Occupational Therapy

School/Division: Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry/Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Degree/Certificate: Degree

Occupational therapy is the health profession aimed at enabling people to live life to its fullest. To occupational therapists, a “full” life means a person can engage in ordinary and extraordinary activities that they want and need to do, no matter what injury, illness, condition, disability, lifestyle or environmental barriers stand in the way. These everyday activities are what we call “occupations,” and they are the building blocks of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Occupational therapists help people to perform, modify or adapt their skills and activities in order to lead healthier, happier and more productive lives. Equipped with a solid grounding in both the medical and social sciences, occupational therapists work with people of all ages across the entire lifespan, from newborn infants to elders in hospice care. Occupational therapists provide interventions in varied settings, including schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, nursing facilities, community clinics, private practices, corporations, executive health centers and wellness resorts. With the growing number of returning military service members, the autism epidemic and an aging American population, demand for occupational therapists will continue to be strong, now and into the foreseeable future. As a prospective occupational therapist, you will find a focus that fits your passion, from ergonomics, to rehabilitation, to wellness.

Additional Details/Related Links

• OT in Action
• At a Glance
• Accreditation