Established in 1984, Pacific University is the first and only accredited professional occupational therapy school in the state of Oregon. The school offers a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree for entry-level students. The School of Occupational Therapy has a long history of successful accreditation and is approaching its 40th anniversary in 2024. The program was originally accredited in 1986 and has continually grown and developed, transitioning to a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree in 1997 and graduating the first class of MOT students in May 2000. The School transitioned to a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree in 2012, receiving accreditation in 2014.
Mission
The School of Occupational Therapy engages students in transformational education, integrating humanistic values with scientific evidence to become occupational therapists committed to occupation-based practice, life-long learning, scholarship, service, and advocacy to promote occupational well-being and justice in healthcare and society.
Vision
The School of Occupational Therapy aims to be a distinctive, innovative program in which students experience a collaborative, meaningful education that inspires them to continue embracing and advocating for occupation as a source for health and well-being.
Philosophy
The mission of the School of Occupational Therapy is to provide a transformational education to students that assures they are well-equipped to enter practice with skills and knowledge to be leaders in healthcare and the promotion of occupational justice.
Program Values
Contextual Teaching & Learning | Students learn best through varied experiences in a range of environments that have direct application to the development of practice skills and understanding of human occupation.
Doing | By active engagement of mind, body, and spirit in interaction with the environment, persons learn, grow, and actualize life roles that bring meaning, satisfaction, and well-being.
Critical Reasoning | Critical thinking is essential for effective analysis, integration and synthesis of information and systems to enact best practice.
Transformation | Occupation (engaging in meaningful daily activities) has the transformative power to enhance participation in life; through engaging in learning, students frame, envision and reflect upon their beliefs about human capacity and potential.
Ethical Practice | Sound ethical reasoning underlies and guides all that we do to maintain and promote high standards of practice.
Occupational Justice | Promote more equitable and sustainable opportunities for individuals and populations to engage in a range of healthful occupations to support well-being and quality of life.
Cultural Inclusion | Embrace diverse ideas and foster a climate of inclusion that promotes creative, best practices in which each person’s unique worldview and experience is sought and respected.
