Bay Path Welcomes 110 Students into its Occupational Therapy Program
Longmeadow, MA— Employment rates for occupational therapists are expected to grow 24 percent from 2016 – 2026, and it’s no surprise that this has become one of the country’s most in-demand careers. At its core, occupational therapy is about helping people of all ages continue to maintain the skills needed for daily life that may be impeded by illness, injury, or disability. Whether it’s children with development delays or disabilities who need adaptive equipment or modified classrooms, veterans overcoming a change in their physical or mental health, elderly patients who need modifications to regain their independence, or a patient recovering from surgery or surviving addiction, occupational therapists help people overcome obstacles that prevent them from experiencing life to the fullest.
In line with its mission to prepare students for careers in high demand, Bay Path welcomed its next Master of Occupational Therapy cohort of 110 students who will begin coursework this August. They bring with them a wide array of their own life and educational experiences, ranging in age from 22 to 48, and hailing from the East Coast as well as California, Texas, Oregon, Michigan, and Minnesota. Along with various undergraduate degrees in the health sciences, many students are bringing a different perspective to the classroom with undergraduate degrees in legal studies, communications, criminal justice, environmental studies, education, philosophy, and anthropology. Several students are either active military, a veteran, or a spouse or dependent of an active military member or veteran.
The Master of Occupational Therapy at Bay Path University, open to men and women, is an accelerated two-year program that includes 24 weeks of full-time fieldwork. Designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in any field and with no prior health science experience required, students make use of the state-of-the-art lab spaces in Bay Path’s Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center to build the foundation of awareness, knowledge, and skill to prepare for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Exam.
Bay Path University also offers undergraduate and doctorate studies in occupational therapy, as well as a bridge program for graduate-level students with an undergraduate degree in a relevant field. To learn more, visit our Master of Occupational Therapy degree page.