Lab with evaluation and treatment equipment specific to occupational therapy.
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Accreditations:
The Mercy College Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE's phone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA.
Graduates of the Occupational Therapy program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
For further information on these limitations, you can contact NBCOT at: National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, 800 S. Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877-4150 (301) 990-7979. Applicants are also encouraged to contact the State Board of Occupational Therapy in the state they anticipate practicing to investigate any limitations.
The total number of graduates who passed the national certification exam in 2005-2007 was 56 out of 68 total first-time new graduate test takers, which is an 82% pass rate. During that three-year time period, the program had 69 graduates.
The total pass rate, including first-time and repeat test takers in 2005 - 2007 was 64 out of 68 which is 94%.
100% of the students who graduated in February 2007 and sought employment within the occupational therapy profession began working within 3 months of graduation. The majority of graduates had employment offers prior to graduation.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the admission decision based on?
The final admission decision is based upon a combination of your grade point average, presentation during the interview, letters of recommendation and written essays. All acceptances are provisional and require successful completion of prerequisites at Mercy College with a grade of C or better and a minimum GPA of 3.0. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to entering the program.
Is the program considered to be part time?
No. Although courses are scheduled on weekends, the program involves a full-time graduate load of nine to 11 credits per trimester or 30 credits per year (total of 60 credits). Students are not allowed to take a reduced credit load because the courses on each weekend are designed to be taken simultaneously.
What are the weekends like?
The weekend format is an intense learning experience. The amount of information covered in one weekend is equivalent to that covered in four to five classes in a traditional program. The weekend involves a mixture of lecture and discussion, small group problem solving and active hands on practice. Several clinicians with expertise in a particular area of practice are usually scheduled to make guest presentations during each weekend.
What type of student is well suited for a weekend program?
The program is well suited for the adult learner who is motivated, self-directed and takes charge of his/her own learning. A weekend program requires strong self-initiation and the ability to organize, structure and manage one's time efficiently. A great deal of independent learning is necessary between classes to keep up with the coursework. Strong library database search skills are a prerequisite for success. The program also incorporates a problem-based learning approach where students work within groups to investigate and explore different clinical issues within the context of case scenarios; this requires the ability to work successfully as a team player.
May I speak to students in the program to gain their perspective?
Yes. Many of our current students and alumni have volunteered to speak to prospective students about our program. Please contact the Occupational Therapy program at 914-674-7815 or otprogram@mercy.edu for the student contact sheet.
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