Occupational Therapy, MS

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

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ATSU-ASHS School Information and Policies     Length of Program Philosophy of the Occupational Therapy Program Accreditation Tuition and Fees Admissions

Graduation Requirements MSOT Program Goals and Outcomes National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Academic Progression Transfer Policy Courses: Descriptions and Credit Values

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

Length of Program

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is a 27-month, full-time program of study offered in a residential format, culminating in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree (MSOT). The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is 87 credit hours.

Philosophy of the Occupational Therapy Program

The philosophical base of the ATSU MSOT program rests on the beliefs that Occupational Therapy:

• Uses a holistic client-centered perspective including consideration of social determinants of health
• Supports lifelong learning and professional development
• Promotes ethical and evidence-based practice 
• Cultivates community and supports social responsibility 
• Collaborates among interdisciplinary professionals and teams 
• Integrates innovation into healthcare and education
• Champions leadership and advocacy within the profession
• Demonstrates the distinct value of the profession through research and scholarship

Occupations are a therapeutic means to an end to facilitate function, health, and quality of life (AOTA, 2017). The program adheres to the belief that students are active learners who acquire knowledge best when they can integrate theoretical and didactic content through experiential learning activities in the classroom, clinic, and community. Foundational concepts are introduced in an integrated manner as students learn to build on simple concepts and apply them to practice. Learning is accomplished when instructors engage students in learning communities with ongoing discourse that facilitates understanding, analyzing, critically evaluating, and applying the information presented. 

The faculty are committed to learning-centered teaching and incorporating teaching and learning activities, which support diverse learners. Faculty maintain expertise in their content areas via engaging in regular continuing education and pursuing opportunities in the community to further their skills as both educators and clinicians. 

The curriculum is designed to engage students in occupation-based practice to support health and wellbeing for individuals and diverse populations. Additionally, coursework and the experiential components of the program facilitate the development of innovative occupation-based programming that meets the needs of clients, populations and underserved communities. Faculty and students work collaboratively on endeavors that include community service and dissemination of scholarly projects. 

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2017). Philosophical base of occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(Suppl. 2), 7112410045. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2017.716S06

Accreditation

The MSOT program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929, ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA is 301.652.2682. ACOTE website: www.acoteonline.org

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapists administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) following the completion of their academic coursework and fieldwork experiences. NBCOT is located at One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, phone: 301.990.7979, fax: 301.869.8492, web www.nbcot.org. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). All states within the United States require licensure in order to practice occupational therapy. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Tuition and Fees

Annual tuition rates are split and billed according to the scheduled semesters and are due on the first week of class. Most fees follow a similar billing schedule with a few exceptions. Rates are subject to change each academic year for all enrolled students. Delinquent balances incur penalties at a rate of 1.5% per month, totaling 18% annually.

For ATSU programs approved to certify for Title IV funding, a Cost of Attendance (COA) is available which provides estimated amounts for direct and indirect expenses for a period of enrollment. 

	Class of 2026, year 1	Class of 2025, year 2	Class of 2024, year 3
Tuition	$39,328	$39,328	$9,830
Student Technology Fee	$1,400	$1,400	$420

Admissions

Application Process

Applications to the residential entry–level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program are processed through 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 once each academic year with classes beginning in mid-July.

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants accepted for admission will have earned a baccalaureate degree from an school accredited by a US Department of Education institutional accreditor prior to matriculation.
2. Applicants must have achieved a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average overall or have achieved a minimum of 2.75 cumulative grade point average for the last 60 credits or if under a minimum of 2.75 cumulative grade point average for the last 60 credits there may be special considerations for a holistic approach.
3. Applicants are required to submit all official college or academic transcripts.
4. Applicants are required to obtain a minimum of 20 contact/observation hours in the occupational therapy field. More than one setting is recommended.  Applicants may observe A.T. Still University occupational therapy courses on campus to obtain observation hours by request. Applicants must contact the A.T. Still University OT admissions committee to coordinate the on campus class observation by emailing rebeccawolf@atsu.edu.
5. Applicants must secure three (3) professional or academic letters of recommendation, one of which must be written by an occupational therapist or other licensed healthcare professional. The admissions committee will not accept letters of recommendation from friends, family members, or educational consulting services.
6. Applicants who are considered potential candidates will be invited to participate in an applicant interview process.
7. Applicants must complete all prerequisite courses by the end of the academic term prior to matriculation at ATSU.
8. 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.
9. Admitted students must obtain and maintain Health Care Provider level of CPR certification from American Heart Association. Verification must be submitted to the Occupational Therapy department prior to enrollment.
10. Admitted students are required to submit to a criminal background check at their own expense. 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 admitted students are required to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to the Arizona School of Health Sciences, A.T Still University. You can find information on the methods by which you can demonstrate your English Proficiency in the ATSU-ASHS General Admissions  section.
12. Applicants who wish to be considered for more than one ATSU-ASHS program, including both Occupational Therapy programs, MSOT and OTD-entry level (and including Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Audiology), must submit separate application fees, transcripts and references. Acceptance to ATSU-ASHS is to a specific program and is not transferable to any other program. Application materials are not transferable from one application year to another.  Application materials are not transferable from one application year to another, unless an applicant was granted deferred admission. Each ATSU program has separate initial application platforms (i.e., OTCAS for occupational therapy applications).
13. Applications for the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy-entry level program are processed on a rolling admissions basis, which means that seats are offered to qualified applicants beginning in October and ending when all seats are filled. For that reason, applicants are encouraged to apply early as seats fill quickly. 

Prerequisite Courses

• Human Anatomy: one course with lab, minimum of 4 semester (6 quarter) hours
• Human Physiology: one course with lab, minimum of 4 semester (6 quarter) hours
  • Note: Human Anatomy/Physiology I and II may be substituted for the above courses

• Science: In addition to bullet points one and two above, one course for a minimum 3 semester (4 quarter) hours each from one of the following: General Biology I & II, Microbiology, Chemistry (Physical, Organic, Biochemistry) or Physics. Preference for courses with lab.

• Statistics: one course for a minimum 3 semester (4 quarter) hours. Course must be behavioral, education, psychological or mathematical statistics. 
• Lifespan Human Development: This requirement can be met by having one course, for a minimum 3 semester (4 quarter) hours that covers human development from birth through gerontology. It can also be met by having a child development or child psychology course, for a minimum 3 semester (4 quarter) hours, in addition to a gerontology or psychology of aging course, for a minimum 3 semester (4 quarter) hours
• Introduction or General Psychology: one course for a minimum 3 semester (4 quarter) hours
• Abnormal Psychology: one course for a minimum 3 semester (4 quarter) hours
• Introduction to Sociology OR Cultural Anthropology: One course either in Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Anthropology or Cultural Anthropology for a minimum 3 semester (4 quarter) hours
• English: One course of composition, grammar/literature, for a minimum 6 semester (8 quarter) hours.  AP credit accepted.
• Medical Terminology: one course for a minimum 1 semester hour (1 quarter) hour or proof of successfully completed online course (subject to admissions committee approval).

International Student Admissions

This program is approved by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program to issue I-20 paperwork to non-immigrant students in order to apply for an F-1 Visa.

Graduation Requirements

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

• Complete all didactic coursework with a passing grade and maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. 
• Complete a minimum of 6 hours of volunteer work per semester for the first three semesters of your curriculum (total of 18 hours) 
• Complete all Level II fieldworks with a passing grade within 24 months of successfully completing all didactic coursework. 
• Attend and complete the Practice Competency: Certification Exam Prep Course
• Attend commencement activities and graduation.

MSOT Program Goals and Outcomes

Graduates from the MSOT program will be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to determine the unique needs of a wide variety of clients, to include individuals, small groups of individuals as well as larger groups of people.
  • Approach occupational therapy practice from a holistic viewpoint, incorporating all aspects of the individual’s or group’s life and culture.
  • Incorporate the therapeutic use of self through collaboration with others.
• Demonstrate the ability provide meaningful occupational therapy services for all clients, recognizing the necessary assessments, tools, interventions and outcomes are dependent on the client, who can be an individual, a small community, or a larger group of people.
• Identify and demonstrate elements of health and wellness in their own lives, serving as a model for others.
• Facilitate interventions, activities and programming to promote health and well-being for all clients.
  • Select appropriate evaluation processes and tools for assessing function based on occupational therapy frames of reference and models of practice.
  • Develop and implement appropriate occupational therapy treatment plans and interventions that reflect client needs including cultural, socioeconomic, age, gender, and lifestyle factors. 
  • Modify and revise treatment goals and interventions based on the client’s progress. 
  • Develop and implement programming that facilitates responsibility for personal health and quality of life.
• Understand health disparities and the cultural influences on health and recovery.
• Engage in interventions, activities and programming to serve the underserved.
• Understand the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics, and will demonstrate moral responsibility and ethical practice during their professional training.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making that reflect ethical occupational therapy practice.
• Demonstrate a commitment to their profession, by participating in professional organization activities and/or scholarship opportunities.
• Communicate the value of occupations, helping all clients to identify the meaningful activities that promote engagement in life.
  • Articulate and demonstrate the role and value of occupational therapy to the public and other health care professionals.
• Utilize occupations, in many forms, as a means to achieve health and wellness for all clients.
• Demonstrate entry-level skills needed for management and administration of occupational therapy services, including leadership, advocacy, marketing, and consultation.
• Apply accepted principles of scientific inquiry, evidence based practice, and research design to support occupational therapy theory, enhance practice, and meet the challenges of changing health care delivery systems.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), located at One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, phone: 301.990.7979, fax: 301.869.8492, www.nbcot.org. Upon passing the NBCOT exam, Entry- Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy graduates and Entry-Level MSOT graduates are then eligible to apply for state licensure in their state of residence. All states within the United States require licensure in order to practice occupational therapy. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Academic Progression Transfer Policy

MSOT Program to OTD Program

The OT program at ATSU has two distinct entry-level occupational therapy degree programs: OTD and MSOT. Each student is admitted and matriculates into one of the two programs. The curriculum between the two programs are the same for the first year of coursework. However, after the first year is completed, the curriculum becomes distinct between the OTD and MSOT programs. The transfer process is conceived as a continuum of academic progression. Each students’ request for transfer is constrained by the time of the request and is dependent upon application approval.

Eligibility 

Students in good academic standing during the first year are eligible to request transfer from MSOT to the OTD program. The student must not have failed any course in the first year, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and have demonstrated ability and professionalism in handling the rigor and demands of the program. The transfer GPA will be the average of GPA at the time of admission to the program and the first year GPA.

Timeline

Students may request a one-time transfer from the MSOT program to the OTD program. Such transfers must take place within one year of matriculation into the ATSU occupational therapy program. Students who want to transfer from the MSOT program to the OTD program must request the transfer in the spring semester of the first year (minimum 4 weeks before end of term) in order for the department to complete the required steps of the transfer process including appropriate paperwork with Enrollment Services prior to the first day of the fall semester of the student’s second year. Once the first day of the fall semester of the student’s second year begins, the student is no longer eligible to request a transfer.

Transfer request process

The student requesting the transfer must generate a written statement explaining why he or she is requesting the transfer to the OTD program. He or she will then submit the statement to the program chair for approval. Once the chair receives the request, the chair will meet with the student requesting the transfer to discuss their academic plan and ensure that the student understands the expectations of the OTD degree and is making an informed choice. The chair will then present this request to the OT faculty who, as the Academic Review Board, will determine the suitability of the student for the OTD program. Submission of a request for transfer is not guaranteed approval.

In cases of extenuating circumstances, regardless of the degree program the student has matriculated into, the University’s academic and absence policies  will apply.

Courses