Master's in Occupational Therapy

MS in Occupational Therapy Graduation Rate

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Examination Pass Rate for Hofstra University

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found here.

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The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) is an on-campus student organization that promotes the occupational therapy profession through community engagement, fundraising, and public and university activities. SOTA encourages leadership, professionalism, and fellowship among students, faculty, and the community.

Get Involved with SOTA

The cost of the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is based on the tuition and university fees for the current academic year. The Board of Trustees of Hofstra University reserves the right to change the fees without notice. Book and supplies expenses are estimates for each semester. Housing and other expenses may vary based on individual circumstances. For up-to-date and current Tuition and Fees, please visit hofstra.edu/tuition.

2023-2024 Estimated Cost of Attendance
for the MS in Occupational Therapy

Hofstra University’s Occupational Therapy (OT) Program teaching philosophy is to create an engaging and supportive learning environment enabling students to develop into compassionate and competent occupational therapists. We believe learning should be dynamic, interactive, and lifelong. Our program is designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and professional reasoning, grounded in the core values, beliefs, vision, and theories of the profession as viewed through the lens of the philosophy of occupational therapy education (Hooper and Wood, 2014).

Because of this teaching philosophy and our beliefs about human beings, we adopted two theoretical frameworks. We believe human beings have an inherent capacity to influence their physical and mental health, as well as their social and physical environments, through engagement in occupations. Human life is a process of continuous adaptation, and as occupational therapists, we play a vital role in facilitating and supporting this adaptation when injuries, illnesses, diseases have presented as well as in the prevention of these entities (Anderson & Reed, 2017 & OTPF, 2020).

We align our teaching philosophy with the theoretical frameworks of both the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) and KAWA models. The PEO model guides students to consider and explore how individuals, their environments, and their everyday occupations interact, helping them understand the unique needs of each person they engage with (Baum, Christiansen, & Bass, 2024). When the person, environment and occupation (everyday activities) intersect, OT calls this occupational performance. As practitioners, our domain of concern is safe and functional performance of our clients across the lifespan. The KAWA model emphasizes life’s flow, highlighting how personal, social and cultural experiences shape people’s health and well-being. These models inspire our students to develop into reflective, thoughtful, client-centered practitioners, prepared to make a transformative impact in people’s lives (Iwama, 2006).

Our occupational therapy program's philosophy closely aligns with the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) Philosophy of Occupational therapy Education. Hofstra University’s OT Program prepares future practitioners to meet the occupational needs of individuals, groups, and communities through rigorous academic learning and experiential opportunities, such as fieldwork and capstone experiences. Our approach emphasizes active, collaborative, and inclusive learning environments both inside and outside the classroom (AOTA, 2018).

We view students as occupational beings engaged in a dynamic relationship with their learning environment. Our curriculum promotes continuous self-reflection, professional judgment, and lifelong learning while fostering a deep understanding of critical thinking, professional reasoning, cultural awareness, and the integration of professional values, theories, and evidence-based practices. By adhering to these principles, we support the development of practitioners well-prepared to collaborate with clients, enhancing their health and well-being through engagement in meaningful occupations.

Our Program’s philosophy aligns with the School of Health Sciences' vision at Hofstra University, focusing on preparing health science students to be leaders in promoting wellness, healthy aging, and inclusion for people with disabilities. By embracing advanced technologies and working across different health disciplines, our students are prepared to assess health challenges and advocate for better health outcomes for the persons they will serve in the future. Ultimately, we inspire students to be lifelong learners who are not only experts in occupational science and therapy but also appreciating other professions, while advocating for healthier and more inclusive communities wherever they practice.

References:

1. American Occupational Therapy Association (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74 (Suppl.2), 7412410010.
2. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2018). Philosophy of occupational therapy education. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(7212410070).
3.  Andersen, L., & Reed, K. (2017). The history of occupational therapy: The first century. SLACK Incorporated, Thorofare, NJ
4. Baum, C. M., Christiansen, C. H., & Bass, J. D. (2015). The Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model. In C. H. Christiansen, C. M. Baum, & J. D. Bass (Eds.), Occupational therapy: Performance, participation, and well-being (4th ed.). SLACK Incorporated.
5. Hooper, B. Wood, W. (2014). The Philosophy of Occupational Therapy: A Framework for Practice. In B.A. Boyt Shell, G Gillen and M.E. Scaffa (Eds.), Willard & Spackman’s Occupational Therapy (12th ed.) (pp. 35-46). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
6. Iwama, M. K. (2006). The Kawa model: Culturally relevant occupational therapy. Elsevier Health Sciences.