Occupational Therapy (MS Degree)

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Why Occupational Therapy?

Earning your Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy leads to a fulfilling career path helping others improve their day-to-day quality of life. After earning their master’s degree, licensed occupational therapists help people with illnesses, injuries and disabilities manage everyday activities like walking, getting dressed, cooking and writing.

Why Study Occupational Therapy at Iona?

Empower Lives, Transform Futures

Iona's Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program offers a comprehensive curriculum that blends theory and practice. You'll gain the knowledge and skills to become a compassionate and skilled occupational therapist.

Complete Coursework and Fieldwork in 27 Months

Full-time students in Iona University’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (OT) program can complete their degree in 27-months. Iona’s program combines classroom and clinical instruction—including a six-month fieldwork rotation—and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). After completing their MS degree, our Occupational Therapy graduates are ready for their licensure exam and to pursue fulfilling OT careers.

Design, Technology and Occupational Therapy

At Iona, our MS in Occupational Therapy will offer you unique opportunities to explore the connections between design, technology and occupational therapy through our Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. This entrepreneurial component of the program offers a future-minded perspective on the role of an occupational therapist in society, disability and assistive devices.

Collaborative Cohorts and Service-Learning Opportunities

As an occupational therapy student, you’ll get to know your classmates and faculty very well through the program’s small, collaborative cohorts. Our expert faculty have both clinical and research experience that informs their teaching in exciting ways. In addition, our master’s program is fully integrated into the close-knit Iona University community, as well as the larger communities of Westchester County and the New York Metropolitan area through service-learning.

NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences

As part of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, occupational therapy students will develop the skills and experience needed for tomorrow’s workforce.

Iona students may have the opportunity to do clinicals and rotations at NewYork-Presbyterian, ranked one of the top hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report 2023-24.

Align your education with your career goals at the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences and earn a degree of tremendous value for your future.

Tuition & Financial Aid

$1,355 per credit (80 credits)
$450 program fee for Fall and Spring semesters (5 semesters)
$300 program fee for Summer semesters (2 semesters)
Estimated Cost: $111,250
Applying for Aid
Graduate Tuition

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What to Expect

Finish in 7 semesters
Collaborative cohort structure of learning
Study at the state-of-the-art Kelly Center for Health Sciences
Hands-on, dynamic and relevant curriculum

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Degree Outcomes

Iona graduates find careers as Occupational Therapists in a variety of settings:

Hospitals
Nursing homes
Mental health centers
Private practices

Careers & Outcomes

NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences Graduate Open House

Monday, November 25, 5:30 p.m.

Join us on the Bronxville campus at the Kelly Center for the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences Open House! Connect with our dedicated faculty, current students, and staff, and get answers to all your questions about our programs, admissions, scholarships, and financial aid. Discover how you can begin your journey of learning beyond the traditional classroom. We look forward to welcoming you!

Date: Monday, November 25, 2024
Time: 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Location: Kelly Center for Health Sciences, 171 White Plains Rd, Bronxville, NY 10708

OT students practice tossing a ball outside of the Kelly Center for Health Sciences.

Core Competencies

Our master’s degree curriculum centers around four core competencies of an ethical, client-centered OT practice:

Occupational development and performance
Assessment and intervention processes
Evidence-based practice skills
Habits for reflective practice

Prepare for Licensure

Iona University’s MS in Occupational Therapy program follows ACOTE accreditation standards and educates students as generalists prepared for licensure exams. You'll build a strong OT foundation and go beyond with our interdisciplinary coursework.

Enhance Your Practice

Throughout the seven semesters, we’ll also teach you how technology can enhance your practice, serving as a tool for client education, assessment, intervention and documentation of services.

Clinical Opportunities and Holistic Coursework

Throughout your time at Iona, you will experience an inclusive occupational therapy education offering abundant clinical opportunities and holistic coursework exploring big-picture questions about accessibility and aging.

Community Engagement and Innovation

Our program consistently weaves community engagement and innovation into your training so you will be prepared to work with clients across the lifespan in a wide range of clinical settings such as hospitals, schools and assisted living centers.

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Iona OT prioritizes community engagement and entrepreneurship, which is a unique quality that sets it apart from other colleges and programs.

Gurpreet Singh ’22MS
Read More About Gurpreet

Careers & Outcomes

The field of occupational therapy is expected to grow significantly over the next decade, much more than the average career path according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Talented and compassionate OTs have been and will continue to be in high demand for the foreseeable future.

As an OT graduate from Iona, you will be well-prepared for diverse and fulfilling occupational therapy roles through our interprofessional education training, entrepreneurial programming, and service-learning opportunities.

Licensed Occupational Therapists May Work In:

Hospitals
Private practices
Schools
Nursing homes
Home-based health services
Mental health centers

Hear from our Students

With service-learning and entrepreneurship embedded throughout the curriculum, Iona’s OT program is full of energy and dynamic experiences. Hear from our students as they share their experiences.

Hynes Institute Collaboration

In partnership with the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, we create modules integrating OT coursework with principles of entrepreneurship and innovation. From these experiences, you’ll learn to develop innovative ideas for products or projects that can meet the occupational needs of persons with disabilities from a new design thinking perspective.

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Community Engagement

As a full-time OT student, you will be connected to your cohort while also benefiting from campus resources and events. Engagement with the greater Iona community begins early in the program, as you learn from and work with Learning in Retirement at Iona University (LIRIC) participants. The occupational therapy program also partners with many local organizations for community development projects as well as full-time fieldwork.

About LIRIC

Greater NYC Location

Iona’s location in New Rochelle offers access to many service-learning and fieldwork partner sites across the New York metropolitan area. In addition, our partnership with NY-Presbyterian Hospital offers students a variety of opportunities that extend learning beyond the classroom. Other local partners include:

ABC Pediatric Therapy (Bronx and Harlem locations)
Andrus Children’s Center and Weekday Nursery
Angelfish Therapy
Bronxville Ossining and Pelham School Districts
Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center
Hope Community Center
Kings Harbor Multicare Center
Rockland Psychiatric Center
Sarah Newman Nursing Home
Willow Towers Assistive Living and Memory Care
YAI Seeing Beyond Disability

These community experiences prepare you to work with a variety of patients including pediatric patients, chronically ill people and older adults.

OT Prerequisite Requirements

To enter the competitive occupational therapy program at Iona University, prospective OT students must meet the admission requirements which include a bachelor’s degree with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, 40 hours of volunteer or observation experience with an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, and prerequisite course work.

OT Admission Requirements

Accreditation

The Iona University Graduate OT Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

More Accreditation Information

Learn more about the Master’s in OT program at Iona!

Iona University offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy that comprehensively equips our students for careers as compassionate, innovative occupational therapists. Request information to learn more about our experiential program or apply now!

Licensing

Occupational therapists require license to practice in all states. Most state licenses are based on the results of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Certification Examination.

Visit Campus

Our scenic campuses, located just 20 miles from midtown Manhattan, truly do offer the best of both worlds. Let us show you around, answer your questions and give you a feel of our tight-knit community.

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Apply Today

If you're considering applying to Iona, you're not alone! Since 2019, our new-student enrollment is up nearly 40%. Additionally, graduate students automatically qualify for consideration of merit scholarships during their graduate program.

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