OT Program to Open New Labs
8/4/09
Maryville University plans to open three new occupational therapy labs and a classroom for the upcoming fall semester. Construction of the new facilities is underway in the Chapel Hill office building at Mason Road and I-64, near Maryville’s main campus in west St. Louis County.
“The move helps us tremendously,” said Paula Bohr, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, director of the Occupational Therapy Program. “We’ve outgrown all of our space here on campus and we have no room to expand class sizes. Our classes have filled for the past several years, but we have not been able to accept more than our cap of students per year, even though applications continue to increase.”
The expanded space – 4,300 square feet – will accommodate more students in the labs at one time, which provides greater flexibility in scheduling, Bohr said. The new location is expected to be outfitted in time for the start of fall classes.
More than 120 Maryville students are enrolled in the occupational therapy program. The new labs, which replace two labs formerly located on the main campus, will provide areas for students to practice skills such as splinting, gross motor exercises, sensory integration techniques, assistive technology use and daily living skills. A multipurpose room will be used for classroom and other large group activities.
Occupational Therapy is a master’s degree program offered at Maryville over five academic years (fall and spring semester courses).
Maryville University, founded in 1872, is a four-year, private university located in west St. Louis County. Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Colleges in the Masters-Midwest category, Maryville University students may choose from 50 academic programs, including degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Among recent graduates, 94 percent are employed or attending graduate school. More than 15,000 Maryville alumni work and live in the St. Louis region.