The UIC Department of Occupational Therapy was founded more than 60 years ago, making it one of the oldest and most respected programs in the country. It is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top graduate program of its kind among all public and private universities.

What We Offer
Master of Science: Certification Program (MS/C)
This program is for people who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than OT and who wish to simultaneously meet requirements for certification as an occupational therapist and earn a master’s degree.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Designed for occupational therapists seeking advanced knowledge and skills, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree program graduates 'practice-scholars' who specialize in advanced practice, education and management. Graduates are positioned to become leading clinicians, managers, leaders and educators in a wide range of settings.

PhD Program in Disability Studies
This is a joint doctoral program offered by the departments of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Disability and Human Development. Students can apply with either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in any field.

About the field
Occupational therapists enhance the self-reliance and fulfillment of people whose daily lives have been interrupted by disease, disability, stress and other factors. Using rehabilitation strategies, compensatory training, specialized equipment and environmental modification, occupational therapists help clients to develop, recover or maintain the skills of daily living that many of us take for granted. For some patients, those are basic motor skills that allow them to feed and dress themselves; for others, they’re memory and time-management skills that help them participate in work and life. OT professionals address any physical, social, emotional and physiological effects of illness and injury that can inhibit an independent life.