Message from the Chair: Occupational Therapy
Welcome to the New York Institute of Technology Department of Occupational Therapy!
Our original bachelor’s program was established in 1996. Currently, the department is the proud home of the master’s (M.S.) in occupational therapy program, established in 2000, and our entry-level doctorate (OTD) program, established in 2021. Both our master’s and doctoral programs are fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
The philosophy of our occupational therapy programs is consistent with the AOTA 2025 Vision, which embodies the criticality of health, well-being, and participation while embracing equity, inclusivity, and diversity for all people, communities, and populations. In alignment with Vision 2025, we are committed to actualizing the department’s mission, which strives to:
“Prepare students to become self-directed professionals, innovative problem-solvers, and critical thinkers who base the practice of occupational therapy on evidence and science. Our students have the skills necessary to facilitate inclusive participation in meaningful occupations across diverse populations, communities, and global societies.”
Our caring, dedicated, experienced faculty hail from diverse clinical backgrounds and are well-established educators and researchers in the field. They are enthusiastically committed to sharing their didactic and clinical knowledge with our students as well as embracing student participation in their scholarship activities. Their unwavering commitment to supporting students on their educational journey is a hallmark of the occupational therapy programs at New York Tech.
Our curriculum is designed to facilitate the transformative process of embedding foundational knowledge and skills into ethical, clinical application, actualized in a culminating 24 weeks of immersive fieldwork experience. Our students gain real-world practical skills in our offsite community-based labs, participate in hands-on research and clinical experiences at leading regional, national, and international healthcare facilities, and have the opportunity to explore interdisciplinary learning opportunities alongside New York Tech’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Engineering and Computing Sciences, and School of Architecture and Design students. Completion of one of our degree programs will fully prepare you to practice as an occupational therapist in today’s complex healthcare environments.
Our program cohorts consist of 40 students who come to New York Tech with diverse backgrounds. Maintaining small cohorts enables the development of deep, lifelong professional and personal relationships.
I encourage you to learn more about the New York Tech experience, where learning is about doing, making, innovating, and healing. Visit our website links to learn more about our programs, faculty, and students, and join us for an information session. Feel free to contact us with questions or for further assistance. We look forward to helping you begin your journey towards achieving your goal of becoming an occupational therapist!
Pamela Karp, Ed.D., OTR/L, CHT
Chairperson, Department of Occupational Therapy
Degrees
Contact Us
Long Island
Pamela Karp, Department Chairperson
pkarp@nyit.edu
Christina Finn, Assistant Chairperson
cfinn02@nyit.edu
Beth Elenko, Department Admissions Coordinator
belenko@nyit.edu
Antha Flood, Administrative Assistant
aflood01@nyit.edu