Sacred Heart University
College of Education and Health Professions
Graduate Program in Occupational Therapy
Fairfield, Connecticut 06432

Overview
Sacred Heart began in 1963 as a small independent Catholic University serving 173 undergraduate students. Since that time, the University has undergone unprecedented growth, with the full-time faculty growing in number from 9 to 144 and the full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate student body growing to more than 5,700. Innovative in its founding charter, Sacred Heart University is led and staffed by laity, thus creating a new vision for Catholic higher education. The University's aim was to create an exceptional undergraduate education experience rooted in the liberal arts. Graduate-level professional programs were introduced by the University in the mid-1970s and have increased in number since that time. Sacred Heart University includes the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education and Health Professions, and University College. The University has the only graduate-level occupational therapy program in the state of Connecticut.

The Community
Sacred Heart University is located on 56 suburban acres in Fairfield, Connecticut, just minutes from Exit 47 off the Merritt Parkway and within 10 minutes of Route 95. The campus is about one hour north of New York City and two hours south of Boston by car or train.

Sacred Heart attracts graduate students from all over the United States as well as international students. Ninety percent of the graduate students are from Connecticut. Graduate students represent the full ethnic and cultural spectrum.

Programs of study and degree requirements
The Graduate Program in Occupational Therapy is for persons with a baccalaureate degree in a field other than occupational therapy. Graduates of the program earn a Master of Science degree in occupational therapy and enter a profession with newly expanding roles, practice opportunities, and opportunities for professional growth. Occupational therapy practitioners work in hospital settings, outpatient facilities, public schools, industry, mental-health facilities, skilled-nursing facilities, home health care, early intervention, and private practice.

The program prepares students to master entry-level clinical practice skills and develop beginning-level skills in leadership and research in occupational therapy. The program design is highly unique, with its curriculum organized using an integrated systems, developmental, and hierarchical approach, which strongly reflects its mission and philosophy of humanism and service to others and community. Problem-based learning (PBL) is the primary method of teaching and learning. Students work in small group tutorials, led by expert faculty members, to solve clinical problems through independent and peer-group study, research, and discussion and integrate theory and foundational knowledge into occupational therapy practice. Research is strongly supported throughout the curriculum, with one course and faculty mentoring offered each semester that is dedicated to building research skills and culminates in an original Capstone Research Project.

The Program consists of four academic semesters plus 24 weeks of full-time clinical fieldwork and includes summers. Level I fieldwork and community service are integrated into the class schedule throughout the academic year and provide students with ongoing opportunities for supervised practice and experience with occupational therapy assessment, intervention, leadership, supervision, management, research, and entrepreneurship. The program has obtained more than 150 fieldwork site placements. Students are provided with a strong educational background to be able to address the needs of their clients and plan and carry out occupation-based intervention that promotes their clients' optimal function in their own environments of work/school, play, home, and community.

The curriculum undergoes a continual process of program evaluation, allowing curriculum revisions in response to changes in health-care delivery, scientific and research evidence, educational improvements, and accreditation standards. Faculty members and students are an integral part of curriculum review and design.

The Occupational Therapy Program is fully accredited under the "Standards for an Accredited Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist-1998" by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). For information about accreditation, contact ACOTE at AOTA, 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220; phone number (301) 652-2682; web address www.aota.org Graduates of the Program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states, including Connecticut, require licensure in order to practice, however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Facilities & Resources
A large selection of periodicals and electronic resources are available in the Ryan Matura Library. Electronic resources include OT Bibliographic Search (OT Search), Books in Print, Academic Universe, Britannica Online, College Source, First Search, PNAS.ORG, full-text Proquest/CINAHL Psycinfo, PubMed, reQuest, Statistical University, and CARL-Online Catalog. In addition, a large selection of books and AJOT journals are available for students' use in the program's faculty library.

Occupational therapy laboratories include the Independent Living Laboratory; Ergonomics/Assistive Technology Laboratory; Clinical Sciences (computer) Laboratory; a Human Cadaver Lab shared with the Physical Therapy Program; and the Clinical Practice Laboratory. All laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and supplies for occupational therapy assessment and intervention in all areas of practice throughout the life span and are available to students throughout the day and during off-hours.

Expenses and Aid
Costs: Tuition for the academic year is $23,455.

Financial Aid: Financial assistance is available to students through a variety of programs. For further information, students should contact Carl Nykaza, Director of Graduate Programs Financial Assistance (telephone: 203-371-7980, e-mail: nykazak@sacredheart.edu).

Housing/Living Expenses: Limited graduate student housing is available. Most graduate students live off campus. For information and housing assistance, students should contact the Office of Residential Life (telephone: 203-371-7846).

How to Apply
Applications are encouraged from persons who have (or will have by the time of enrollment) a baccalaureate degree. Applications are reviewed with regard to the student's GPA, prerequisite requirements, and expectation of scholarly achievement and potential for professional leadership. Persons from historically underrepresented minorities and adult students are enthusiastically encouraged to apply. The application deadline is generally in December or January and is published by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Early application options are available to Sacred Heart University undergraduates. The application process includes an interview, a group problem-based learning experience, and an on-site essay regarding the person's experience with occupational therapy or health care.

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