In August 2011 Adventist University of Health Sciences launched a new Master of Occupational Therapy (OT). The two-and-a-half-year program has already attracted 28 students.

Part of the draw, says Tia Hughes, chair of the Occupational Therapy department, is the lack of other OT graduate programs in Central Florida. In the past, students who wanted to continue their education in this field had to drive at least two hours.

Now, thanks to ADU' flexible scheduling—OT master's classes are only held two days a week—and a wide variety of clinical rotations, students can work and complete their graduate degrees in a reasonable amount of time close to home.

But it's not just the location attracting students. Paige Hauser, an OT graduate student who came from a public university, said she looked at other programs, but was ultimately drawn to ADU because of its Christian atmosphere.

"I know a lot of people who have worked at Florida Hospital and they're all very nice," Paige said. "I like the feel of a Christian campus."

By Rainey Park