Department Contact:
Chair: Dr. Lorie Rowles, lrowles@francis.edu
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 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 in Health Science degree 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.
Students enroll as freshmen with forty (40) spaces available each year in the Occupational Therapy major. In addition to general admission requirements, freshman OT candidates should have an SAT score of 1080 (not including written portion) and a high school g.p.a. of 3.0 average (on a 4.0 scale), and a minimum of 10 hours of occupational therapy observation. A limited number of transfer students may be admitted into both the pre-professional and professional phases based on space availability and transfer criteria (3.0 Q.P.A.) Students must meet the following criteria in order to progress to the professional phase of the program:
Please consult the departmental student handbook for detailed information about internal policies and standards. Note: Professional courses are open to Occupational Therapy majors only.
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:
4 years of full-time study for a BS in Health Science.
Total Credits Required:
BS to MOT Accelerated Program: 128 credits for the B.S. in Health Science plus 30 credits for the MOT
Accreditation Statement:
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, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. www.ACOTEONLINE.ORG. 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.
Admission Requirements:
Undergraduate: In addition to “Admission to the University” OT requires a minimum SAT of 1080 (ACT 21), minimum high school GPA of 3.0, and 10 hours of OT observation.
NEW for 2022: Test optional and Provisional acceptance:
Admission Deadlines:
Priority application deadline: January 1 for undergraduate applications
Full OT Accept:
Submitting test scores:
- Completed work equal to a standard academic high school coursework
- SAT = 1080 or greater/ACT = 21 or greater
- Minimum High School GPA: 3.0
- 10 hours of OT observation
Test Optional:
- Completed work equal to a standard academic high school coursework with a minimum of the following:
4 units of English
3 units of Social Studies
3 units of Math (one of which is Algebra with a “B” or greater)
3 units of Science (one of which is Biology with a lab and a “B” or greater; recommended courses include Advanced Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Physics, Chemistry)
Completion of additional courses or internships that demonstrate advanced knowledge or skill in the healthcare environment. Examples: 1 unit of Psychology, Sociology, and/or Medical Terminology, Advanced Science courses, internships in a healthcare field.
- Minimum GPA: 3.4 or greater (based on 4.0 scale)
- Face-to-face interview with the OT department
- 10 hours of OT observation
- Two letters of recommendation (1 of which is from an academician)
- NOTE: the Occupational Therapy program at Saint Francis University requires students to take BIOL111 and BIOL111Lab at Saint Francis University as a full-time, on campus, 1st year student. If the student has dual enrollment or AP credits for BIOL111 (or its equivalent), they will be transferred in as free elective credits (BIOL800).
Provisional OT Accept:
Submitting test scores:
- Completed work equal to a standard academic high school coursework
- High School GPA: 3.0 (based on 4.0 scale)
- SAT = 1000-1070/ACT = 19 or 20
- 10 hours of OT observation
Test Optional:
- Completed work equal to a standard academic high school coursework with a minimum of the following:
4 units of English
3 units of Social Studies
3 units of Math (one of which is Algebra with a “B” or greater)
3 units of Science (one of which is Biology with a lab and a “B” or greater; recommended courses include Advanced Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Physics, Chemistry)
Completion of additional courses or internships that demonstrate advanced knowledge or skill in the healthcare environment. Examples: 1 unit of Psychology, Sociology, and/or Medical Terminology, Advanced Science courses, internships in a healthcare field
- Minimum GPA: 3.2 (based on 4.0 scale)
- Face-to-face interview with the OT department
- Two letters of recommendation (1 of which is from an academician)
- NOTE: the Occupational Therapy program at Saint Francis University requires students to take BIOL111 and BIOL111Lab at Saint Francis University as a full-time, on campus, 1st year student. If the student has dual enrollment or AP credits for BIOL111 (or its equivalent), they will be transferred in as free elective credits (BIOL 800).
Students admitted as a Provisional OT major (PROV) may be offered FULL acceptance in the OT major at the end of the freshman year proving the student meets all of the following criteria:
- Successful completion of BIOL111 and BIOL111L with a grade of “C” or better in both lecture and lab.
- Successful completion of PSYC101 with a final grade of “C” or better
- Overall minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Completion of 10 hours of OT observation (different from the 10 hours required as part of the Admissions process)
- In certain circumstances, students who meet all of the above criteria by the end of the first semester (as a full-time, on campus student) may be granted FULL OT status through approval of the OT department chairperson.
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 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 core and collateral courses as prescribed;
- Demonstrate completion of OT 201, OT 301, OT 302, and OT 310 (with a grade of “C” or better) or their equivalent as determined by the department chairman;
- Demonstrate a minimum 2.75 overall collateral courses grade point average in each collateral course (Biology 111, 205, 206; OT 201, 301, 302, 310; 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 (ex. hospital, outpatient, skilled nursing facility, pediatrics, etc.) between their freshman year and the start of the professional phase, OT 401.
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 Americans 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.
Graduation Requirements:
A candidate for graduation must satisfy the following requirements:
- Complete all requirements for an approved program of study;
- Complete the minimum number of credits (128 for a bachelor’s degree; 64 for an associate’s degree);
- Repeat for an acceptable passing grade any course required for the major in which the grade of “F” has been received;
- Complete the last 30 credits for the degree at SFU;
- Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better in all courses taken at SFU;
- Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better in all major or collateral requirements;
- Satisfy the requirements of the General Education core curriculum;
- Satisfy the capstone requirement as specified by the major department(s);
- Submit a completed Application for Degree form at least one semester prior to graduation date; and
- Satisfy financial obligations to the University.
Please Note:
- Students entering the professional phase must adhere to the departmental dress code policy. This includes a solid color polo shirt, khaki/black or navy pants and tennis shoes.
- The University will require the student, prior to fieldwork, have completed a physical examination; current (at least yearly) 2 step PPD testing or evidence of no active tuberculosis disease; Hepatitis B immunization; Rubeola, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, and Hepatitis B titers; and any other immunization deemed necessary.
- Students are required to provide transportation to and from all fieldwork rotations.
- Students are required to secure housing for Level II Fieldwork rotations.