Department of Occupational Therapy

What is Occupational Therapy? 

"Occupational therapy enables people of all ages to participate in daily living. Occupational therapy intervention uses everyday life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being, and your ability to participate in the important activities in your life."*

*American Occupational Therapy Association. (2023). What is occupational therapy. https://www.aota.org/about/what-is-ot

Our Commitment to AOTA Vision 2025: Pillar of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity 

As occupational therapists and educators, we understand diversity adds richness to our world and life. We have an obligation to combat injustice and systemic racism, and move concepts like diversity, inclusion, and equity to reality. We do not take this responsibility lightly. We as a department have committed to change the face of our classrooms and profession to a truer representation of global society and clients we serve. As we have progressed toward this goal, we strive to create safe learning environments where all members feel heard and engaged.

We seek to meaningfully engage and push ourselves, our students, and our colleagues to combat inequitable systems and to create justice. As lifelong learners, we understand that we have not always done this well and we need to reflect on how we can better work for justice. We know we can do better, and we vow to work individually and as a department to do so.

As practitioners, educators, and human beings, we will continue our efforts to uphold the AOTA Vision 2025 Pillar of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity by being “intentionally inclusive and equitable and embrace diversity in all its forms” (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2017).

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2017). Vision 2025. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy,           2017, Vol. 71(3), 7103420010p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2017.713002

 

Latest News and Announcements for Prospective Students 

The information below is a guide for questions that may be asked regarding the academic program due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19. Please check back frequently as information will be updated frequently.
 

Observation Requirements:

Observation hours will be required for the 2024 admissions cycle. Students must document a minimum of 40 hours in two or more practice settings. Please complete the OT Observation Rating Form for each site. 

If you are unable to obtain observation hours for any reason, please email ot@kean.edu for an alternative option. 
 

Application Status:

Kean OTCAS Applications will open on September 1st. Once you have completed the OTCAS application, please be advised that you must also complete the Kean Supplemental Application. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the status of your application, please contact Graduate Admissions at gradadmissions@kean.edu or (908) 737-4275. Any additional questions regarding the Kean Occupational Therapy Department, please contact us at ot@kean.edu.
 

Prerequisite Status: 

As many universities, including Kean, are switching to a pass/fail option, please be aware that the Occupational Therapy department has changed its policy for the Spring 2020 and subsequent semesters. We will accept Pass/Fail options for the classes taken during this time. We will also be accepting Anatomy and Physiology I & II as an online format for the Spring 2020 to Spring 2022 semesters. Please be sure to check this page frequently for any updates regarding this new policy. In order to view the application requirements for the Kean University Occupational Therapy program please click here for the MS program and here for the OTD program. 
 

Graduate Open House:

Please click here for current information regarding our Graduate Open Houses.
 

Status of Accreditation:

Kean University received the highest accreditation possible for the Master of Occupational Therapy program. The current accreditation will last 10 years and will be due for re-accreditation in 2023.

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Students who successfully complete the program and graduate are eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT). All graduates must pass the NBCOT exam and be credentialed as a Occupational Therapist Registered OTR. More information on NBCOT credentials can be found at https://www.nbcot.org/certification

All states require a OT license (credential) to practice occupational therapy. The issue of state license requires graduation from an accredited OT program and passing the NBCOT Certification Exam.* State License requirements can be found here

*Note that a felony conviction may affect a student's ability to graduate, sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain a state OT license.

Accreditation and Credentials:

The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Correspondence should be directed to: ACOTE, c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. Their phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Website: www.acoteonline.org.

Upon successful completion of academic preparation and level II fieldwork experiences, students are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) exam. Kean has had a 100% pass rate for the past several years. The past year's pass rate on the certification exam is available here. For more information please see www.nbcot.org.   

Kean University is renowned for its excellent value, with high-quality education and low tuition rates. Our tuition is among the lowest of New Jersey's fine state colleges and universities.

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.

Faculty:

Victor Camacho, OTD, OTR/L, Ac. Assistant Professor 

Zahava Friedman, Ph.D., OT, BCBA, Assistant Professor 

Jennifer Gardner, MS, OTD, OTR/L Assistant Professor

Sabrina Kenny, Ph.D., OTR/L Assistant Professor 

Laurie Knis, Ph.D., OT  Professor 

Claire Mulry, OTD, OTR/L, CAPS, FAOTA Assistant Professor

Amanda Sarafian, Ed.D., OTR/L Assistant Professor