The transformative curriculum of Marquette University’s entry-level occupational therapy doctoral program is designed to develop professional, practice-competent, critically curious servant leaders. The university lies in the heart of Milwaukee County, where documented disparities in health are long-standing. The diversity of the Milwaukee area provides opportunities for students to interact with communities of people across the lifespan, with various physical and mental abilities, of different ethnicities, religions and socioeconomic backgrounds. As such, the justice-oriented and service-focused nature of a Jesuit institution certainly supports community outreach and working alongside others in the spirit of occupational justice, and thus provides the ideal learning context for occupational therapy students.

Mission

To provide a transformational education within the Jesuit tradition designed to prepare future leaders of a collaborative and culturally responsive workforce. In doing so, we seek to develop occupational therapists who are grounded in faith and service for and with others and committed to the utility of meaningful and purposeful occupation in the promotion of justice. Marquette occupational therapy graduates will be competent and conscientious practitioner-scholars dedicated to the human community through care for the whole person. To accomplish this mission, we embrace Ignatian values as a way to promote a culture of learning and respect, which is integral to the tradition we serve.

Philosophy

It is the philosophy of Marquette’s Department of Occupational Therapy that human beings are occupational beings, interconnected with the context of their environments, and transformed through engagement in chosen occupations, or everyday life activities. The diverse nature of the human lived experience and the ability to engage in ongoing occupation, as a determinant of health, empowers individuals, communities and societies. As such, equal opportunities to pursue participation in a variety of valued and meaningful occupations, as an innate need, is a fundamental human right. To this end, we embrace the Jesuit value of Men and Women for and With Others as the embodiment of service for and with the underserved, the marginalized and those in need, in pursuit of occupational justice on behalf of all persons.  Given this philosophy, and led by the Marquette Guiding Values and Jesuit values, we commit to Academic Excellence in the education of occupational therapists through the delivery of a curriculum that embraces occupational justice and the science of occupation as fundamental, promotes a spirit and culture of ethical and critical curiosity to espouse cura personalis and Contemplatives in Action, commits to Unity of Heart and Mind in fostering an appreciation for engaged, whole-person education for future whole-person practice and instills the habit of discernment of the greater good in a given situation. We strive for this to better serve God, and ultimately, others.