Current Students | Department of Occupational Therapy

MSOT graduating class of 2024

Meet Our Students

Occupational Therapy students bring energy and excellence to the program. The wealth of experience and diversity of backgrounds the Occupational Therapy students bring to the program creates a dynamic and enriching academic community. The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) further enriches the program by providing educational, professional and social opportunities for Occupational Therapy students and the chance to develop leadership skills. Not surprisingly, SJSU graduates have earned a reputation as highly accomplished clinicians and leaders in Occupational Therapy.

Learn more about SOTA

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy Doctorate Degree Programs

The Department of Occupational Therapy currently now has two areas of study, the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Degree Programs, which allow the students to expand their education and enhance their skills as an occupational therapist. (OTD Program launched in Spring 2023!) NOTE: The Online Post-Professional Master's Degree program is no longer offered by the department of Occupational Therapy here at San Jose State University. Please visit the AOTA website to view other post-professional programs.

Visit AOTA website

Student Achievements

photos of OT students who received scholarships

California Foundation for Occupational Therapy (CFOT) scholarship recipients

We are VERY well represented at the upcoming California Foundation for Occupational Therapy (CFOT) event to be held at the 2024 OTAC Conference in Pasadena, CA!
Congratulations to all our wonderful OT students who received the following scholarships:

Bonita Kraft Mental Health Scholarship Awardee: Tessa Zapalac
Cunningham Herwood Endowed Scholarhsip Awardee: Nathan Burke-Tan
Karen Polastri Scholarship Awardee: Emily Canigiula
Ascend's Occupational Therapy Excellence Scholarship Awardee: Kimberly Ancheta
Ascend's Future Occupational Therapy Leadership Scholarship Awardee: Ariel Appel

In addition, the CFOT "Seed" Grant Awards given to practicing occupational therapists, academicians, entry-level occupational therapy students (individually or in groups) conducting pilot studies, needs assessments, developing new interventions or client education programs or projects, have been awarded to:

Anne Decker OTS, Clarisse Fulgato, OTS, Kate O’Neill, OTS, Jonathan Wong, OTS
Study: “The impact of simulation-based education for interprofessional collaboration to improve student self-efficacy”
FACULTY ADVISOR: Jerilyn Gigi” Smith PhD, OTR/L, SWC, FAOTA
Paula Gomez, OTS, Yovanna Gonzalez, OTS, Michelle Macias, OTS, Sondra Stilwell, OTS, Ashley Thigpen, OTS
Study: “The experience of parents learning sensory processing strategies in a university-based pediatric occupational therapy clinic“
FACULTY ADVISOR: Courtney Boitano OTD, OTR/L, BCBA-D
Tal Shay, OTD student, Linda Crabtree, OTD student
Study: “Getting Into Your Zone“
FACULTY ADVISOR: Courtney Boitano OTD, OTR/L, BCBA-D
Jennifer Howard, OTS, Gloria Hsu, OTS, Samantha Krestchmer, OTS, Dayana Rangel, OTS
Study: "Exploring the relationship between access to OT services with physical activity and quality of sleep in adults with Parkinson’s Disease (PD)"
FACULTY ADVISOR: Katrina M. Long, EdD, MS, OTR/L
Cara Mamola, OTS, David Ranit-Mauro, OTS, Inessa Owen, OTS
Study: "Political Astuteness among SJSU Occupational Therapy Students"
FACULTY ADVISOR: Winifred Schultz-Krohn, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, SWC, FAOTA & Luis L. Arabit, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, FAOTA

Grateful Occupational Therapy Students/2023 Scholarship Recipients

Mary Booth Scholarship:
Micheal Benson
April Cano
Cecily Colgate
Julia Dariychuk
Chloe Deleissegues
Sergio Dominguez
Sydney Hanzalik
Ariana Jimenez
Mary Modisette
Scott Nelson
Ngoc Nguyen
Sammi Parisi
Dayana Rangel
Sarah Staten

Bonita Kraft Scholarship:
Emily Randall

Wynn Schultz-Krohn Scholarship
Lili McNenny
Emily Boykin
Nicole Orr
Thao Pham
Kiana Shibata
Ciara Stewart

Watch to learn more about the many ways to support OT and SJSU students.

OT Students Campus News

SJSU Student OT Association (SOTA) Hosts Various Events on Campus - article by Dr. Luis Arabit, Assoc. Professor (OT Dept.)

Excellent job on an Advocacy project!

Please watch this 5-minute Youtube video called "Occupational Therapy and Mental Health during COVID-19" created by our 2021 graduate students.

Watch Video: OT and Mental Health

Kudos and Great Job!

Check out this 5-minute video called "REDEFINING OCCUPATION" created by our 2019 first year students for the Campus Movie Fest (CMF). On October 1, 2019, the film was one of the 16 selected to be screened out of the 41 films submitted.

Watch Video: Redefining Occupation

Student Resources

CFOT (California Foundation for OT) Scholarships

California Foundation for Occupational Therapy is offering 15+ SCHOLARSHIPS [pdf] ($2,000 each)

Students who are pursuing Entry-Level Degrees (students enrolled in entry-level graduate degree OT program leading to a Master’s degree in OT or Doctor of OT degree) and Post-Professional Graduate Degrees (Occupational Therapists seeking graduate education beyond entry level degree with goals of furthering service, education and research in OT) are eligible for a scholarship after they have completed at least one semester of their program.

This year CFOT also has specialty scholarships in Pediatrics.
Please apply here.
DEADLINE: Postmarked or emailed by TBD 2025

Please feel free to call or write for further assistance:

Laura Weiss, MS, OTR/L
818-400-5809
[email protected]

Winifred Schultz-Krohn, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA
408-924-3088
[email protected]

OT Dept. Scholarships

OT Scholarship application opens: TBD 2025
DEADLINE: TBD 2025
(Deadline for all other SJSU scholarships: TBD until 11:59pm.)
CHHS Student Guide [pdf] to applying for scholarships.

Please apply at the Financial Aid and Scholarship website for all the OT scholarships mentioned below.

Student Associations

Pi Theta Epsilon - National Occupational Therapy Honor Society

Student Occupational Therapy Association

Forms

Advising Form [pdf] To be completed by students each semester following advising with assigned Advisor. Copy must be submitted to the OT Dept. admin assistant, Sara Villarreal, for filing.

Student Manual Acknowledgement Form [pdf] (New Students: download the fillable form, complete it and then submit it on the Canvas site per your Advisor.)

General Petition to the Faculty Form [pdf]

Academic Resources

CHHS Student Success Center

Cost of Attendance for MS in OT

General Education Information

Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations (GAPE)

International Experience

Occupational Therapy Clinics

Peer Connections

Pre-OT Club

Testing Office

SJSU Admissions Information