Devoted to Community Impact
At Carlow University, our Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice empowers you to lead with purpose and serve with integrity. Whether you’re advancing your career or shifting your path, you’ll find a supportive, student-focused environment focused on making a lasting impact. Join a network of changemakers shaping a more just and merciful world.
The program spans one year, with five specializations that are cross-disciplinary, and skills based. All students will complete the core program requirements (totaling 12 credits) and will select from two specialization tracks (each consisting of 9 credits for a total of 18 credits). Specialty tracks include Forensic Psychology, Public Safety, Fraud Investigation, Forensic Accounting, and Cyber Threat Analytics.
Credits required:
30 credits
Cost per credit:
$800/credit
Time to degree:
3 semesters with a fall start
4 semesters with a spring or summer start
Delivery:
Fully Online or On campus
Where Theory Meets Real-World Application
The Carlow MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice offers students a 30-credit graduate degree that can be highly specialized depending on the student’s career interests. The program has four core courses (MCR 700 Advanced Criminological Theory, MCR 701 Justice Policy, PYM 706 Research Methods for the Social Sciences, and PYM 721 Systems of Criminal Justice) that form the foundation on which to build specialization.
Students can match any two of our five dynamic practice tracks to form unique learning experiences relevant to their future careers. Are you interested in developing skills to address financial crimes and money laundering? Complete the specialization tracks in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation. Do you want to understand how psychological assessment and treatment affects police and those who are incarcerated? Complete the specialization tracks in Public Safety and Forensic Psychology. Have you considered entering federal law enforcement and pursuing bad actors on the dark web? Specializations in Cyber Threat Analytics and Forensic Psychology or Fraud Investigation may be your best academic option.
Quick facts
Whatever career path you are considering, the Carlow MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice can help support your training for those next steps. Unique aspects of the program include:
- Five unique specializations that are not commonly offered by competitor programs
- Heavy emphasis on applied skills development
- A potential blend of psychology and criminology options for those exploring both disciplines
- Professors with both research and field experience who not only teach, but engage with their area of specialized practice in the community
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.
Accelerated
Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count towards both degrees. Apply for this option after your sophomore year.
Career opportunities for Criminology graduates
Jobs you might consider with a master’s in criminology & criminal justice are federal law enforcement, reentry specialist, forensic analyst, cyber threat analyst, loss prevention specialist, criminal justice policy advisor, criminal justice advocacy coordinator, criminology research analyst, litigation support specialist, corporate compliance officer, or probation officer (advanced roles or supervisors).
Accreditation
The Carlow MCRM program does not have any required accrediting bodies.
Admission requirements and application process
- Submit an application for admission. It is free to apply.
- Request that official transcripts from all current and previous institutions you’ve attended are sent directly to the Carlow University Office of Admissions.
Apply
anytime
Start terms:
Fall, Spring & Summer
Criminology faculty
Alexa Piacquadio, PhD Assistant Professor of Psychology & Criminology Program Director of MS in Fraud & Forensic Program
Jonathan Uhl Assistant Professor
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this major, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Devoted to Caring for the Mental and Emotional Needs of All Patients
Carlow University’s Online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (PMHNP) is for ethical healthcare professionals working professional nurses seeking to create a better healthcare system by contributing to fair and just mental health care – and all healthcare – for everyone.
Designed for working professional nurses is another distinguishing factor for our NP programs.
With more than 26 million individuals with a mental illness going untreated, our nation is in dire need of compassionate, ethical mental health leaders. Carlow’s PMHNP program is for students devoted to providing specialized assessment and treatment for a full range of mental health disorders, including counseling and medication management. Within this program, it is possible to specialize in certain types of patients, such as children, families, or those with substance abuse problems.
Credits Required:
- 19 courses for the MSN
- 14 courses for the Post MSN
- 9 courses for the Post MSN NP
Cost Per Credit:
$918
Time to Degree:
As few as 28 months
Delivery:
100% online
PMHNP Curriculum
The greater demand for PMHNPs coincides with a dramatic increase in reported cases of depression and anxiety, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring that get the treatment they need remains a key concern. With such an unmet need for service providers in this specialty to care for existing patients and help new ones, the demand for more nurses to pursue this specialty will likely only grow.
Quick Facts
- The ideal student is a nurse with compassion, sensitivity, and exceptional communication and relationship-building skills. It requires someone who can be objective and empathetic who understands that a person isn’t defined by their mental health condition.
- Graduates of Carlow’s nursing programs are prepared to be innovative, caring, compassionate, ethical members of a healthcare team. The opportunity for interdisciplinary education with psychology and social work peers is a distinct advantage.
- Carlow has 75 years of experience in educating nurses and the nurse practitioner programs have had 97-100% pass rates for certification boards over the past eight years.
- Carlow offers certification for nurses who already possess an MSN in another field of study.
- Upon completion of the degree or certification, the graduate can sit for a national certification exam, and upon passing, is given a professional, advanced practice license by the state board.
- Each state has a different licensing board, but they all require and accept the national certification. We utilize a board review course in the student’s final semester to help them successfully prepare and pass the certification exam.
75 Years of Nursing Excellence
For 75 Years, Carlow University’s School of Nursing has been dedicated to educating and empowering nurses who make a significant impact on healthcare as clinicians, educators, leaders, and researchers. As we look to the future, Carlow University remains devoted to creating ethical leaders who strive to build a more just and merciful world.
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.
Accelerated
Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count towards both degrees. Apply for this option after your sophomore year.
Admission Requirements and Application Process
- 3.0 GPA Minimum for Admission
- Apply anytime, start date in the Fall Semester.
- It is possible to transfer up to 18 post-Masters credits.
- This program accepts international students.
- Current CV, graduate transcript, and an essay are required to apply.
- Three (3) professional recommendations are required.
Apply:
Any time
Start Terms:
Fall
Applicants for this program are eligible for the Anne Kisak endowed scholarship, upon acceptance and enrollment.
Contact Admissions
If you would like to learn more about the program, schedule an on-campus visit or attend an upcoming event.
Faculty & staff
Deborah Lynn Mitchum DNP, ANP-C, WHNP Chair of Department of Graduate Nursing
Alison Bauer, DNP, FNP-C Assistant Professor
Ruth Madden Foreman DNP, FNP-BC, CRNP, RN, CNE Associate Professor
Susan Mihaljevic, DNP, CRNP-PC Associate Professor
Bernadette Sherman DNP, FNP-C, CRNP, GS-C Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor
Carlow University’s New EdD Program: Devoted to the Future of Education
Carlow University’s New EdD Program: Devoted to the Future of Education
Carlow University’s new Doctorate in Education (EdD) program is geared toward teachers and administrators who recognize the need for a new brand of leadership to imagine the future of education now. This three-year practice-based program is for people who are devoted to extending their voices beyond their particular disciplines and, as Scholar-Practitioner Stewards of Education, help to change the world for their future students. to help change the world for their future students. It offers four specialization strands:
- Educational Leadership
- Educational Leadership with Principal Certification
- Educational Leadership with Superintendent Letter of Eligibility
- Curriculum and Learning
- Literacy
- Early Childhood Policy and Leadership
Credits Required:
54
Cost Per Credit:
$650
Time to Completion:
As few as 36 months
Delivery:
100% online – Dissertation defense is in person.
EdD courses at Carlow are different from other programs because they feature a distinctly integrated doctoral study design, with each course building upon previous ideas while preparing students to engage with new concepts that can inform their practice. Throughout the program, students are invited to study systems design, to engage in discursive deliberation, and to explore new transformational approaches to education.
Quick Facts
- Our EdD is rooted in our rich history and traditions of social justice, Mercy values, and Scholar-Practitioner philosophy
- We invite and respect diversity of thinking and expression as we learn together to challenge social injustices and inequities in schools.
- This program positions students as innovative thinkers as they present their ideas and practice-based research.
- Students can learn and work with other innovative system thinkers.
Online Degree
Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online degree.
Career Opportunities for EdD
The EdD degree is the highest degree that can be awarded in the field of education. It signifies unparalleled expertise and concentrated study in the field. This degree is valued by individuals seeking a career as principals, school district superintendents, assistant superintendents, college faculty, executive directors, and heads of foundations and educators who wish to examine the dilemmas of practice in relation to the changing systems of education.
Admission Requirements and Application Process
- 3.0 GPA Minimum for Admission
- Apply anytime, start date in the Fall and Spring Semesters.
- It is possible to transfer up to 18 post-Masters credits
- This program accepts international students
- Current CV, graduate transcript, an essay, and an interview are required to apply
- Three (3) professional recommendations are required
Apply:
Any time
Start Terms:
Fall and spring
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this doctorate program, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit.
Enhance your career opportunities in the biotech industry
Designed for the biotech working professional who is looking to effect change in the health sector, our Quality Control and Assurance Certificate program offers a pathway to new and impactful career paths in healthcare and the life science fields. Designed in partnership with industry leaders, this online certificate will equip you with employable skills that you can take into the workforce at any time.
- Gain knowledge of therapeutic and medical device life cycle management
- Learn how financial risk and regulations play a part in discovering and developing healthcare and medical products.
- Understand the integration of supply chain management and how it intersects with the healthcare sector
Credits required:
12 credits
Cost per credit:
$875/credit
Time to completion:
As few as 8 months
Delivery:
100% online
Quality Assurance and Control online courses include:
- Quality Assurance in Health Sector
- Pharmaceutical Business Lifecycle Management
- Supply Chain Management in Pharmaceutical Industry
- Financial Processes & Risk in Pharmaceutical Industry
Pittsburgh, a force in the biotech industry
The Pittsburgh Region, already known for its innovation and excellence in healthcare, is now a force in the biotech industry, one of the fastest-growing fields in the country. Here at Carlow, innovation is what drives us. We are partnering with industry leaders who share a vision for the future of Pittsburgh to provide solutions to meet the next great need.
“As an industry expert- Pittsburgh is committed to building the infrastructure needed to support those working in the biomedical and life science fields.”
— Patrick Bailey, BioTech Professional
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this certificate program, our Admissions team is available to answer any questions or assist you with the next steps.
Discover a world of possibilities with an MA in Psychology
The global popularity and growth of psychology has created endless possibilities for careers beyond the traditional psychology setting such as business, education, health and public safety.
Discover your passion through our specially designed curriculum, which offers six guided elective specializations including forensic, educational, assessment, treatment, expressive arts or general exploration. You will collaborate with our supportive and experienced faculty to choose the pathway that helps you become who you want to be.
While our MA in Psychology program serves as a program for those who wish to pursue a career that does not require licensure, it can provide a great pathway to a doctorate as well.
Quick facts
- Learn advanced general and applied psychology principles
- Choose the area of focus that makes sense for you
- Be prepared to pursue a doctorate
Did you know there are personal benefits to studying psychology?1
- Understand yourself better
- Learn about research methods
- Improve your understanding of others
- Become a better communicator
- Develop critical thinking skills
- Help you in your future career
- Learn about human development
- Complement other areas of study
- Develop insight into mental illness
Learn from professionals
Credits required:
36 credits
Cost per credit:
$1,015/credit
Time to degree:
As few as 4 semesters
Delivery:
On campus & online
MA in Psychology Career-focused Curriculum
Taught in a personalized, hands-on learning environment, our master’s in psychology curriculum focuses on advanced general and applied psychology principles, and valuable research and clinical skills that you can immediately apply to your place of work.
Choose the psychology specialization that is best for you
Specialize your psychology courses to fit your career goals and personal aspirations. Each guided elective specialization provides you with the opportunity to learn the theories, skills, tools and treatments for that area.
Therapeutic Arts Psychology
Integrate your passion for the arts and humanities into your psychology coursework.
Assessment Psychology
Use field techniques and tools to develop hypotheses about personality, symptoms, behavior and cognitive ability.
Educational Psychology
Apply psychology skills and knowledge within primary and secondary school settings with a focus on supporting educational needs and reducing obstacles to learning
Alternate degree completion options
Accelerated
Fast track your way into this master’s program by taking graduate courses as a Carlow undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.
Online Degree
Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online degree option. When applying, indicate your interest in the online option.
Discover endless career possibilities with an MA in Psychology
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “Understanding psychological science and how to apply it is an asset in any career. A psychology degree, from the bachelor’s to the master’s and doctorate degree, helps employees perform in a wide variety of jobs both within and beyond the psychology discipline.”2
The APA identifies the following career paths3:
- Helping businesses
- Helping people improve their lives
- Promoting health
- Protecting the planet
- Serving communities
- Understanding the world around us
- Working in schools
Mickenna Ansell ’22
“The faculty and staff were very easy to connect with and I was able to get professional experience in research and clinical practice with their help. My time at the University prepared me to take doctoral-level classes and work in the field of psychology.”
Rachel Seamans ’21
“They [the faculty] took an interest in us and made sure we succeeded as both students and people. We weren’t just numbers to them. And, we were learning from professionals who were still practicing, not years removed from working in the field.”
Admission requirements and application process
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation from professors or clinical/research supervisors that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
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.
Apply
anytime
Start terms:
Fall, Spring & Summer
Psychology faculty
Joseph Roberts, PhD Professor, Department Chair, Program Director of MA in Psychology and MS in Criminology & Criminal Justice
Mary C. Burke, PhD Professor, Psychology
Jennifer K. Roth, PhD Professor of Psychology, Counseling, Criminology and Behavioral Neuroscience
Shannon White, Psy.D. Assistant Professor & Clinical Coordinator of MA in Psychology
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
1 “Why We All Can Learn From Studying Psychology,” Verywell Mind
2 “Working in Psychological Science,” American Psychological Association
3 “Career Paths in Psychology,” American Psychological Association
Expand your ability to transform lives, become a doctor of physical therapy
Join a diverse group of aspiring physical therapists in a deep and accelerated experiential learning journey. Our expert team has uniquely designed a well-rounded, hands-on PT curriculum geared towards treating patients beyond their disease to improve functional outcomes.
An integral part of your training will consist of 4, full-time clinical experiences in a variety of healthcare settings (hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, sports medicine, pediatrics).
To complement your clinical knowledge, you will become well-versed in seeing beyond the patient’s impairment and see how their life circumstances can impact their recovery.
Quick facts
- Sharpen your technical and non-technical skills for healthcare practice
- Learn in a healthcare team-based model (interprofessional collaboration)
- Gain clinical experiences in Pittsburgh, around the U.S. and internationally
- Lock in your tuition for all 8 semesters*
*Lock in your tuition
Incoming (Fall 2025) PT students are eligible to lock in their per-credit tuition rate for their whole program duration as long as they are continually enrolled in the PT program.
▸ View tuition & fees [pdf]
Credits required:
115 credits
Cost per credit:
$969/credit
Time to degree:
As few as 8 semesters
Delivery:
On campus
Well-rounded, employable PT curriculum
Our physical therapy curriculum allows you to learn the many facets of the PT industry including team-based patient care (interprofessional collaboration), entrepreneurship, leadership, health informatics to guide clinical decision-making, understanding of healthcare policies, and economics.
Designed to give you the time you need to reflect and digest your new knowledge, each Fall and Spring semester is divided into two, eight-week sessions.
Curricular highlights
- Learn in a healthcare team model which provides you with the opportunity to learn and discuss with aspiring nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, physician assistants and speech-language pathologists.
- Build confidence in your clinical skill through simulated hospital and ICU scenarios in our state-of-the-art simulation lab.
- Graduate with a competitive resume that will include pro-bono services at our community teaching/learning lab, opportunities throughout the Carlow campus community (early learning center, elementary school, Sisters of Mercy convent) and international clinical experiences.
At Carlow, we believe that the non-technical skills are equally essential to your health professional training as the technical skills. Your training will emphasize three important habits of healthcare practice:
Heart (professional formation/responsibilities)
Head (cognitive knowledge)
Hand (clinical skills)
It is the training in the habits of the heart that will allow you to act above and beyond your technical responsibilities and advocate for your patients.
It is the expectation that Carlow University physical therapy graduates will advocate for healthcare equity for all, serve their communities with empathy and compassion, and actively contribute to creating a just and merciful world.
Career opportunities for physical therapists
Understood as one of the most rewarding healthcare careers, physical therapists develop real relationships with their patients and help them live better lives through rehabilitative medicine. Located in Pittsburgh, our PT program is in the heart of physical therapy career opportunity.
#10
best healthcare jobs
21%
growth in the next 10 years
95k
median salary for PTs
To practice as a physical therapist in the U.S., you must earn a physical therapist degree from a CAPTE- accredited physical therapist education program and pass a state licensure exam.
Admission requirements and application process
You can apply through PTCAS, and must submit the following materials:
- A completed application on PTCAS
- A bachelor’s degree (students can apply in their senior year but must graduate before the start of the DPT program).
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00+
- Prerequisites completed within 10 years and before matriculation
- C+ or better: One course in anatomy with Lab, one course in physiology with Lab, or two courses sequence in anatomy and physiology with lab.
- C or better: Two courses in biological sciences, one course in psychology/sociology, two courses in general chemistry with Lab, two courses in general physics with Lab, one course in statistics
- One page resume
- Two Letters of recommendation describing the following:
- From a licensed physical therapist that you observed describing your passion for physical therapy and how our profession is a right fit for you.
- From an undergraduate counselor or professor who can describe your personal and academic abilities to be successful in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and become a licensed practitioner
- No set number of observation hours is required. However, it is expected that interested students will have engaged in those opportunities to be able to articulate their interest in the physical therapy profession confidently and competently.
If you are an international student, additional items are required.
Apply
Priority deadline: Nov. 1
Final deadline: May 15
Start term:
Fall (August)
Early assurance (conditional admission) for High School students to apply in: View our helpful fact sheet [pdf] that offers guidance on the process and requirements.
Physical Therapy faculty: Learn from the experts
Kunal Bhanot, PT, PhD, FAAOMPT Chair, Associate Professor
Navpreet Kaur, PT, PhD, DPT, Dip ACLM Associate Professor
Katie Shroyer PT,DPT, CBIS Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor
Chelsey Wojcik Larko, PT, DPT, NCS Assistant Professor
Mission statement
Our physical therapy program strives to develop evidence-informed, critically-thinking, skilled practitioners and leaders who advocate for healthcare equity for all, serve their communities with empathy and compassion, and actively contribute to creating a just and merciful world.
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Accreditation
Effective 04/25/23, Carlow University, Doctor of Physical Therapy program, has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please email: dptprogram@carlow.edu. Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/ professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.
Policies
- View or download the Program Complaint Policy and Procedure [pdf]
Further your education and create new career pathways
Today’s workplace is rapidly changing, and it demands specialized knowledge and skills. As a lifelong learner and a Carlow alumni you know the importance of continuing your education so that you remain at the top of your skill level and expertise. More than 50 graduate, doctoral and certificate programs are available to you with flexible course options so that you can continue your education in a way that works with your schedule.
Available Graduate Programs
Program Name
Offered
Degree Earned
Transform the future of healthcare with an entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate
Built on the Mercy principles of hospitality, discovery, sacredness of creation and service, Carlow’s fully Accredited Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program will help prepare you for a meaningful career in healthcare. You will develop deep roots in humanistic theory, emphasizing a balance of physical, emotional, and social health and wellness, participate in interprofessional experiences, engage in community service, and complete applicable fieldwork.
Upon graduation, you will be prepared to transform the future of practice using an occupational justice-informed approach to health and well-being.
Quick facts
- Accredited by ACOTE.
- Learn interprofessionally (alongside other aspiring healthcare professionals)
- Become a powerful citizen of justice in society and healthcare
- Prepare yourself to be an innovative leader in healthcare
▸ Read about theCarlow difference [pdf]
Lock in your tuition!
If you plan to start your occupational therapy (MSOT, OTD) degree in Fall 2026, 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.
Credits required:
100 credits
Cost per credit:
$950/credit
Time to degree:
As few as 8 semesters
Delivery:
On campus
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.
Career opportunities for Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists, as defined by the American Occupational Therapy Association, are skilled health care professionals who use research and scientific evidence to ensure their interventions are effective. With strong knowledge of a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup, occupational therapy practitioners can evaluate how your condition (or risk for one) is affecting your body and mind, using a holistic perspective.
Ranked one of the best jobs by U.S. News & World Report, OT is slated to grow 14% over the next 10 years (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
▸ View or download theoccupational therapy information sheet[pdf]
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.
Applications are open on the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application System (OTCAS).
▸ View the full list ofadmissions requirements and application process.
Early assurance (conditional admission) for High School students to apply: View our helpful fact sheet [pdf] that offers guidance on the process and requirements.
Apply now!
Start term:
Fall
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
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
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Accredited Entry-Level Doctoral degree level Occupational Therapy Program
The Carlow University entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program and entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program are FULLY accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-6611, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
- View or download theProgram Goals and Outcomes [pdf]
Program Outcomes
Program outcomes with regard to graduation rates and NBCOT certification exam results are updated and posted yearly. See the results on NBCOT for School Performance Home page.
Carlow University’s entry-level Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program admitted the first cohort in Fall of 2022. Carlow offers both entry level MSOT and entry level OTD programs. Our graduation rate is calculated by comparing the total number of students who began the program in either the MSOT or OTD degree program the total number of students who graduated from those programs. We allow students the opportunity to switch degree programs at the start of the second semester. There may be some fluctuation in the number of students within each degree. In addition, these numbers may include students who graduated out of sync due to medical or personal leave.
The following table represents final OTD degree candidates and graduation rates by year:
| Graduation Year | # of students started | Withdrew for non-academic reasons | # of students graduated | Graduation Rate* | NBCOT Exam New Grad Pass Rate |
| 2025 | 11 | 1 | — | — | TBD |
| 2026 | 4 | — | — | ||
| 2027 | 7 | — | — | ||
| 3-year Total/Average |
*Graduation rate is minus those who withdrew for reasons other than academic performance.
Program results from the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance
© Copyright 2025 Carlow University. All rights reserved.
Carlow University prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator, Jackie smith at jmsmith@carlow.edu or 412-578-6050.