Mar 29, 2024  
2009-2010 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2009-2010 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Occupational Therapy, M.O.T.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study

Chair: Dr. Donald E. Walkovich

The latest addition to the quality health science curriculum at Saint Francis University is a five-year entry-level master’s degree program in Occupation Therapy (MOT). Occupational Therapy is a unique discipline among the health and human service specialties. It uses occupation as its primary mode of intervention with consumers of all ages who face challenges that might impair daily living and life satisfaction. Occupational therapists serve those whose daily routine might be challenged by physical injury or illness; developmental delay; or social, environmental, or emotional problems. Occupations are those meaningful and purposeful tasks that people do every day. Research has shown that when people engage in occupations they enjoy and which are appealing and motivating, return to normal patterns of daily life occur faster.

The Occupational Therapy Program at Saint Francis University is designed to provide three years of pre-professional study where students will complete their general education studies and collateral requirements, followed by two years of intense professional occupational therapy study which integrates practical fieldwork experiences in a variety of settings. Six months of full time fieldwork experience as well as submission and defense of a Scholarly Project will be required in the professional phase. Students will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science after successful completion of the fourth year, and a Master of Occupational Therapy degree after successful completion of the fifth year. Graduates of the program will be prepared to assume entry level positions in a variety of diverse health and human service settings.

Advancement from the Pre-Professional Phase to the Professional Phase is guaranteed provided the student meets the progression criteria:

  • demonstrate a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average in all major and core curriculum requirements by the end of the spring semester of Year Three of the Pre- Professional Phase of study.
  • demonstrate completion of all general education and collateral courses as prescribed.
  • demonstrate completion of OT 301  and OT 302  Seminars (with a grade of “C” or better) or their equivalent as determined by the Department Chairman.
  • demonstrate a C grade or better in each biology, psychology, and speech course.

A limited number of transfer students may be admitted based on space availability and transfer criteria. Students who transfer into the MOT Program during the Pre-Professional Phase must complete all General Education Requirements in addition to the Collateral Requirements.

Transfer students must have a cumulative Q.P.A. of 2.75. A student desiring to transfer directly Into the Professional Phase must possess and existing Bachelor’s Degree and have completed the following:

Professional Phase Progression:


The Professional Phase is compromised of both Didactic (Lecture & Lab) and Fieldwork (Level I & Level II) Components. During the Professional Phase of the MOT Program, material will be presented in module format. Student competencies will be measured by formal tests, practical examinations, scholarly papers, research, special projects, satisfactory fieldwork completion, and other methods deemed appropriate. Students will be informed in writing by the instructor as to the point value of each of the competency measures.

Year One of the Professional Phase consists of the following courses:


Progression from Year One of Professional Phase to Year Two of Professional Phase:


At the completion of Year One of the Professional Phase, students must demonstrate a professional phase cumulative quality point average of 3.0 (for those three semesters) as well as attainment of at least a “C” in each course prior to beginning Year Two of the Professional Phase.

Year Two of the Professional Phase:


Year Two of the Professional Phase consists of the following courses:

Graduation Requirements:


In order to graduate from the MOT Program at Saint Francis University, students must:

  • successfully progress from the Pre-Professional Phase to the Professional Phase
  • successfully complete the first Professional year (OT 401  , OT 402  & OT 403 ) with a cumulative Q.P.A. of 3.0 and a grade of a “C” or better in each course
  • successfully complete OT 501  & 502  .
  • successfully complete and defend the Scholarly Project as outlined in the Department of Occupational Therapy Handbook.
  • The OT 501  (Occupational Therapy IV) Course and the OT 502  (Occupational Therapy V) Course both integrate an academic component along with a 3 month Level II Fieldwork Component. The Level II Fieldwork Component of each course MUST be successfully completed within 24 months of the end of that academic year.

NOTE: A Remediation Policy is available in the Departmental Handbook.

The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. 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). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination. It is the responsibility of the prospective student to determine eligibility.

Note(s):


Professional courses are open to Occupational Therapy majors only.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study