UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (MS) 1
Occupational Therapy (MS)
Degree Requirements
Requirements For The Master Of Science Degree In Occupational Therapy
Credit Hours
The Master of Science degree program consists of the following courses:
OT 500
Occupation in Context
3
OT 502
Occupational Development I
3
OT 503
History and Philosophy of OT
3
OT 504
Neuroscientific Basis of Occup
Perf
3
OT 505
Scientific Inquiry I
2
OT 506
Research Design I
1
OT 510
Theoretical Foundations of OT W
3
OT 512
Occupational Development II - W
3
OT 517
Occupational Evaluation I
3
OT 519
Professional Dev Seminar I
2
OT 520
Occupational Intervention I
5
OT 521
Practicum I
1
OT 524
Biomed & Phenomenol Persp on
Disability I
3
OT 525
Practicum I
3
OT 527
Occupational Evaluation II
3
OT 530
Occupational Intervention II
5
OT 531
Occupational Intervention II
1
OT 534
Biomed & Phenomenol Persp on
Disability II
3
OT 536
Management
3
OT 538
Group Dynamics
2
OT 539
Professional Dev Seminar III
2
OT 540
Occupational Intervention III
5
OT 541
Practicum III
1
OT 544
Musculoskeletal Assessment
2
OT 545
Scientific Inquiry II
2
OT 546
Supervision
2
OT 547
Research Implementation
1
OT 550
Level II Fieldwork (A)
6
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OT 555
Level II Fieldwork (B)
6
OT 558
Technology & Environ
Interventions in OT
3
OT 559
Professional Leadership
3
OT 570
Community-Based Intervention
3
OT 575
Advanced Professional Writing
2
OT 576
Research Publication
1
During the Summer and Fall semesters of the last year students participate in fieldwork education at special fieldwork sites
affiliated with the program. Students should be prepared to relocate to two different out-of-town fieldwork centers during these
two semesters.
Expenses
Students admitted in the Occupational Therapy program will be charged a matriculation deposit of $200 required to secure a
seat in the entering class. This amount is not refundable but will be applied towards tuition expenses after registration.
Students should be prepared for extra expenses associated with professional studies including books, local travel to and from
fieldwork sites and out-of-town travel and living expenses during Level II Fieldwork assignments. Special lab fees are assessed
for the following courses:
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OT 500 Occupation in Context $30.00
OT 504 Neuroscientific Basis of Occupational Performance $70.00
OT 510 Theoretical Foundations of OT $30.00
OT 517 Occupational Evaluation I $50.00
OT 520 Occupational Intervention I $50.00
OT 527 Occupational Evaluation II $50.00
OT 530 Occupational Intervention II $50.00
OT 540 Occupational Intervention III $50.00
OT 544 Musculosketletal Assessment $30.00
OT 545 Scientific Inquiry II $25.00
OT 550 Level II Fieldwork (A) $ 5.00
OT 555 Level II Fieldwork (B) $ 5.00
OT 558 Technology and Environmental Intervention in OT $50.00
Retention Policies
In accordance with the Policies of the University of South Alabama Graduate S School:
1. A minimum overall 3.0 GPA on all work attempted in the student's specific program of study is required. A maximum of
two courses with the grade of "C" may be counted toward a degree program.
2. Any term in which a graduate student drops below a 3.0 GPA, the student is placed on probationary status and has a
period of two terms to attain a 3.0 GPA or be dismissed from the Graduate School.
In addition, the following Departmental Retention Policies apply:
1. Students in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree program are required to achieve a minimum grade of
"C" in each course in the occupational therapy curriculum. This minimum grade of "C" reflects only the letter grade since
many courses will require an 80% or 90% competency in order to be considered passing level.
2. A student who receives a "D" or "F" will be academically dismissed.
3. Any combination of nine (9) semester hours of grades of "C" in OT courses will result in academic dismissal.
4. If for any reason a student must withdraw from the occupational therapy program, re-admission will require approval of
the department chairperson and the Dean of the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions.
5. All occupational therapy coursework taken prior to Level II Fieldwork must be successfully completed with a grade of "C"
or better and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order for a student to be eligible to proceed with Level II Fieldwork.
6. Level II Fieldwork will be graded as Pass/Fail using the criterion scores developed by the American Occupational
Therapy Association. A student will be allowed to withdraw from fieldwork, without penalty, under special circumstances,
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for example, a serious illness/newly acquired disability. Withdrawal from Level II Fieldwork requires the recommendation
of the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and the permission of the Department Chairperson. All repeat fieldwork
experiences must be completed within one year.
7. If a student fails a Level II Fieldwork course (OT 550, OT 555), a "U" or unsatisfactory will be recorded as the grade. IF
the student is permitted to repeat the Level II Fieldwork course, the student may be required to complete remediation
tasks prior to repeating the course. The Academic Fieldwork Coordinator will schedule the repeated fieldwork at the
earliest available time, but no later than 12 months following completion of all other academic requirements. A student
failing to satisfactorily complete two out of three attempts of the 12 week fieldwork placements (OT 550, OT 555) shall be
dismissed from the program.
Note: In some semesters, courses may not start and/or finish during the regular University beginning and ending dates for the
semester. For example, one course may start at the beginning of a semester and finish at the semester midpoint, while another
course starts at the midpoint of the semester and finishes at the semester's end.
Accreditation
The Department of Occupational Therapy MSOT Program is accredited by 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. ACOTE's phone number is (301) 652-6611 (x2914). 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). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist,
Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of
NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may adversely affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification
examination or attain state licensure.
Department Information
Department of Occupational Therapy Staff
(251) 445-9222
Interim Chair
Donna A. Wooster, PhD.
Professor
Scaffa
Associate Professor
Wooster
Assistant Professors
Sasse, Steele
Adjunct Faculty
Chromiak, Dana, Gifford, Henderson, Hyche, McCraw, Mohler,
O'Connor, Ondis, Peters, Stammer, Tekell, Van Slyke
Department of Occupational Therapy web site
http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/ot/ot.htm
Occupational Therapy is a health care profession devoted to providing skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve
independence in all aspects of their lives. Occupational therapists work with persons with acute and chronic physical,
psychosocial, mental and developmental disabilities. An occupational therapist may aid in the growth and development of
premature babies; create a learning environment for physically and mentally challenged children; adapt home environments for
persons with stroke, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and other disabilities; or create activities that are designed to restore mental
health for persons with emotional, mental, or substance abuse problems. Occupational therapy focuses on "skills for the job of
living" which includes all of the necessary skills for individuals to "live life to its fullest" and lead independent and satisfying lives.
The Master of Science degree program in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) is an entry-level professional program designed
to enable the student to develop advanced critical reasoning skills and to prepare the graduate for professional practice in a
variety of settings. Graduates will also have the capability of assuming responsibilities in the areas of administration, program
development, consultation and research in occupational therapy.
The program consists of 94 semester hours and is seven consecutive semesters in length. This includes 24 weeks of full-time
Level II Fieldwork as required by accreditation standards. Level II Fieldwork is available in a variety of medical and community
sites representing a diverse range of learning opportunities for students. All Level II Fieldwork must be completed within 12
months following completion of academic requirements.
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The program is designed to accommodate applicants who have either a baccalaureate degree in another field or advanced
undergraduates who have completed three years (90 semester hours) of prescribed and elective undergraduate course work.
Criteria For Admission
A new class of MSOT students begins each year in the fall semester. Applications are accepted beginning in September for
the following year. Applications with appropriate processing fees should be submitted directly to the Occupational Therapy
Department. Selected applicants who meet all academic admission requirements below may be invited for an interview. Students
offered admission may choose to guarantee a seat by submitting a matriculation fee (applied toward tuition) or be placed on the
alternate list. All other qualified applicants will be placed on the alternate list. All students admitted to the program must complete
a criminal background check; admission is contingent on the background check being clear of criminal charges.
The candidate is expected to satisfy the following minimum criteria for admission:
Regular Graduate (Category I) applicants
Advanced Undergraduate (Category II) applicants
**This admission option will no longer be available after
the January 2017 application deadline.
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or
university including the OT prerequisites
At least 90 semester hours including the OT
prerequisites and University graduation requirements
A minimum 3.0 (A=4.0) overall cumulative GPA and a
minimum 3.0 GPA in the prerequisite coursework with a
grade of "C" or better in each course
A minimum 3.25 (A=4.0) overall cumulative GPA and a
minimum 3.25 GPA in the prerequisite coursework with a
grade of "C" or better in each course
Minimum of 25 documented OT observation hours
Minimum of 25 documented OT observation hours
GRE minimum score of 290 (verbal and quantitative
combined). Applicants must also take the analytic
portion of the exam but no minimum is required.
GRE minimum score of 290 (verbal and quantitative
combined). Applicants must also take the analytic
portion but no minimum is required.
Must have completed at least 70% of the Math/Science
prerequisite courses and 70% of the General Studies
prerequisite courses before applying
Must have completed at least 70% of the Math/Science
prerequisite courses and 70% of the General Studies
prerequisite courses before applying
Applications will be reviewed for academic qualifications on receipt of application, processing fee, transcripts and GRE results.
Selected applicants who meet all academic admission requirements below may be invited for personal interviews.
http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/ot/index.html
Admission is offered to the top students who apply after consideration of the admission score.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to observe occupational therapy practice in a variety of settings. A minimum of 25
documented OT observation hours are required. Documentation forms for observation are included in the application packet.
These forms may also be downloaded from the department web site
(http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/ot/USAOTObservationform.pdf) or may be obtained from the occupational therapy
department.
Core Performance Standards, which are fundamental tasks that must be performed to successfully complete the program, have
been outlined and are available upon request from the program.
Applicants who are interested in whether courses from other universities will meet prerequisite requirements may contact the
department by e-mail for an unofficial review of their course descriptions.
Baccalaureate Degree Holders (Category I)
The student must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university including the prerequisites listed below
and must meet the minimum requirements for admission.
OR
Advanced Undergraduates (Category II)
The student must have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours of prerequisite work as stated below for Advanced
Undergraduate students and must meet the minimum requirements for admission. International students are not eligible for
admission as Advanced Undergraduates.
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Applicants interested in this category of admission should review the Additional Information for Advanced Undergraduate
Applicants section below. **This admission option will no longer be available after the January 2017 application deadline.
Program Prerequisites All Applicants Must Complete
Prerequisites
Credit Hours
Baccalaureate Degree Holders (Category I) and Advanced Undergraduate
Applicants (Category II) must complete these prerequisites:
37
Math/Science Pre-Requisite
Courses
19
Precalculus Algebra (or higher
mathematics
3 hrs
General Biology with lab for prehealth/science majors
4 hrs
*Anatomy & Physiology
6 hrs
*Kinesiology (biomechanics)
3 hrs
*Statistics or Research Methods
3 hrs
*Indicates courses that must be
taken no more than 10 years prior
to application.
General Studies Pre-Requisite
Courses
18
English Composition
3 hrs
General Psychology
3 hrs
Developmental Psychology (life
span)
3 hrs
Abnormal Psychology
3 hrs
Cultural Anthropology
3 hrs
Elective (one of the following:
Ethics, Public Speaking, Logic,
Group Dynamics)
3 hrs
Additional Prerequisites Advanced Undergraduate Applicants (Category II)
Must Complete:
English Composition II
3 hrs
Laboratory Science Elective (4
semester hours) (not Botany)
4 hrs
Fine Arts Elective
3 hrs
*Literature Elective
3 hrs
Humanities Elective
3 hrs
*History Elective
3 hrs
Social Science Elective
3 hrs
Applied Art Elective
3 hrs
Electives (sufficient number of semester hours to meet University graduation requirements)
*Must complete a two course sequence in Literature or History.
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Additional Information for Advanced Undergraduate Applicants (Category II): **This admission option will no longer be available
after the January 2017 application deadline.
Students not holding a baccalaureate degree who want to apply to the program as an Advanced Undergraduate must complete
the university requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Professional Health Sciences. This will help ensure that students who
fail to gain admission to the Occupational Therapy program or who elect not to apply will be able to complete an undergraduate
degree within the normal time frame.
Advanced undergraduates who are admitted to the MSOT program will officially be classified as undergraduates for the first two
semesters of the program; however, they will be taking graduate courses in the program. They will be held to the same academic
standards of performance as the graduate students with bachelor's degrees.
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work during the first two semesters of the program, the advanced undergraduate
student will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Professional Health Sciences. The student must complete all necessary
paperwork for reclassification as a graduate student in order to continue through the remainder of the program.
The academic program for students with bachelor's degrees and advanced undergraduates is identical in its entirety. Tuition will
be assessed at the graduate level for the entire seven semesters of the Master's degree program.
In the first two semesters of the program, while classified as an undergraduate student, any financial aid awarded is restricted
to the types and amounts for which an undergraduate student is eligible.
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