Galloway, N.J. — The independent agency for graduate Occupational Therapy degrees in the United States has re-approved Stockton University’s program for accreditation for a 10-year period.

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) re-accredited Stockton’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program in December. The program is one of nearly 300 accredited across the United States and one of only seven in New Jersey.

“This recognition reaffirms the outstanding work of our faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Ali Moradi, the interim dean of Stockton’s School of Health Sciences. “This recognition reflects our continued dedication to preparing compassionate, skilled practitioners who make a real difference in the lives of individuals and communities they serve, especially in South Jersey where they are sorely needed.”

Occupational therapy is a type of health care that focuses on helping people do the things they want or need to do (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners work with people of all ages, from infants to older adults.

The MSOT program started at Stockton in 1999, and this is the third 10-year reaccreditation it has received. The most recent class had a graduation rate of 96.4%. In addition, Stockton students have achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy over the past three years.

“The MSOT program has a reputation for producing well-prepared occupational therapy practitioners, and we are happy that ACOTE has recognized the strong educational program we provide,” said Mary Kientz, associate professor for Occupational Therapy and the director of the graduate program. “The reaccreditation process included months of preparation and review by our faculty, and included our students, alumni and clinical partners.”

Kientz said the ACOTE noted compliance with all standards and mentioned the program’s strengths, including its commitment to community and global engagement and a cultivation of impactful student instruction, including training in mental health first aid.

The MSOT program is a two-and-a-half-year, in-person, entry-level professional course of study held on Stockton’s Galloway campus. It includes four semesters of course work, one short summer session, and two three-month fieldwork rotations that must be completed within 24 months of finishing academic coursework, in accordance with current New Jersey licensure regulations. The program admits students via rolling admission.

Click here to learn more about the program.

-- Story by Mark Melhorn, photo by Susan Allen

Read other School of Health Sciences stories