Occupational Therapy (Residential), MS

An entry-level, residential master’s program for individuals wishing to become occupational therapists. The mission of the program is to prepare high quality practitioners to meet patient needs in changing healthcare delivery settings. The program is 28 months in length and provides a strong foundation of critical inquiry applied to practice, education, and administration of healthcare.

Length of Program

The Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy Entry-level Curriculum at ASHS is a 28-month, full-time, continuous program. 20 courses 121 credits

Admissions

Application Process

ASHS’ MS in OT program participates in a centralized application processing service called the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). Applications may be obtained through OTCAS at www.otcas.org. Questions regarding the OTCAS account may be directed to OTCAS at 617.612.2860 or by email at otcasinfo@otcas.org. All other questions should be sent to Admissions at admissions@atsu.edu or 866.626.2878 ext. 2237.

Application Deadline

Applications for the Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Program are processed on a rolling admissions basis, but applicants are encouraged to apply early. Point of entry into the program is only once each academic year with classes beginning in late August.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the residential Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS in OT) program must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.

1. Applicants are required to meet all ATSU and ASHS general admission requirements
2. Applicants must have achieved a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA, and a 2.75 science GPA on a 4.00 scale.
3. Candidates accepted for admission will have earned a baccalaureate degree or higher prior to matriculation
4. Applicants must complete all prerequisite courses by the end of the quarter prior to matriculation.
   1. Human Anatomy: One course with lab, minimum of 4 semester/6 quarter hours
   2. Human Physiology: One course with lab, minimum of 4 semester/6 quarter hours
   3. NOTE: Human Anatomy/Physiology II and I may be substituted for the above two courses
   4. Science: One course (in addition to Human Anatomy/Physiology) for a minimum of 3 semester/4 quarter hours.
   5. Human Development: One course, minimum of 3 semester/4 quarter hours (Course options: Developmental Psychology, Child Development, or another course with a lifespan development perspective)
   6. Introduction to Psychology or General Psychology: One course for a minimum of 3 semester/4 quarter hours
   7. Abnormal Psychology: One course, minimum of 3 semester/4 quarter hours
   8. Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology: One course, minimum of 3 semester/4 quarter hours
   9. Medical Terminology: One course, minimum of 1 semester or quarter hour
   10. English: Two courses of composition, grammar/literature, and minimum of 6 semester/8 quarter hours
   11. Humanities: Two courses (e.g., philosophy, religion, literature, fine arts, logic, ethics, foreign language), minimum of 6 semester/8 quarter hours
   12. College Algebra or higher or statistics: One course, minimum of 3 semester/4 quarter hours
5. Applicants are required to submit all official college or academic transcripts.
6. Applicants are required to submit official GRE scores. Scores older than three years prior to the matriculation year will not be accepted. The GRE Code for ASHS is 3743 (there is no department code). For applicants with a GPA of 3.00 or higher, the GRE is optional.
7. Obtain a minimum of 20 contact/observation hours in the occupational therapy field
8. Submit two letters of reference.
   1. One of these letters must be written by a present or former science faculty member, academic advisor, or employer.
   2. The other reference letter should come from a professional from the occupational year
9. Students must obtain and maintain CPR certification. Verification must be submitted to ATSU-ASHS prior to enrollment.
10. ASHS and many of its clinical affiliations require criminal background checks on matriculants and students to ensure the safety of patients and employees. The checks are conducted by a vendor selected by ATSU. The student will pay the cost of the criminal background check directly to the vendor. Failure to comply with this mandate will result in denial to matriculate. A matriculant with a positive criminal background screen will be reviewed.
    1. Applicants need to be aware that having a felony conviction might impact a graduate’s future ability to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Exam and/or ability to obtain state licensure to practice.
11. All students are required to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to the Arizona School of Health Sciences, A.T Still University. See the ASHS English Proficiency  section for more details.
12. Applicants are expected to be computer literate and experienced in word processing. All curricula require extensive computer usage. Accepted applicants are required to have a laptop computer prior to the first day of class.
    1. See the Minimum Technology Specifications  under the General Admission Requirements section.

Applicants who are considered potential candidates will be invited to visit ASHS to participate in an applicant interview process. For applicants residing out-of-state, telephone interviews may be arranged in lieu of the on-site interview.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree, all students in the residential program must:

1. Complete with a passing grade of all didactic coursework and maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
2. Complete with a passing score of all Level II fieldwork, within 24 months of completion of didactic coursework.
3. Complete a directed research project and a project presentation.
4. Discharge all financial obligations to ATSU-ASHS.
5. Attend commencement activities and graduation