Program Overview - Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in Rockhurst University’s Occupational Therapy program. We are happy you have chosen to visit our website to learn more about the occupational therapy profession, our academic program, faculty, students, and the Rockhurst experience.

Rockhurst University is located in the vibrant and culturally diverse community of Kansas City, Missouri. The Department of Occupational Therapy, which is housed within Saint Luke's College of Nursing and Health Sciences, began its first cohort in 1991. Since that time, we have enjoyed a strong reputation and continue to attract students from all over the country.

As a Jesuit institution, Rockhurst University boasts the three academic themes of learning, leadership, and service throughout all degree programs. Occupational therapy students take part in hands-on learning within the classroom, community, and while at a multitude of clinical settings. Our students have access to several learning experiences that include anatomy cadaver lab, cutting-edge equipment for assessment and intervention, faculty practice in the community, and dynamic lecture and lab spaces, including a soon-to-be simulation lab. Our students continue to have a strong success rate for first-time test takers on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination. Rockhurst graduates have exceled in a variety of clinical practice settings, have found careers in academia, have become leaders in the profession, have mentored our fieldwork students, and have maintained close connections with us.

Our faculty and staff are supportive of students' learning needs and dedicated in providing a positive and inclusive learning experience. Faculty members are clinical experts in their fields and are well-respected leaders and scholars within the local, state, national, and international levels. In addition, we work with many occupational therapy practitioners and other professionals for guest lectureships, adjunct opportunities, and fieldwork supervision.

We are transitioning to Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree and are proud to offer a strong curricular framework of a Rockhurst Occupational Therapy education. We are enriching our focus on leadership, management, and advanced practice skills to prepare students for a rapidly-changing healthcare environment.

Again, welcome to Rockhurst University.

Sincerely,

Lynne Clarke, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Chair and Professor