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 are committed 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 aims 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. |
| 2025: | St. Kate’s begins offering the Occupational Therapy Bridge Program as a pathway for OTAs to earn a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT). |
About the Occupational Therapy Programs 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.
For OTAs with bachelor’s degrees who want to advance their careers, St. Kate’s offers an Occupational Therapy Bridge Program in which they can earn a master’s degree and become occupational therapists.
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. Both the online OTA and OT programs include in-person skills labs and fieldwork that provide opportunities to practice the skills you will need.
Our accredited online occupational therapy programs provide:
- A well-rounded science and liberal arts education
- A unique blend of online and on-site curriculum
- Dedicated faculty advisors, admissions counselors, and academic success coaches
- Diverse fieldwork opportunities that develop clinical and leadership skills
The online OTA 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.
The OT Bridge program confers a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT) and offers two pathways:
- Direct-Entry for OTAs who hold a qualifying bachelor’s degree
- Health Science – Pre OT – Bridge Track for OTAs who need to complete a bachelor’s degree
For More Information
Contact us to learn more about St. Catherine University.