Transform the future of healthcare with an entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Lock in your tuition!

If you plan to start your occupational therapy (MSOT, OTD) degree in Fall 2024, you are eligible to lock in your per-credit tuition rate for your whole program duration as long as you are continually enrolled in the program.

▸ Get started today!

Occupational Therapy Doctorate curriculum

Throughout the OTD curriculum, we have integrated interprofessional experiences into course-based learning activities and community-based experiences. Shared spaces and faculty create daily interprofessional interactions, while critical thinking and ethics courses provide interprofessional discussion and reflection. You will participate in fieldwork experiences (Level I & II) that allow you to bridge your knowledge between classroom and practice using an occupational justice-informed approach. Completion of a doctoral capstone project will position you to identify areas of need in practice to address under-resourced individuals, groups and populations.

• Level I fieldwork (3 required): discover, develop and enhance your professional identity and apply your classroom knowledge to your experiences located on campus and in the surrounding Pittsburgh, Pa community
• Level II fieldwork (2, 12-week required, pre-requisite of the doctoral capstone experience): apply clinical and technological skills in a variety of supervised practice settings (interprofessional & evidence-based) and focus on environment and community concepts (education & advocacy)
• Doctoral Capstone Experience (14-week course): address a link to the domain of OT, occupational justice, and health and wellbeing to promote occupational engagement of clients (individuals, groups, or populations).

▸ View or download our program’smission and outcomes [pdf]

The OTD curriculum is taught through a whole-health perspective that works to develop your whole person for innovative practice in healthcare, dedicated to optimizing health and well-being as a path to occupational justice.

Admission requirements and application process

At Carlow University, our Occupational Therapy program, uses a holistic admissions process. In this process we evaluate you as a whole person and acknowledge a student’s lived experiences, work, and service initiatives. These areas are specifically given credit during your application process. We look forward to meeting you and guiding you throughout the process.

Program Director Erin Phillips

“I invite you to discover the new Occupational Therapy program at Carlow University! We would love to have you join us as a part of your graduate educational journey toward a career in OT. Through the lens of Catholic social teachings, guided by the Sisters of Mercy, we will discover what it means to work for and thrive in a “just and merciful world.” As part of the OT program, it is our desire to help you transform into a person-centered health care provider and socially conscious citizen. Today, as you investigate this career, you take the first step toward a lifetime of meaningful work.”

– Erin Phillips, OTD, MSOT, OTR/L, DipACLM, Associate Professor & Founding Program Director for Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy faculty

Erin Phillips, OTD, MSOT, OTR/L, DipACLM Program Director, Associate Professor

Elizabeth Sherman, PhD, OTR/L Assistant Professor and Doctoral Capstone Coordinator

Blythe Westendorf, OTD, MS, OTR/L Assistant Professor

Alyssa Kuster, OTD, OTR/L Field Coordinator/Assistant Professor

Ainsley Dillon, PhD, OTR/L Assistant Professor

Jessica Durci, MOT, OTR/L, CPAM Adjunct Instructor

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Build potential and access to full participation with an MS in Occupational Therapy

Lock in your tuition!

If you plan to start your occupational therapy (MSOT, OTD) degree in Fall 2024, you are eligible to lock in your per-credit tuition rate for your whole program duration as long as you are continually enrolled in the program.

▸ Get started today!

Master’s in occupational therapy curriculum

Throughout the curriculum, we have integrated interprofessional experiences into course-based learning activities and community-based experiences. Shared spaces and faculty create daily interprofessional interactions, while critical thinking and ethics courses provide interprofessional discussion and reflection. You will participate in fieldwork experiences (Level I & II) that allow you to bridge your knowledge between classroom and practice using an occupational justice-informed approach.

• Level I fieldwork (3 required): discover and develop your professional identity, apply your classroom knowledge to your experiences, and complete experience on campus and in the surrounding Pittsburgh, Pa community
• Level II fieldwork (2, 12-week required): apply clinical skills in a variety of supervised practice settings, complete experience in traditional or innovative practice settings, and focus on environment and community concepts, and interprofessional and evidence-based practice

▸ View or download our program’s mission and outcomes [pdf]

The OT curriculum is taught through a whole-health perspective that works to develop your whole person for innovative practice in healthcare, dedicated to optimizing health and well-being as a path to occupational justice.

Admission requirements and application process

At Carlow University, our Occupational Therapy program, uses a holistic admissions process. In this process we evaluate you as a whole person and acknowledge a student’s lived experiences, work, and service initiatives. These areas are specifically given credit during your application process. We look forward to meeting you and guiding you throughout the process.

Program Director Erin Phillips

“I invite you to discover the new Occupational Therapy program at Carlow University! We would love to have you join us as a part of your graduate educational journey toward a career in OT. Through the lens of Catholic social teachings, guided by the Sisters of Mercy, we will discover what it means to work for and thrive in a “just and merciful world.” As part of the OT program, it is our desire to help you transform into a person-centered health care provider and socially conscious citizen. Today, as you investigate this career, you take the first step toward a lifetime of meaningful work.”

– Erin Phillips, OTD, MSOT, OTR/L, DipACLM, Associate Professor & Founding Program Director for Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy faculty

Erin Phillips, OTD, MSOT, OTR/L, DipACLM Program Director, Associate Professor

Elizabeth Sherman, PhD, OTR/L Assistant Professor and Doctoral Capstone Coordinator

Blythe Westendorf, OTD, MS, OTR/L Assistant Professor

Alyssa Kuster, OTD, OTR/L Field Coordinator/Assistant Professor

Ainsley Dillon, PhD, OTR/L Assistant Professor

Jessica Durci, MOT, OTR/L, CPAM Adjunct Instructor

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Help students improve their literacy skills

As a reading specialist, you can help students identify their reading difficulties and develop methods to overcome those struggles by providing remedial instructions. The Graduate Certificate in Reading Specialist prepares you to teach reading programs at various educational levels.

Graduate Certificate in Reading Specialist Curriculum 

Interested in pursuing a a graduate certificate in Reading Specialist with an embedded Dyslexia Certificate from Carlow University? 

Carlow Univeristy is a LEADER in the field of evidenced-aligned reading instruction. Carlow Reading Specialist candidates learn how to deliver systematic, explicit, multi-modal, diagnostic and intensive instruction. 

At Carlow University, our Reading Specialist program is accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA). We are in an elite crowd, as one of only a small number of universities nationwide with IDA accreditation! Best of all, Carlow’s Reading Specialist certificate program is available online, with class meeting times occurring synchronously (virtually) and asynchronously. 

At Carlow all of our coursework is aligned to IDA and Structured Literacy, and we are proud to have been awarded IDA accreditation for our MEd in Reading Specialist program! 

Unique options exist, that meet various needs: 

1.  Four Course Dyslexia Certificate, 12 credits 

• READ 721 Dyslexia and Structured Literacy 

• READ722 Critical Components of Phonological Awareness 

• READ723 Structures of Language & Linguistics I 

• READ 724 Data Integration and Instruction 

2.  Reading Specialist Certificate, 25 credits 

The four courses in the Dyslexia Certificate, plus: 

• READ 725 Teachers as Writers 

• READ 726 Critical Analysis of Text 

• SE 711 Disciplinary and Digital Literacy 

• READ 729 Structures of Language & Linguistics II 

• READ 740 Evaluating Literacy Curriculum 

3.  MEd in Reading Specialist, 31 credits 

All courses in the Dyslexia Certificate and the Reading Specialist Certificate, plus: 

• READ 727 Adolescent and Adult Literacy 

• ED 731 Creative Inquiry 

International Dyslexia Association’s Accredited Universities 

Center for Effective Reading Instruction, Structured Literacy/Dyslexia Interventionist 

Quick facts

• International Dyslexia Association, IDA Accredited 

• Practioner oriented equipping teachers of reading and writing with Structured Literacy and evidenced-aligned teaching practices 

• Faculty instructors who serve as national LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) trainers, Certified Orton-Gillingham Fellows, and literacy leaders and practitioners in the field 

• Connected to Carlow’s Campus Laboratory School where Reading Specialist candidates have the unique opportunity of working directly with students with dyslexia in the school’s multi-sensory learning lab 

• Partnerships with regional schools that enhance professional development 

• No student teaching required 

• Approved provider for the federal TEACH Grant 

Admission requirements and application process

You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:

An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success. No prerequisites or teacher licensure are required for this degree and certification.

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FACULTY

Testimonials

“Carlow’s Dyslexia Certificate is exceptional! The knowledge gained throughout my experience has helped me to better support and understand evidence based practices that are beneficial for all students and vital for students with dyslexia. In addition to the coursework and learning, I found valuable relationships in the Carlow faculty! The professors were excellent in their knowledge base, course structures, and accessibility. Knowing that all our students deserve instruction rooted in what the collective science says about how the brain learns to read, working through Carlow’s Dyslexia Certificate program was a must for me!”

-Tanya Lewis is a principal in the Butler Area School District, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Carlow’s Educational Leadership Program and Dylslexia Teaching Certificate track 

“I recently completed the accelerated, one-year MEd Reading Specialist and Dyslexia Certification program at Carlow University.  I was initially attracted to Carlow because of the IDA accreditation, course offerings, and virtual instruction.  Each course in the MEd Reading Specialist program and accompanying texts expanded my knowledge of reading science and structured literacy. The practicum experiences allowed me to put my new learning into practice.  My fondest memories of Carlow are the classes taught by enthusiastic, expert instructors in the field of literacy. I am proud to be a Carlow graduate, reading specialist, and a CERI Certified Structured Literacy Interventionist!”

-Laurie Gibbons is a Reading Specialist in Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland and a graduate of Carlow’s MEd in Reading Specialist Program with embedded Dyslexia Certificate  

“I highly recommend Carlow University’s MEd Reading Specialist program to anyone who is looking to expand their knowledge of evidence-based reading instruction and structured literacy. The professors are knowledgeable educators who have a wealth of experience in the field of education. The coursework helped me dive deeper into how children learn to read, the difficulties they may experience, and how to facilitate learning for students who struggle with reading. The embedded practicum allowed me to use the skills I was learning and provided opportunities for feedback and discussion with my professors and peers.”

-Sarah Seyler is a Reading Coach in Sussex County Public Schools, Virginia and a graduate of Carlow’s MEd in Reading Specialist Program with embedded Dyslexia Certificate 

“My courses in the Reading Specialist program at Carlow have been career-changing. I have been an elementary teacher for 17 years and have learned more about teaching reading in courses I’ve taken than I have in my previous combined eight years of higher education. Already having an MEd, obtaining another was not my original plan. Being introduced to the Science of Reading and getting a taste of the research changed my mind. I want to keep learning and growing as a teacher and soak up as much knowledge as I can from the amazing professors and education department at Carlow.” 

-Samantha Buterbaugh is a teacher in South Butler County School District, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Carlow’s MEd in Reading Specialist Program with embedded Dyslexia Certificate 

Enter the workforce ready to make a change

Studies in the area of Restorative Justice will provide you with a foundational focus in addressing community-based issues pertaining to inequities in the justice system. You will also be introduced to alternate methods for addressing crime-related issues beyond the typical incarceration models most often employed by the United States.

You will be encouraged to consider how race and class affect interactions with the police and court systems. This concentration provides a solid foundation of theory, policy and research to help students become active change agents as they enter the workforce

Restorative Justice concentration curriculum

Students are required to complete the Restorative Justice sequence — Communities, Organizations in Praxis and Race, Class and Justice, as well as two courses from the following:Violence and Victims of Crime, Crime and Mental Health, Prison and Society and/or Juvenile Delinquency. Prior to taking these courses, students must complete Introduction to Social Work and Introduction to Criminal Justice.

Quick Facts

• Students are required to satisfy the requirements for the Social Work or Criminology major
• Concentration requires 12 credits, not including prerequisites
• A minimum of six credits of the selected Restorative Justice courses must be taken at Carlow University

View Plan of Study

Alternate degree completion options

Online Degree

Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online degree option. When applying, indicate your interest in the online option.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE’s Commission on Accreditation is responsible for developing accreditation standards that define competent preparation and ensuring that social work programs meet them. CSWE administers a multistep accreditation process that involves program self-studies, site visits, and reviews. Carlow University’s next accreditation visit will be in 2028.

View or download the following for more information:

• View or download the Bachelor of Social Work field manual [pdf]. It contains information and documents specific to the field placement component of the program  
• View or download the Bachelor of Social Work program handbook [pdf]. It contains policies, procedures and information about the program
• View or download the Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes [pdf]. 

Admission requirements and application process

Social Work faculty

Kathryn Bonach, PhD, LSW, LPC BSW Program Director, Associate Professor

Marsha Frank, PhD, LCSW Associate Professor, Social Work (MSW)

Jessica Friedrichs, MSW, MPA Assistant Professor, Social Work and Director, BSW Field Education

Kenneth Smythe-Leistico, EdD, MSW, LSW Field Director, Assistant Professor, Social Work (MSW)

Carrie Stott, PhD, LSW Program Director, Assistant Professor, Social Work (MSW)

Prepare to help meet the educational needs of students with disabilities

Carlow University’s Special Education program at the graduate level prepares teachers to meet the needs of children with a wide variety of mental, physical, social, emotional and behavioral disabilities in multiple settings. You will learn to adapt general education lessons and prepare specifically designed instruction to effectively teach students with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities including intellectual disabilities, other health impaired, phsycial disabilities, emotional disorders, and specific language disabilities.  You will learn about adaptive and assistive technology, positive behavior inteventions, autism, and dyslexia supports.   

This certificate program and resulting PreK-12 special education certification can be added to an existing PA teaching license, or it can be completed by those individuals with no previous teaching experience or licensure.

26 credits for those with an existing general teaching license. Additional courses are required for initial teacher certification in PA.

Graduate Certificate in Special Education curriculum

You will experience an accelerated program with eight-week online courses .The graduate Special Education program includes 23 credit hours of coursework focusing on the practical application of research-based special education theoretical constructs and methodology and 3 credits of student teaching.  Coursework includes methods in mild/moderate disabilities, methods in severe and profound, adaptive and assistive technology, dyslexia, and positive behavioral supports.   

Additional coursework is required for those seeking initial teacher certification in PA.   

Quick facts

• Emphasizes meeting needs of students with a wide range of disabilities and positive behavior support 

• Specialized training in Dyslexia 

• Latest special education technology 

• Approved provider for the federal TEACH Grant 

Admission requirements and application process

You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:

An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success. No prerequisites or teacher licensure are required for this degree and certification.

Expand your knowledge

Carlow made life easy for Jennifer Do, MEd as she earned a master’s and then a graduate certificate in special education while maintaining her full-time job. “I needed them to understand I worked in the field already, that I had years of experience, and that I wanted to learn more. They challenged me and made me think about the world around me. They helped me to grow into a leadership position. Carlow fit into my life, and to this day I still reach out to the staff.”

Study Data Analytics at Carlow

You can prepare for a high demand field and cultivate real-world data analysis skills with a minor in data analytics from Carlow University.

Curriculum for Data Analytics minor

The Data Analytics minor is open to any major. A minimum of 16 credits is required, at least 3 of which must be an elective.

Required courses include:

• Introduction to Data Analytics
• Data Visualization
• Basic Applied Statistics
• Applied Calculus or Calculus I
• Introduction to Programming in R,  Introduction to Programming in Python or Computer Applications for Science and Mathematics

Learn how children grow and evolve

You will develop a scientific approach to the study of human behavior and experience in Carlow University’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program. As a Child Development Psychology major, you will investigate the biological, behavioral, emotional, cognitive and social factors that shape how humans grow and change. This concentration is helpful if you wish to pursue employment or graduate training in developmental psychology, counseling and fields in which additional knowledge of children’s growth and development is helpful.

By the end of the program, you will be ready to enter training in social service and mental health programs in areas such as therapeutic activities, rehabilitation, casework, child care work and service coordination.

The program provides a foundation for graduate study in psychology and counseling but can be a path to other careers. You can go on to law school or graduate school or work in business, education or other fields.

BA Psychology curriculum

In the Child Development Psychology major you must satisfy the regular requirements for the major and complete at least 9 credits in human development. You can complete an internship at a local facility or conduct field research. 

Quick facts

• Dig deeper in the study of children’s growth
• Collaborate with faculty on research
• Gain real-world career experience with an internship

Alternate degree completion options

3-Year Degree

Finish your bachelor’s degree in three years by following a 3-year academic plan. Courses are taken across fall, spring and summer terms with summer courses completely online. When applying, indicate your interest in the 3-Year Degree option.

Accelerated

Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.

Admission requirements and application process

A well-rounded college experience

Psychology major Morgan Mattie ’21 liked the amount of care and respect shown by Carlow advisors. “I never felt like just another student to them, they always had my best interest in mind and knew me well enough to help me make the best decisions for me. The psychology program is so well-rounded and really helps you understand not only psychology as a whole, but also your specific track.”

Psychology faculty

Kathryn Bonach, PhD, LSW, LPC BSW Program Director, Associate Professor

Marsha Frank, PhD, LCSW Associate Professor, Social Work (MSW)

Jessica Friedrichs, MSW, MPA Assistant Professor, Social Work and Director, BSW Field Education

Kenneth Smythe-Leistico, EdD, MSW, LSW Field Director, Assistant Professor, Social Work (MSW)

Carrie Stott, PhD, LSW Program Director, Assistant Professor, Social Work (MSW)

Prepare to work in cardiac surgery with a MS in Cardiovascular Perfusion

Carlow’s MS in Cardiovascular Perfusion will equip you to pursue a career in a much-needed medical specialty. The rigorous science curriculum will give you a thorough education on the cardiovascular system, perfusion, hematology, surgery, pulmonary anatomy,  pathology and more.

You will learn to prepare the cardiopulmonary bypass and auxiliary equipment used during surgery, as well as the principles and practices of clinical perfusion management.

You will learn the skills needed to oversee the function of the heart and/or lungs during medical procedures and how to administer heart-stopping drugs, monitor the physiological and metabolic demands of patients, and operate equipment during open-heart surgery.

MS in Cardiovascular Perfusion curriculum

The MS in Cardiovascular Perfusion program is offered in cooperation with the UPMC School of Cardiovascular Perfusion. 

Courses cover biological, chemical and physical topics pertaining to the cardiovascular system and include Introduction to Cardiovascular Surgery, Electrophysiology, and Perfusion Procedures — Clinical II/Clinical II Continued.

Quick facts

• Complete 18 months of clinical training at UPMC School of Cardiovascular Perfusion
• Study in one of the oldest cardiovascular perfusion programs in the United States
• Sit for the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) Perfusion Basic Science Examination (PBSE) upon graduation

Admission requirements and application process

You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:

An undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher is required, as is a 3.5 GPA in the sciences (no exceptions). 

Students must have the following prerequisites completed in order to be considered for the program:

• General Biology I and II, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, Physics I and II, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Calculus and Medical Ethics

Cardiovascular Perfusion faculty

Kathryn Bonach, PhD, LSW, LPC BSW Program Director, Associate Professor

Marsha Frank, PhD, LCSW Associate Professor, Social Work (MSW)

Jessica Friedrichs, MSW, MPA Assistant Professor, Social Work and Director, BSW Field Education

Kenneth Smythe-Leistico, EdD, MSW, LSW Field Director, Assistant Professor, Social Work (MSW)

Carrie Stott, PhD, LSW Program Director, Assistant Professor, Social Work (MSW)

Find your social and behavioral sciences degrees at Carlow 

Carlow University offers a variety of social and behavioral science degree programs to prepare you for a career in social work or counseling. You will develop social work skills that can be translated into practice with individuals, families, organizations and communities, and learn the theories of human behavior related to how personality, environment and culture interact with one another to shape an individual.

Minor in Behavioral Health

In the Behavioral Health minor program, you will learn about the social work profession as you study the connection between behaviors and mental and physical well-being. You will learn how to develop cultural competence in working with diverse populations, explore the individual and community context of behavioral health, and learn about case management.

The minor is open to all majors. It particularly benefits students who pursue careers in social and behavioral sciences, political science, psychology, anthropology and sociology.

A Behavioral Health minor enriches all career choices. With this minor, you will be prepared to work in behavioral health organizations and in settings where behavioral health impacts clients and communities, such as in health care, education, criminal justice and advocacy.

Behavioral Health Minor curriculum

The minor required 18 credits. Two elective courses focus on topics such as practice with groups and families, crisis intervention and substance abuse. The forensic context will further prepare you to work in these areas.