Occupational therapy patient does exercise with elastic band

Pre-Occupational Therapy (Pre-OT) Concentration

LVC is developing a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program intended to launch in June 2028. If you’re a current or incoming undergraduate student at LVC, you can select the undergraduate major of your choice, indicating you want to be Pre-OT.

All you need to do is complete five pre-requisite electives and be a successful student. Our faculty will advise you along the way so that you’re ready to apply to the master’s program. LVC students will receive priority admission.

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What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?

OTs help people participate in the everyday activities that bring purpose and meaning to their lives. Whether supporting a child’s development, helping someone recover from injury or illness, promoting mental health and well-being, or enabling older adults or veterans to maintain independence, occupational therapists empower people of all ages to live life to its fullest. They work in homes, schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, community organizations, and many other settings.

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What is LVC’s Occupational Therapy program like?

You can become an OT with any LVC bachelor’s degree, as long as you meet our graduate program admission requirements and complete the right pre-requisites (your LVC faculty advisor will help you with that). Majors like exercise science and psychology will prepare you especially well for the profession.

Enjoy the traditional in-person undergraduate experience, then transition into a flexible hybrid graduate program. You’ll complete engaging online courses in mental health, pediatrics, anatomy, gerontology, neuroscience, physical rehabilitation, evidence-based practice, and community health while learning how to help people of all ages regain independence, overcome challenges, and participate more fully in the activities that matter most to them.

Our flexible hybrid format combines online learning with four one-week, hands-on campus residencies over the two-year program. During these immersive weeks, you’ll practice clinical skills, work alongside faculty and classmates, and gain the confidence that comes from hands-on learning.

$98,340
median annual pay for occupational therapists, 2024
14%
projected employment growth for occupational therapists, 2024–34
10,200
occupational therapist openings each year, 2024-34 (BLS)
OT Career Opportunities

Occupational therapists are in demand across the lifespan—from helping children succeed in school to supporting adults recovering from injury and empowering older adults to remain independent at home. Graduates of Lebanon Valley College’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program will be prepared to pursue careers in a variety of settings, including:

  • Hospitals and health systems
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Pediatric clinics and children’s hospitals
  • K–12 schools and early intervention programs
  • Mental and behavioral health settings
  • Skilled nursing and long-term care facilities
  • Home health and hospice agencies
  • Community health organizations
  • Veterans’ and military healthcare services
  • Hand therapy and orthopedic practices
  • Aging-in-place and community wellness programs
  • Workplace health, ergonomics, and injury prevention
  • Private practice

 

Want more info? Contact Dr. William Wrightsman, Associate Professor and Founding Chair of Occupational Therapy, wwrights@lvc.edu  

 

The Lebanon Valley College Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program has initiated the accreditation process with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA (2682) or (301) 652-6611, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.