Department of Occupational Therapy
What is Occupational Therapy and why pursue a degree at Loma Linda University?
Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. It gives people the "skills for the job of living" necessary for independent and satisfying lives. Services typically include:
- Customized treatment programs to improve one's ability to perform daily activities
- Comprehensive home and job site evaluations with adaptation recommendations
- Performance skills assessments and treatment
- Adaptive equipment recommendations and usage training
- Guidance to family members and caregivers
Occupational therapy practitioners are skilled professionals whose education includes the study of human growth and development with specific emphasis on the social, emotional, and physiological effects of illness and injury.
The occupational therapist enters the field with a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree. The occupational therapy assistant enters the profession with an associate's degree. Practitioners must complete supervised clinical internships in a variety of health-care settings and pass a national examination. Most states also regulate occupational therapy practice.
The largest numbers of occupational therapy jobs are in hospitals. Other major employers are offices of other health practitioners (which include offices of occupational therapists), public and private educational services, and nursing care facilities. Some occupational therapists are employed by home health-care services, outpatient care centers, offices of physicians, individual and family services, community care facilities for the elderly, and government agencies.
A small number of occupational therapists are self-employed in private practice. These practitioners see clients referred by physicians or other health professionals or provide contract or consulting services to nursing care facilities, schools, adult daycare programs, and home health-care agencies.
Occupational therapists need patience and strong interpersonal skills to inspire trust and respect in their clients. Ingenuity and imagination in adapting activities to individual needs are assets. Those working within the community must be able to adapt to a variety of settings. Occupational therapy is a profession for both male and females but is a profession predominated by female practitioners.
The Loma Linda advantage
We are often asked what sets us apart from other programs and universities. We have outlined below what we feel are our program strengths and given advantages to attending our program.
- Loma Linda University's occupational therapy program earned a 10-year accreditation for its excellence in educating in the field of occupational therapy. This status was earned on August 2003 and runs through 2013.
- Balance of theory and practical skills providing a well rounded education for today's OT professional.
- No GRE exam score is required for entry into our master's program.
- The program tracks include required fieldwork experiences.
- Smaller class sizes with more one-on-one attention from our OT faculty.
- Students are on a first-name basis with faculty and staff.
- Loma Linda University strives to be an alcohol-, drug-, and smoke-free campus.
- Students are encouraged to stay healthy and exercise at our state-of-the-art health wellness facility, The Drayson Center. All students have full access as part of their tuition.
- Loma Linda University's curriculum offers primarily health-related courses and programs. General education requirements are taken at community or other accredited Universities prior to admission.
- Loma Linda University accepts students from many backgrounds and religious affiliations and offers a rich diversity within our student body.
- Once you are accepted into a program, you are enrolled in block classes required for that program. You do not have to challenge or wait for filled classes.
- You may clear your registration online or over the phone each quarter.
- Fieldwork experiences can be set up in other locations or nearer to the student's home as long as the site has a contract with our University.
- Faculty mentor students one to one during the program and prep students for board exams and future employment as OT practitioners.
- Loma Linda University only requires you to complete one application for both school and program.
- Many classes are team taught and emphasize group projects with fellow students.
- Research in the grad year is conducted with fellow students and the student is not required to do an individual thesis.
- Occupational therapy courses such as splinting lab, therapeutic media, design and technology are classes tailored to the needs of the OT professional.
- Advanced science courses in anatomy, neuroanatomy and kinesiology are taught by rehabilitation specialists.
- Senior MOT students are recruited as teaching assistants in anatomy cadaver & kinesiology labs during their second year.
- Loma Linda University students are able to collaborate with occupational therapy students from other countries. Loma Linda University Department of Occupational Therapy hosts several groups of students and shares how occupational therapy is practiced here in the US.
- Loma Linda University offers different missionary opportunities for students.
- Guidance from experienced faculty in preparing and presenting research at the master's degree level.
- Prospective students do not have to start out at the assistant level or have to possess a previous bachelor's degree to apply to our occupational therapy programs.
- Once the student has submitted all application materials after September 1, we proceed with admissions decisions giving accepted OT students more time to prepare for entry into our programs.
