Department of Occupational Therapy
- Emergency Services
- Public Health
- Healthcare Administration
- Respiratory Therapy: Pre Licensure
- Department of Occupational Therapy
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Center for Interprofessional Education and Practice
- Health Sciences
- Communication Sciences and Disorders
- School of Social Work
- Applied Physiology Laboratory
- Respiratory Therapy: Post Licensure
- Department of Public Health and Healthcare Leadership
Mission and Philosophy
The mission of the Department of Occupational Therapy is to create a community of innovative and ethical practitioners who serve and advocate for the health and participation of diverse populations and communities, both locally and globally. We are strongly committed to the philosophy of student-centered, active learning expressed in Radford University’s Strategic Plan. We value multiple forms of active learning that involve our students grappling with the issues that clients bring to occupational therapy, because this is an ideal platform for learning by doing and reflecting on what they are doing.
We offer two tracks to the MOT degree, the Traditional Track and the OTA to MOT Bridge Track

Choose Your Program. Make a Difference.
- The Occupational Therapy Assistant degree program has accepted its last cohort and will graduate its final class in May of 2024.
- The Master of Occupational Therapy program is an entry-level degree for students interested in entering the profession of occupational therapy. Our Master of Occupational Therapy program offers two tracks. The Traditional Track is offered in a face-to-face, on campus format and is designed for students who have no previous degree in occupational therapy. The OTA to MOT Bridge Track is designed for the occupational therapy assistant practictioner who wishes to obtain the Master of Occupation Therapy degree; this program is offered in a hybrid format with asynchronous course work combined with 3-4 weekends at the Radford University Carilion campus location per semester.
- We also offer a Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree for current occupational therapy practitioners interested in pursuing a doctoral degree. This degree program is offered entirely online and is convenient for working professionals.

Client-centered intervention is the core of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Students learn how to assist clients to return to participating in the activities that matter the most to them.

The Master of Occupational Therapy program offers students opportunities to present, learn and network with faculty and students across the university in other disciplines.

The 8-semester Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is 100% online and is designed for working professionals!

Department of Occupational Therapy in the News
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Interprofessional case study activity encourages Waldron College students to collaborate »
11/10/2023
Students from the nursing, occupational therapy, social work and communication sciences and disorders programs gathered to participate in the fall 2023 Waldron College of Health and Human Services interprofessional case study activity on Nov. 3. The activity gives students the chance to interact and learn from one another, expanding their knowledge about the duties of each member of their teams as well as the resources available to them through their colleagues.
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Vesna Cotić Costello named interim chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy »
9/6/2023
Vesna Cotić Costello, D.H.Sc. has been named the interim chair of the Radford University Occupational Therapy Department. As one of the four original faculty members in the department that was founded in 2009, she brings valuable experience into her new role and plans to lead with humility and grace.
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Camp Carilion Visits RUC »
6/23/2023
Labs at Radford University Carilion in Roanoke were buzzing with excitement on June 20 as local high school students participated in Camp Carilion, a four-day immersive experience that provides them with the opportunity to learn life-saving information through exercises and interactive demonstrations.
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Waldron College hosts fall 2022 interprofessional case study activity »
11/11/2022
Over 200 students participated in the 12th annual Waldron College lnterprofessional Case Study Activity on Nov. 4, 2022. Students from communication sciences and disorders, counseling psychology, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy and social work programs collaborated on the case of Rosa Garcia, a sixth-grader whose family survived a fire, but face a long road to recovery and return to normal.
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Master of Occupational Therapy students host children’s summer camps »
9/13/2022
Every summer for the last few years, the occupational therapy labs on the main campus in Radford and at Radford University Carilion in Roanoke echo with the sound of children’s giggles, playful screams and excited chatter during free summer camps held for kids ages 3-6. Both the children and the occupational therapy students who run them benefit from the experience.
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Waldron College of Health and Human Services hosts 7th annual Interprofessional Symposium & Expo »
4/25/2022
For the first time in three years, Waldron College of Health and Human Services students and faculty gathered in person to present research and share ideas at the Interprofessional Symposium and Expo. The seventh annual daylong celebration of original research from the college presented an opportunity for those involved to share research via poster and podium presentations well as roundtable exercises.