Occupational Therapy, M.O.T.

Department Contact:

Chair: Dr. Edward Mihelcic

Program Description:

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 accelerated direct entry Master of Occupational Therapy 3+2 program at Saint Francis University provides 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.

The program also offers graduate admission to the two-year MOT program to eligible students holding an earned baccalaureate degree with the necessary prerequisite coursework based on space availability.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Infused with the Franciscan tradition and the Philosophical Base of Occupational Therapy, graduates of the Saint Francis University MOT program will:

• Practice as ethical and competent occupational therapists for service to underserved regions of Pennsylvania and beyond;
• Maintain a love of life-long learning and a desire to grow the field of occupational therapy through systematic inquiry, community awareness and action, and professional organization involvement;
• Adhere to a strong commitment to personal and professional growth through the quest for knowledge and critical self-reflection and analysis.

Estimated Completion Time:

BS to MOT Accelerated Program: Typically four years of full-time study to complete the B.S. in Health Sciences, plus one additional year of full-time study to complete the Master of Occupational Therapy degree.

MOT Only: Typically two years of full-time study to complete the Master of Occupational Therapy degree.

Total Credits Required:

BS to MOT Accelerated Program: 128 credits for the B.S. in Health Science plus 30 credits for the MOT

MOT Only: 72 credits

Technical Standards or Essential Functions:

Saint Francis University is committed to the principle that no qualified individual, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in or denied the benefits or services, programs or activities of the University, or be subjected to discrimination by the University as required by the Americans with Disability Act. A copy of the technical standards for admission into the Master of Occupational Therapy program is available in the office of the program director and in the MOT Student Handbook. The Master of Occupational Therapy program adheres to the policies for academic accommodation as determined by the Center for Academic Success. The Center’s Office of Disability Services assists eligible students in receiving basic services as determined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American’s with Disability Act. Every effort is made to arrange appropriate academic accommodations for students who experience physical or mental disabilities. Students are required to provide appropriate documentation to the accessibility coordinator upon request of the accommodation.

Progression and/or Retention Criteria:

By the end of the spring semester of year three, all of the following must be met:

• Demonstrate a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA 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 core and collateral courses as prescribed;
• Demonstrate completion of OT 201, OT 301, OT 302, and OT 303 (with a grade of C or better) or their equivalent as determined by the department chairman;
• Demonstrate a minimum 2.75 overall collateral courses GPA in each collateral course (Biology 111, 205, 206; OT 201, 301, 302, 3xx; Psychology 101, 201, 202, 205, 209, 305, 314; Public Health 101; Sociology 101);
• Demonstrate completion of at least 30 hours of occupational therapy observation, in at least 2 different settings (e.g., hospital, outpatient, skilled nursing facility, pediatrics) between their freshman year and the start of the professional phase, OT 401.

Admission Pathways:

Undergraduate Admission: Qualified applicants are admitted into the accelerated 3+2 MOT program as freshmen. Students who successfully complete curriculum requirements and meet program progression standards will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree after the fourth year. Students who maintain progression standards and successfully complete the fifth year of the curriculum will be awarded the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree.

Graduate Admission: Individuals holding an earned baccalaureate degree with the necessary prerequisite coursework may be admitted to the MOT professional curriculum based on space availability. Students who maintain progression standards and successfully complete the two-year professional curriculum will be awarded the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree. SFU is NOT currently a participating school in the OTCAS. All applications and materials are managed through the SFU OT Department. Graduate Application and Information.

Admission Deadlines:

• Undergraduate Priority Application Deadline: January 1
• Graduate Application Deadline: November 15

Admission Requirements:

Undergraduate: In addition to Saint Francis University admission criteria noted in Admission to the University​, OT requires a minimum SAT of 1080, minimum high school GPA of 3.0, and 10 hours of OT observation.

Graduate: To be eligible for graduate admission, candidates are to have:

• Completed application with $30 (non-refundable) application fee; 
• Evidence of a completed baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution;
• Official transcripts from each college/university attended indicating an overall minimum GPA of 3.0;
• Completed Collateral Course Check-Off Form indicating successful completion of required prerequisite coursework with a minimum grade of C in each course (Applicants may have no more than six (6) credits of prerequisite coursework outstanding at the time of application);
• Documentation of 50 hours (minimum) of volunteer or paid experience in OT;
• Current Course Enrollment Form if currently enrolled at another college/university;
• Two letters of professional recommendation (at least one from an OT);
• Typed essay (300 words or less).

Information on making application is available on the University’s website at https://www.francis.edu/ot-graduate-admissions/.

International applicants must send their transcripts to an international agency where the transcripts will be converted to an American academic scale. We recommend World Education Services, 800-937-3897. In addition to the above requirements for admission, international applicants must submit satisfactory scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (T.O.E.F.L.), administered by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey. Applicants whose native language is English are exempt from this requirement. International applicants should apply for admission and the required testing well in advance in order to ensure evaluation of their credentials in a time frame which is equitable to themselves and the graduate admissions committee.

Graduation Requirements:

Bachelor of Science in Health Science: A candidate for graduation must satisfy the following requirements:

• 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 GPA of 3.0 and a grade of C or better in each course and module/fieldwork component;
• Complete the last 30 credits for the degree at SFU;
• Satisfy the requirements of the General Education core curriculum;
• Submit a completed Application for Degree form at least one semester prior to graduation date;
• Satisfy financial obligations to the University.

Master of Occupational Therapy: A candidate for graduation must satisfy the following requirements:

• Complete all requirements for an approved program of study achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better; 
• Successfully complete OT 501 and 502 (including Level II fieldwork); 
• Successfully complete and defend the scholarly project as outlined in the Department of Occupational Therapy Student Handbook; 
• Submit a completed Application for Degree form at least one semester prior to graduation date;
• Satisfy financial obligations to the University.

Accreditation Statement:

The Master of Occupational Therapy program at Saint Francis University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). ACOTE may be contacted at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814-3449; (301) 652-AOTA; www.acoteonline.org. 

Professional Licensure and/or Certification:

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). 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.