Occupational Therapy, M.S. - Major Code 7900

Purpose

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is a 30-month program and is housed in Muskogee.  The curriculum consists of 81 hours and focuses on training high-quality occupational therapists for the rural region of Eastern Oklahoma.  In addition to the professional programming within the coursework, cultural sensitivity to better address the needs of American Indians served in the area is integrated throughout the curriculum. The program is designed to meet professional accreditation requirements for the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.  The program is in the candidacy phase of the accreditation process. The program addresses the curricular standards of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate professional competencies in communication and a commitment to professional growth through life-long learning.
2. Demonstrate ethical awareness, compassion, cultural sensitivity including tribal mores unique to American Indians in Eastern Oklahoma, and cultural responsiveness when providing interventions and planning programs.
3. Demonstrate leadership skills that advocate for individuals and groups, promote the profession and improve the service delivery of occupational therapy.
4. Demonstrate entry-level practice competencies based upon a comprehensive understanding of human occupation and occupational performance to select and competently apply clinical assessments and therapeutic strategies.

Admission Policies and Procedures

The Occupational Therapy Program accepts one cohort of students per year with a maximum cohort size of 20.  All application materials must be received by July 1 for consideration for inclusion in the cohort beginning the following January. Applications will be accepted and reviewed until the class is full.   The members of the program’s Admissions Committee will review application materials, and the top applicants will be invited to the Muskogee campus for an interview. Once interviews are complete, admission decisions will be made, and applicants will be contacted by mail regarding the decision of the committee.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the program with updated contact information. The Admissions Committee determines admission and scoring criteria.  Weighed in admission decisions are GPA, prerequisite GPA, GRE scores, application essays, recommendations, and interview scores.  Potential admission decisions include acceptance with no conditions, acceptance with conditions, waiting list, and non acceptance.  Individuals who are accepted with conditions must meet the conditions and present proof of completion of the conditions prior to beginning the program. All individuals receiving acceptance letters must return a signed document related to his/her acceptance of the place in the cohort by the established deadline.  Failure to return the letter may result in loss of the spot in the class.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must allow time for application materials to be processed.  Official transcripts and Graduate Record Examination results take 4-6 weeks to be received.  Additional time is required for these materials to be processed by the Graduate College. Occupational therapy assistants applying to the program may use work experience to substitute for the required observation hours.
The following standards must be met by students to gain admission, be retained within, and successfully complete the program:

1. An earned bachelor’s degree from a Higher Learning Commission accredited college or university;
2. Completion of all prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better;
3. Be in good standing with the college or university last or currently attending;
4. Be formally admitted to Northeastern State University and the Graduate College by submitting an application and official transcripts;
5. Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale on all undergraduate course work attempted;
6. Documented 40 hours of observation experience prior to application
7. Submit official copy of the Graduate Record Examination score to the Graduate College so that it is received by the July 1 application deadline (allow 6 weeks from taking the examination);
8. Submit program application to the Occupational Therapy Program by July 1 (includes 2 recommendations from an occupational therapy professional, employer, or instructor/professor)

Application Procedure

1. Complete the Graduate College Application Form online
2. Complete the Occupational Therapy Program Application and submit to the Occupational Therapy Program
3. Submit official GRE scores to the Graduate College
4. Have transcripts from institutions other than NSU mailed directly to the NSU Graduate College
5. Submit two recommendation forms.  Recommendations may be from employers, occupational therapists, or college/university instructors, but should not be from friends or family.  Have individuals serving as references complete the recommendation form, place the completed form in an envelope, seal the envelope, and sign across the seal.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Occupational Therapy Program
6. Submit documentation of observation hours to the Occupational Therapy Program

Advanced Placement, Transfer of Credit, Credit for Experiential Learning

Individuals accepted in the program are expected to enroll in and successfully complete each course in the program with a grade of “C” or above.  No credit is given for courses completed in other educational programs.  The program does not offer advanced placement or credits for experiential learning.

**The Occupational Therapy Program at Northeastern State University has advanced to Candidacy with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449.  ACOTE’s telephone number is 301-652-AOTA.  www.aota.org  Graduates of an accredited program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist administered by the National Board for the Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).  In addition, most states require licensure to practice.  A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain state licensure.  Background checks and drug screens will be required for all students.  Documentation of health and immunization status will be needed prior to fieldwork experience.

Retention Standards

A student must maintain a 3.0 grade point average or above in all didactic and field experience course work.  Students must pass all courses in order to progress in the program.

Program Dismissal Standards

Students who fail to either earn the grade point average (3.0) or meet retention criteria will be placed on academic probation for one semester.  If the deficiency/deficiencies is/are not corrected by the end of the probationary semester, the student will be suspended from the program.  The student may apply for re-admission into the program one time after one year.

Graduation Standards

1. Successful completion of course work with a 3.0 GPA or better within 6 years of the completion of the first course in the curriculum;
2. Successful completion of field experiences with a 3.0 GPA or better