About St. Catherine University
St. Catherine University (St. Kate’s) develops transformational leaders by incorporating liberal arts and social justice teachings in all academic programs. We have a commitment to inclusivity, advancing wisdom and justice, and empowering our students to live meaningful lives.
Our mission to educate our students to become leaders and our values of academic excellence, community, integrity, social justice, and reflection, are rooted in our over 130-year history.
Program History
| 1887: | The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet founded St. Mary’s School of Nursing, later named St. Mary’s Junior College. |
| 1905: | St. Catherine University (formerly the College of St. Catherine) was founded in St. Paul, Minnesota. |
| 1937: | St. Kate’s became the first Catholic college/university in the United States and the third Minnesota institution to be awarded a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious undergraduate honors organization. |
| 1964: | St. Kate’s launched the first OTA program in the United States. |
| 1986: | St. Mary’s merged with St. Catherine, making the University the oldest healthcare educator in Minnesota |
| 2007: | St. Kate’s strengthened its commitment to excellence in healthcare education by launching the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health Sciences. The school’s ambition is to reshape the education of healthcare professionals at all degree levels. |
| 2014: | St. Kate’s expanded its highly respected OTA curriculum to the state of Virginia, making it the first university to offer an online OTA program that combines an online and hands-on curriculum. |
About the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program at St. Kate's
Today, our online OTA program spans Minnesota, California, Virginia, and Texas. It continues to set the academic and professional standards for this unique profession while maintaining a solid reputation within the occupational therapy community.
As a St. Kate’s OTA student, you can expect to take on challenging but achievable assignments that prepare you for a career in this exciting, growing field. The OTA program offers 12 skills labs, occurring once every seven to eight weeks at each program location.
Our accredited online OTA program provides:
- A well-rounded science and liberal arts education
- A unique blend of online and on-site curriculum
- Dedicated faculty advisors, admissions advisors, and academic success coaches
- Diverse fieldwork opportunities that develop clinical and leadership skills
The program affords the knowledge, skills, and job readiness required to take the NBCOT® Exam to become a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). A seven-week study plan through our NBCOT Prep Coaching Program helps to ensure that each student gets the attention and support they need to succeed.
For More Information
Contact us to learn more about St. Catherine University.