Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science
Mission
The mission of the Department of Occupational Therapy and
Occupational Science is to promote education, research, and services
that address occupational engagement, social and occupational
justice in support of health and well-being of persons,
organizations, and populations. The educational programs prepare
students and professionals to be competent, ethical, and empathic
occupational therapists and occupational scientists while fostering
research, leadership, and advocacy. Educational initiatives also
address the academic and broader community’s awareness of the
healthful benefits of occupation and occupational therapy. The
research and scholarly activities of the department contribute to
the body of knowledge in occupational therapy and occupational
science. The service agenda improves the health and well-being of
the university, community, and society, and strengthens the
profession of occupational therapy and the discipline of
occupational science.
Revised and Approved by Faculty on May 26, 2010
History
For more than 35 years, Towson University has
been graduating successful candidates to become certified
occupational therapists. Our graduates are employed in a variety
of settings in direct services, consultation, program
development, education, research, health policy, and health care
administration.
Baltimore is a place of historical significance
for the origins of the profession. Students are able to obtain
clinical experiences in these historical sites: John Hopkins
Hospital (former home of Eleanor Clark Slagle, one of the
founders of the profession) and Sheppard Enoch Pratt Hospital
(workplace of William Rush Dunton, another founder of the
profession).
The Department of Occupational Therapy and
Occupational Science is equipped with modern classrooms,
learning laboratories and a resource center, which includes
research software.
Students also have the opportunity to apply
skills and knowledge through the College of Health Professions Institute for Well-Being at One Olympic Place in Towson. The Occupational Therapy Center in the I.W.B. opened in September of 2012. The Center provides services for community members to enhance their independence and quality of life. It offers programs that extend services beyond those found in a traditional medical system.
Milestones:
1974 Occupational Therapy Department opened
1982 Post-Professional Program initiated
1990 Professional Master's Program initiated
2000 Doctoral Program in Occupational Science launched
2001 Combined Bachelor's/Master's Program initiated
Both our post-professional degrees (master's and
doctoral) are designed to provide a framework for students to
customize their plans of study in a learning environment that
facilitates the application of knowledge to real life societal
problems and needs.
The Doctoral Program
Our applied doctoral degree in occupational
science is designed to prepare graduates to assume key roles in
teaching and research, clinical practice, education and
advocacy, or administration. The main emphasis of the doctoral
program is to enhance the health of society through the
application of knowledge gained through the advanced study of
occupational science and human behavior.
Our program will prepare individuals with an
in-depth knowledge of human occupation for use in supporting
advances in clinical practices, including therapeutic
intervention, teaching and research. Full- and part-time study
is available.
updated June 20, 2013
Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science
Enrollment Services, Room 245
8000 York Road | Towson, MD 21252 | 410-704-2000
