Graduate Degrees in Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy
Become the Healer You’re Called to Be
DPT: $1,003 / credit
Transform Lives Through Health Sciences
Carlow University’s graduate programs in Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy prepare you to restore independence, promote wellbeing, and advocate for justice in healthcare and community settings. Rooted in Mercy values, our programs bring together rigorous coursework, small cohorts, interprofessional learning, and extensive hands-on experiences—both locally in Pittsburgh and through optional opportunities abroad—so you graduate confident, compassionate, and career-ready.
What you’ll gain:
- Skills in healing the whole person through evidence-based care
- Training in advocacy, leadership, and interprofessional teamwork
- Real-world experience in diverse clinical and community settings
- Mentorship from expert faculty who know your name
Grow Your Healthcare Career
Students who care deeply about people and want to enter a healing profession thrive at Carlow. Whether you’re coming from a background in health sciences, psychology, or education, or you’re ready to pivot into a career of service, you’ll find the support, mentorship, and practical experience you need to succeed.
Thrive in a Growing Field
Carlow Health Sciences students graduate prepared to launch careers as licensed Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists, serving in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, community agencies, and private practice. Both fields are projected to grow faster than average, with strong salaries and high demand nationwide.
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist
*2024 median salary per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Learning with Purpose
Our OT and PT programs are full-time, on-campus, and cohort-based for an immersive experience. Small class sizes, dedicated advisors, and close faculty mentorship ensure you’ll build the knowledge and skills you need to successfully pass your certification exams and launch a meaningful career.
Occupational Therapy (MS)
Carlow’s ACOTE-accredited Master of Science in Occupational Therapy blends academic rigor with practical application. You’ll study occupational justice, health and wellbeing, and interprofessional collaboration while preparing to help people regain independence and thrive. With no class on Fridays and a tuition lock, the program is structured with balance and affordability in mind.
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
The DPT program emphasizes evidence-informed practice, leadership, and compassionate care. In less than three years, you’ll complete coursework in communication, entrepreneurship, and community-based rehabilitation, paired with extensive real-world training. From pro-bono clinics and athletic training to international service in Honduras, Carlow prepares you to lead with head, hand, and heart.
Classes You’ll Take
MS in Occupational Therapy (73 credit hours)
- Anatomy and Biomechanics
- Critical Thinking I-III
- Cultivating a Culture of Health
- Environment and Community I, II
- Fieldwork (18 credit hours)
- Innovation and Technology I, II
- Leadership and Management
- MSOT Scholarship I, II
- MSOT Seminar: Bridge to Practice
- Neuroscience for Occupations
- Occupational Justice & Foundations
- Occupations of Healthy Living
- OT Practice (14 credit hours)
Doctor of Physical Therapy (115 credit hours)
- Application of Research and Statistics
- Applied Pathophysiology
- Art of Healing I-III
- Art of Healthy Living
- Basics of Research and Statistics
- Biomechanics of Human Motion
- Building Blocks of Development
- Clinical Experience Readiness
- Community Health and Wellness
- Critical Thinking within Inter-professional Framework I-III
- Diagnostic Imaging and Clinical Decision Making
- Doctoral Capstone Project
- Empowering Children and Adolescents to Functional Independence
- Entrepreneurship in Physical Therapy
- Foundations of Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience
- Foundations of Physical Therapy Skills
- Functional Anatomy I, II
- Healthcare Finance and Policy
- Health Systems I-III
- Integrated Clinical Experience
- Interprofessional Ethical and Legal Issues in Clinical Practice
- Introduction to Diagnostic Imaging
- Introduction to Physical Therapy Profession
- Leadership in Healthcare Practice
- Principles of Movement and Exercise Science
- Musculoskeletal I-IV
- Neuromuscular I-IV
- Neurobiology and Therapeutics of Pain
- Pharmacotherapeutics in Physical Therapy
- Physical Therapy for the Older Adults
- Preparation for Physical Therapy Clinical Practice
- Primary Care in Physical Therapy
- Principles of Evidence Informed Practice
- Rehabilitation Technology in Physical Therapy
- Terminal Clinical Experience I-III
- Therapeutic Modalities in Physical Therapy Practice
A Community Invested in Your Success
At Carlow, you’re never on your own. Our faculty and staff are committed to your success from the first day of class to graduation and beyond.
Dedicated Faculty Mentors
Your professors aren’t just teachers—they’re practicing professionals who guide you through coursework, clinical placements, and career decisions with personal attention and care.
Financial & Academic Resources
Carlow helps you stay focused on your goals with a tuition lock (MS, Occupational Therapy Only), graduate assistantships, and a lending library that reduces costs for textbooks and certification preparation.
Accreditation
Occupational Therapy
The Carlow University entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is FULLY accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-6611, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Effective 04/25/23, Carlow University, Doctor of Physical Therapy program, has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please email: dptprogram@carlow.edu. Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/ professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.