Programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy to be first doctoral degrees offered in QU history

QUINCY — Quincy University announced on Tuesday morning its plans to launch doctoral programs in occupational therapy and physical therapy, pending accreditation approval. These new programs, which will be the university’s first doctoral degrees in its 165-year history, aim to address the growing demand for healthcare professionals in the region.

“These two new programs will be offered in an innovative hybrid format, with instruction taking place both online and in a hands-on setting at the Quincy University North Campus,” QU President Brian McGee said during a press conference.

A $4.2 million state capital projects grant is allowing the university to begin facility renovations at its North Campus. Work has begun to transform underutilized administrative spaces into laboratories, classrooms and faculty and staff offices that will be shared by the occupational therapy and physical therapy programs. 

The occupational therapy program will be led by Kristin Haas, Paula Costello and Jaime Garafalo-Peterson, who bring more than 35 years of experience in higher education with occupational therapy. Haas, the program’s director, emphasized the flexibility of the university’s hybrid format, which will provide students with online learning and hands-on clinical experiences.

“The curriculum empowers students with a strong foundation in occupation-centered care, preparing them to make meaningful contributions to health and well-being in their communities,” Haas said in a press release.

The physical therapy program will be led by Kathleen Galloway, Jacklyn Malt, Christina DeHoff and Steven Karas, who together have more than 50 years of experience in physical therapy education. The seven-semester program will feature online courses, small group activities and case-based learning, along with 31 weeks of full-time clinical education.

Quincy University has offered pre-physical therapy and pre-occupational therapy concentrations in bachelor’s degrees for several years. Both programs are set to begin recruiting doctoral candidates in 2025, with the first students expected to start in January 2026.

The programs aim to meet the local and regional demand for occupational and physical therapists. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says career opportunities in both fields are expected to grow significantly between 2023 and 2033.

McGee said offering programs that serve the community help the Quincy area and the university’s financial security. 

“Really, our first question is, how do we serve our community? … If we do a good job of identifying those programs and aligning our curriculum to the needs of our community, the finances will ultimately take care of themselves,” McGee said. “I say this at a time of record fundraising for Quincy University — and there’ll be more said about that later this year — I can say we fully expect that we are going to have a strong year financially, as well as have a strong year academically, with new programs like these two.” 

Applications for two programs are pending Higher Learning Commission approval. The Quincy University entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association in Bethesda, Md.

Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education in Alexandria, Va., is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. The new QU program is planning to submit an application for candidacy, which is required in the pre-accreditation stage, on May 1.

For more information about the occupational therapy program, contact Haas at occupationaltherapy@quincy.edu. For more information about the physical therapy program, contact Galloway at physicaltherapy@quincy.edu.