Meeting demand: 海角社区 set to train more occupational therapists and counselors
November 7, 2019
MERIDIAN--海角社区’s Kasiska Division of Health Sciences is a step closer to adding three new graduate degrees, including a master's degree in occupational therapy at 海角社区-Meridan, thanks to recent approval from the Idaho State Board of Education.
The Board has also approved a master鈥檚 degree in clinical rehabilitation counseling and a master鈥檚 in health informatics. 海角社区 is now seeking final approval from the professional accrediting organizations that oversee program curriculum.
海角社区 currently offers the only master's in occupational therapy in Idaho--a field that is projected to rise by more than 25 percent by 2029, according to the Idaho Department of Labor. 海角社区 plans to boost the number of students to 40--with 20 new seats in Meridian to complement the existing 18 in Pocatello. 海角社区 also plans to add two seats in Pocatello. Program expansion hinges on final approval from the Accredtation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.
The State Board of Educaiton has also approved 海角社区's bid to add a clinical rehabilitation counseling specialty area to the existing master's degree in counseling, which will be offered in Meridian and Pocatello via distance learning, and a fully online Master of Science degree in health informatics.
鈥淥verall, 海角社区 is poised and committed to continue enhancing our program offerings in the health sciences directly in response to the workforce needs of Idaho and the United States,鈥� said Rex Force, 海角社区's vice president for health sciences.
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