Colorado State University’s Department of Occupational Therapy Receives a Top National Ranking in U.S. News and World Report

Colorado State University’s Department of Occupational Therapy is a top program in the prestigious U.S. News and World Report "America’s Best Graduate Schools" rankings.

The department, part of the College of Applied Human Sciences, is ranked 8th in the nation and listed with peer programs at Boston University, University of Southern California and the University of Kansas Medical Center.

The department is recognized by the university as one of 12 Programs of Research and Scholarly Excellence and has been designated a Program of Excellence by the state of Colorado. It has been ranked in the top 10 Occupational Therapy programs by the U.S. News and World Report survey for multiple years.

"We are very pleased to be among the nation’s best programs. This is a recognition of our accomplishments in the areas of teaching, research and outreach as well as our ongoing commitment to top-notch faculty, students and staff. I feel our positive ranking also reflects the tremendous support we receive from Colorado State University and the larger community, including research and outreach collaborators and the many community-based occupational therapists  who supervise and train our students during their fieldwork experiences," said Karen Spencer, interim head of the department.

The occupational therapy department at Colorado State is engaged in state-of-the art research and outreach, has a strong focus on evidence-based practice and offers graduate-level education to prepare students to successfully meet the opportunities and challenges of the nation’s changing health, public education and human service systems. The department offers a Master of Science degree in occupational therapy and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. through the university’s School of Education.

Occupational therapists work with individuals, families and organizations to help people develop or regain the ability to engage in valued and important daily activities or occupations despite the impacts of disability or other conditions. As highly trained professionals, OTs are keenly aware of the human need to grow, learn, work and participate fully as valued members of their communities. OTs collaborate with their clients  to solve problems, adapt activities and environments,  apply assistive technologies, build new skills, restore lost abilities and gain needed experience doing needed or wanted activities in everyday contexts. The goal of occupational therapy is to enable clients to improve self-sufficiency and lead productive and satisfying lives.

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