Occupational Therapy, M.S.

OSRHE Program Code: 151
CIP Code: 512306
Major Code: 7900

Purpose

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is a 24-month program and is housed in Muskogee.  The curriculum consists of 78 hours and focuses on training high-quality occupational therapists to be the innovative leaders of the profession.  In addition to the professional programming within the coursework, cultural sensitivity to better address the needs of local citizens including rural and Native American cultures, is integrated throughout the curriculum.

Specialty Accreditation

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, STE 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number is 301-652-6611; https://acoteonline.org/. The program also addresses the curricular standards of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Credential Requirements

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this examination, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered(OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that 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.

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 Native Americans 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, Retention, and Graduation

Admission Policies and Procedures

The Occupational Therapy Program accepts one cohort of students per year with a maximum cohort size of 24. Applications will be received through NSU’s Graduate College for rolling admissions beginning July 1 (previous year) through April 1 (admission year). All application materials must be received by April 1 for consideration of inclusion in the cohort beginning in August. 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 email 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, personal statement, recommendations, and interview scores. Potential admission decisions include acceptance with no conditions, acceptance with conditions, waiting list, 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 and pay the seat deposit by the established deadline. Failure to return the letter and/or pay the deposit may result in loss of seat in the class.

 

Admission Standards 

1. An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college completed prior to matriculation into the program.
2. The following prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. (See prerequisite section for more information.)
3. Be in good standing with the college or university last or currently attending.
4. Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. No exceptions will be made. Those applicants not meeting the GPA requirements will be ineligible for admission and removed from further consideration.
5. Submit an online application and required fees to Northeastern State University’s Graduate College by April 1 of the year of intended entry into the program, along with the following documents:

• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• A personal statement describing your journey and desire to become an occupational therapist
• Three letters of reference
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (Beginning with the admission cycle starting July 1, 2027)
• 40 observation hours (must include observation of both OTs and OTAs)
• Three letters of reference
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be submitted. For applicants offered an interview, updates to grades for courses completed after the application deadline must be submitted directly to the Occupational Therapy Program as courses are completed and before matriculation into the program.
• 40 total observation hours of OT and OTA practice (must include both)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (beginning July 1, 2027)
• Note: Rolling admissions begin on July 1 of the previous year and end on April 1 of the intended entry year (for an August start date). Applications are reviewed as they are received.

6. Coursework completed outside of the United States must be submitted to the World Education Services for evaluation.
7. Completion of a mandatory on-campus interview will be required of those selected for final consideration from the applicant pool. Meeting all the prerequisites does not guarantee the applicant an interview.
8.  Be formally admitted to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program through the OT Program Admissions Committee and receive final admission approval with completion of post-acceptance requirements.
9. Applicants offered a position will be formally admitted to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program after completion of all prerequisites and admission to the NSU Graduate College.
10. Applicants offered a position must review the post-acceptance requirements and affirm ability to meet each before matriculation into the program. All post-acceptance requirements and forms must be completed before matriculation.

Selected applicants who elect admission must pay a non-refundable deposit to confirm and secure their seat for the upcoming cohort.  Details can be located on the OT Program Homepage.

Total Degree Credit Requirements: 78 credit hrs.

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.

Retention Standards

A student must maintain a 3.0 grade point average or above in all didactic and field experience coursework.  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. Candidates for the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Meet Graduate College policies detailed in Academic Information and Master’s Degree Requirements regarding GPA, minimum grades, coursework age, residency and institutional / state regulations governing degree conferral.
2. Successful completion of coursework with a 3.0 GPA or better within 6 years of the completion of the first course in the curriculum;
3. Successful completion of field experiences with a 3.0 GPA or better

Occupational Therapy Prerequisite Requirements

The following prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of “C” or better prior to beginning the program. All prerequisites must be earned from a regionally accredited college or university. A single course cannot satisfy more than one prerequisite. Applicants may apply with outstanding prerequisite courses, provided a clear and reasonable plan is communicated to complete them. There may be additional undergraduate course requirements that serve as prerequisites to the courses below, depending on the institution.

• Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
• Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)
• Lifespan Human Development (3 hours)
• Sociology or Anthropology (3 hours)
• Human Anatomy with Lab (4 hours) *
• Human Physiology with Lab (4 hours) *
• Medical Terminology or Medical Vocabulary (1-3 hours)
• Research Statistics (2-3 hours)

*Combined Anatomy and Physiology courses (Anatomy and Physiology I with lab and Anatomy and Physiology II with lab) may be taken, provided a minimum of 8 hours are completed.