Seton Hall Excels in 2021 U.S. News Rankings, Leads the Way in NJ  

Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) Campus

Seton Hall University was featured in the U.S. News & World Report's 2021 Best Graduate Schools rankings for both Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT), placing Seton Hall among the top schools to earn a graduate degree.

In Fall 2019 and early 2020, U.S. News conducted surveys for PT and OT programs, rating each school on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions.

U.S. News calls PT a "meaningful and positive alternative to pharmaceuticals or surgery." Physical therapists (PTs) are described as "movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education," according to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). In this report, 239 doctoral programs in physical therapy accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) were surveyed and ranked. The results show that the Seton Hall's Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program ranks at No. 83, which is in the top 35 percent of all programs recently ranked. "Our rigorous PT program is contemporary and prepares our graduates to work in various practice environments. It is rewarding to see that we continue to stay at the top of national rankings and ahead of other colleges and universities," says Doreen Stiskal, PT, Ph.D, department chair and associate professor of physical therapy.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is a combination of academic coursework and hands-on clinical experience, which prepares students to practice safely and ethically, and to treat patients who face a multitude of conditions. Graduates of the program are fully prepared for success as evidenced through their NPTE licensure exam ultimate pass rates of 100 percent for the past seven years and employment rate of 100 percent within one year of licensure.

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program has experienced a similar distinction. Out of 198 doctoral and master's degree programs surveyed by U.S. News and accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE©), Seton Hall ranks at No. 79 nationally. The OT program moved up nine spots since the last U.S. News Report in 2016, which places it in the top 40 percent of all OT graduate programs nationally. The Seton Hall MSOT program leads as the only program in New Jersey ranked within the top 100. Occupational therapists help people of all ages participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Occupational therapy helps people function in all of their environments (e.g., home, work, school, community) and addresses the physical, psychological, and cognitive aspects of their well-being through engagement in occupation (adapted from AOTA).

Ruth Segal, PhD, OTR, department chair and professor, states that, "Occupational therapy is a crucial part of healthcare, and we work hard to prepare our students to be ready for the field. Our entire department is elated that it is the top ranked program in the state and rising in the national rankings."

Seton Hall's MSOT program is the first of its kind in New Jersey. The program is a unique blend of academics and clinical experience, and students are well prepared to join the workforce in healthcare, educational and the community. Through this program, students participate in a three-step curriculum beginning with foundational coursework followed by clinical courses which address the impact of health conditions and impairments on activities. Their studies culminate in a final term which focuses on prevention, health promotion and wellness. The unique educational feature of our program is the extensive and varied experiential component of the curriculum in the form of labs, clinical and community experiences.

The MSOT program graduates are competent entry-level ethical practitioners, contributors, managers and servant leaders who work collaboratively in interprofessional healthcare arenas.

Related Links

• More information on the Occupational Therapy program »
• More information on the Doctor of Physical Therapy program »
• More information on the graduate degree and certificate programs offered through the School of Health and Medical Sciences »

Categories: Health and Medicine