Occupational Therapy
Looking for a creative career in a helping profession with various work settings that help people to do the things in life that are meaningful despite challenges? Occupational therapy could be your calling! Whether teaching someone who had a stroke to dress and bathe independently, helping a child with a disability play and learn in school, or assisting someone with a serious mental illness plan their day, occupational therapists help people engage in the meaningful activities that occupy their daily lives.
What will I learn?
You'll start with two years of pre-professional coursework, which typically includes classes in topics such as human development, anatomy, physiology, public health, psychology, statistics and diversity. Then, you'll advance to professional courses and learning experiences, including gross anatomy, neuroscience, assistive technology, prosthetics, orthotics, and occupational therapy (OT) processes. Finally, you'll take graduate-level classes and conduct hands-on fieldwork to develop your clinical skills—including performing evaluations and interventions, working with underserved populations, and using everyday activities to help people achieve or regain independence. As a student in our Research 1 University, you will conduct research with classmates under the mentorship of an OT faculty member to help future OT service recipients.
What can I do with an occupational therapy degree?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for occupational therapists is expected to grow much faster than for other professions through 2032. Occupational therapists are needed in many types of private, nonprofit and public organizations, including:
- Home health agencies.
- Hospitals.
- Mental health centers.
- Nursing homes.
- Physician practices.
- Rehabilitation centers.
- Schools.
- Specialized clinics.
- Primary care settings, such as dental and medical offices.
Depending on your job, you could be helping people recover from a stroke, preventing workplace injuries, providing learning tools for children with special needs, or finding other ways to use your unique skills. Many OTs advance to positions in management, teaching and other areas. As one of our students said, "UB's program gave me the confidence that I would need to succeed in any work environment."
This combined degree program prepares you to take a national certification exam to become a registered occupational therapist (OTR); UB students typically have a very high pass rate for this exam. You can also choose to continue your education with a doctorate or other advanced degree.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $113,840.00 | N/A | Rapid Growth |
| Occupational Therapists | $84,870.00 | $40.81 | Rapid Growth |
Data provided by the and DOL data from 2024.