York College OT Education- Overview

Freshmen entering York College knowing that they want to major in occupational therapy should be able to complete the dual degree program within 5 and 1/2 years, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences and a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy.

Students transferring to York College and those who have been accepted into the occupational therapy program should be able to complete the dual degree within 3 and 1/2 years, earning a Bachelor's of Science degree in Health Sciences and a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy.

York College Occupational Therapy Mission Statement: To prepare entry-level occupational therapy practitioners to provide services to diverse urban populations, utilizing evidence-based education, fieldwork, and community experiences. Graduates will be prepared to grow as passionate, engaged learners, growing in intellectual potential, contributing and participating in the profession through direct service delivery, management of service delivery, and research.

York College Occupational Therapy Vision Statement: To produce Occupational Therapy Practitioners who can address the needs of a diverse population through the applications of culturally diverse critical thinking, lifelong learning, and contributions to the growth of the profession in their communities either regionally, or nationally, or globally.

Program Design, Outcomes, and Objectives

The Program Outcomes represent and summarize the values the core threads have within the curriculum design and how the philosophies applied are influencing what the faculty within the occupational therapy program wish to promote in the learners. 

By the completion of the program at York College Occupational Therapy Program, the Occupational Therapy Graduate is a:

  • Reflective Practitioner who demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to provide state of the art occupational therapy services and who demonstrates being a
  • Lifelong Learners by actively engaging in their communities helping them acquire knowledge while developing leadership skills to provide more effective advocacy and community empowerment opportunities for those underserved and/or underrepresented members. 

Outcomes/Goals of the Program

As students progress through the curriculum it is expected that they will intrinsically and extrinsically value the concepts of occupation and activity, not only as each pertains to theories, practices, and skill-sets related to this profession, but also as they relate to the process of continuous development and well-being of all humans; thus fulfilling the mission of this professional education program.

The graduating student will have the knowledge, skills, and attitude to be an entry-level occupational therapist who:

  • Is educated as a generalist with a broad exposure to the delivery models and system utilized in settings where occupational therapy is currently practiced and where it is emerging as a service.
  • Has achieved entry-level competence through a combination of academic and fieldwork education.
  • Is prepared to articulate and apply professional principles, intervention approaches and rationales, and expected outcomes as related to occupation.
  • Is prepared to be a lifelong learner and keep current with best professional practice;
  • Is prepared to advocate for consumers and the profession;
  • Will uphold the ethical standards, values and attitudes of the occupational therapy profession;
  • Is prepared to be an effective consumer of the latest research and knowledge bases that support practice and contribute to the growth and dissemination of research and development.

Technology Requirements

For use of the Brightspace platform and Simucase, students are required to have reliable internet access and a laptop or desktop computer to access all course materials, assignments, and program-related information throughout the Occupational Therapy program.

Program Format

All courses within the York College Occupational Therapy Program are delivered in a face-to-face instructional format. The program is designed to emphasize in-person learning experiences, including classroom instruction, laboratory activities, collaborative learning, and direct faculty engagement.

The only exception is OT 648: Independent Study – Peer Tutoring, which is offered through an asynchronous online learning platform to support flexible peer-based academic engagement. Faculty responsible for delivering online content are trained in online instructional delivery methods to ensure quality, consistency, and alignment with institutional and program standards.

 

 

Revised: May 11, 2026