Hickory Campus

A Master's of Science in Occupational Therapy degree is offered at our Hickory and Columbia campuses. Both locations offer great classroom and lab environments and a supportive cohort of occupational therapy students and faculty.

Occupational therapy practitioners are skilled professionals whose education includes the study of human growth and development across the lifespan with specific emphasis on the social, emotional and physiological effects of illness, injury or disability.

Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across their lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations) to enhance quality of life.

Hickory Graduate Student Housing

A limited amount of graduate student housing is available on the Hickory campus. If you are interested in graduate student housing options, please contact Rick Nichols, graduate admission counselor, at rick.nichols@lr.edu or 828.328.7003.

Welcome to Hickory mural text on wall of building

Explore Hickory, Our Hometown

From science center adventures to outdoor scenic beauty, the Hickory region truly is a place to relax, explore and experience a well-crafted life.

Dining & Things to Do
Hickory, North Carolina is a beautiful place to live, offers the amenities of a large city while basking in small-town charm. Hickory is also close to many large cities, including Charlotte and Asheville.

Enjoy Local Dining
- The Olde Hickory Tap Room
- Olde Hickory Station
- Backstreets Bar and Grill
- Café Rule
- Hannah's BBQ and more
Discover Activities
- Attend a Hickory Crawdads minor league baseball game (Texas Rangers affiliate)
- Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Hickory
- Take a walk in Glenn Hilton Park
- Indulge at the Farmer's Market
- Explore local shops a short walk away on the City and check out events, such as The Sails Original Music Series, in downtown Hickory
Dining & Things to Do in Hickory
Hotel Accommodations
The following hotels are close to campus and offer discounts; just ask for the LR Guest Rate.
- Hilton Garden Inn: 828.327.1000
- Courtyard/Marriott: 828.267.2100
- Crowne Plaza Hickory: 828.323.1000
- Fairfield Inn & Suites: 828.431.3000
- Hampton Inn: 828.624.2000
- Holiday Inn Express: 828.328.2081
Find a Hotel
Map & Directions
For Google Map directions, use our virtual campus map. For GPS, please use 510 7th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601.

From Interstate 40
- Take Exit 125 Lenoir-Rhyne University Exit.
- Turn North onto Lenoir-Rhyne Blvd.
- Pass Kickback Jack's Sports Bar and Mellow Mushroom restaurants on the right. Go thru five lights. At the sixth light (7th Avenue, NE), take a left.
- Go straight through the next light. The campus will be on your right. Go to the end of the block and turn right onto Stasavich Place.
- Turn immediately into the parking lot on your right, which has reserved parking spaces for Admission visitors.
- Admission Visitor Parking is directly across the street from the Admission Office (Lohr Hall).
From Charlotte Airport/Gastonia
- Take Billy Graham Parkway North (left lane) to I-85 South.
- Take I-85 South to Gastonia for about 15 minutes.
- Take US 321 North (Exit 17) and turn left at the light.
- Take US 321 North until the highway intersects I-40 (Exit 43).
- Take I-40 East to Exit 125. Follow directions from Interstate 40 above.
From Boone
- Follow US 321 South.
- Upon entering Hickory, cross Lake Hickory. Turn left at Clement Boulevard NW (between Racetrac Gas and CVS).
- Proceed to the second stoplight at 12th Avenue NW.
- Turn left and follow to the next stoplight (a T-intersection).
- Turn right onto 6th Street NW.
- Take the second left onto 9th Avenue NW, proceed through three stoplights and turn right on 3rd Street NE.
- Take an immediate left onto 7th Avenue NE. Proceed up the hill to the stop sign.
- Turn left onto Stasavich Place and immediately turn in to parking lot on your right.
- Admission Visitor Parking is directly across the street from the Admission Office (Lohr Hall).